Theodicy Soteriology, Hermeneutics

THEODICY : M. M. NINAN
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THEODICY
The word Theodicy comes from two Greek words “theos” which means "god"
and “dike” which means "justice". Theodicy is the reasonable justification of
God. Instead of considering evil as a mystery, Theodicy tries to explain the
reasons for its presence and seeks to explain why a good God could allow evil.
The word "Theodicy" was invented by the eighteen centaury philosopher
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. In his "Essais de Théodicée sur la bonte de Dieu, la
liberté de l'homme et l'origine du mal". (1710) he defended the justice of God in
spite of the existence of evil. God, the highest monad, who is omnipotent and
omniscient, is able to do that which is logically best according to His logic limited
by the conditions given. Leibniz’s thesis was that God, the highest monad, is
almighty and hence his creations are perfect in that He is able to create that
which is logically possible given the character and nature of the creation he
wants. Certain factors may each be independently possible but mutually
incompatible, and, because God created the world under these limitations, the
created world is indeed "the best of all possible worlds."
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