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'''Theodicy''' is a branch of [[theology]] that defends [[God]]'s goodness and justice in the face of the existence of [[evil]].  It is a response to the [[problem of evil]].

'''Theodicy''' is a branch of [[theology]] that defends [[God]]'s goodness and justice in response to the [[problem of evil]].

The word was supposedly coined by the German philosopher Gottfried Leibniz (1646-1716), and is derived from two Greek words (theos, God, and dike, justice).

The word was supposedly coined by the German philosopher Gottfried Leibniz (1646-1716), and is derived from two Greek words (theos, God, and dike, justice).

The premise which Theodicy is based upon is that God is [[omnipotence|omnipotent]], [[justice|just]] and [[omnibenevolence|benevolent]], with the question being how can God be the author of evil, or allow evil and suffering to exist?

The premise which Theodicy is based upon is that God is [[omnipotence|omnipotent]], [[justice|just]] and [[omnibenevolence|benevolent]], with the question being how can God be the author of [[evil]], or allow evil and suffering to exist?

==Proposals==

==Proposals==

==Calvinist response==

==Calvinist response==

The [[Calvinist]] position is that of "determinism", which holds that man has a much more limited extent of free will, and  that God has determined all things that will ever come to pass, as the ''Westminster Confession of Faith'' states. (3:1 5:2, 4) The Confession essentially states that God in His sovereignty is the first cause of all things, though many of the things which occur are through the "free" actions of man, which God influences. As one authority wrote, God "does not arrange things or control history apart from second causes...", and He uses such as instruments, so as to make all things work together to accomplish His plan, which is for the good of those who love Him. (Rom. 8:28)<ref>http://www.leaderu.com/theology/theodicy.html W. Gary Crampton, ''A Biblical Theodicy''</ref>  

The [[Calvinist]] position is that of "determinism", which holds that man has a more limited extent of free will than in the Arminian position, and  that God has determined all things that will ever come to pass, as the ''[[Westminster Confession of Faith]]'' states. (3:1 5:2, 4) The Confession essentially states that God in His sovereignty is the first cause of all things, though many of the things which occur are through the "free" actions of man, which God influences. As one authority wrote, God "does not arrange things or control history apart from second causes...", and He uses such as instruments, so as to make all things work together to accomplish His plan, which is for the good of those who love Him. (Rom. 8:28)<ref>http://www.leaderu.com/theology/theodicy.html W. Gary Crampton, ''A Biblical Theodicy''</ref>  

Some object to the further conclusions of Calvinism related to this.<ref>http://www.gospeltruth.net/foster_on_cal/otc_2.htm</ref> While Armianism believes God has the right and the ability to ultimately determine all things, it seeks to reconcile the actions of God concerning the basis for the [[predestination]] of the lost with God's own statements about justice, (Dt. 24:16; etc.) while the Calvinist tends to appeal to God's sovereign right to do as He pleases, as Scripture does, (Rom. 11:20) in which not all things are revealed. (Dt. 29:29)

Some object to the further conclusions of Calvinism related to this.<ref>http://www.gospeltruth.net/foster_on_cal/otc_2.htm</ref> While Armianism believes God has the right and the ability to ultimately determine all things, it seeks to reconcile the actions of God concerning the basis for the [[predestination]] of the lost with God's own statements about justice, (Dt. 24:16; etc.) while the Calvinist tends to appeal to God's sovereign right to do as He pleases, as Scripture does, (Rom. 11:20) in which not all things are revealed. (Dt. 29:29)