Definition

A philosophical explanation that tries to show how a good and all-powerful God can allow evil and suffering in the world.

Example

The theologian wrote a book on theodicy to address the problem of evil in religious belief.

Conversation

I was reading about theodicy the other day, and it really made me think.

Oh really? What about it caught your attention?

It’s fascinating how it tries to explain why evil exists if God is good.

Yeah, it definitely raises some deep questions about faith and morality.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

The word 'theodicy' is formed from 'theo-' (from Greek 'theos', meaning god) and 'dike' (from Greek 'dikaios', meaning justice). It refers to the justification of God's goodness and justice in the face of the existence of evil.

Memory Tip

Think of 'theo' meaning god and 'dike' meaning justice — this helps you remember that theodicy is about justifying God's goodness despite the presence of evil.

Visually Confused Words