On Evil, Providence, and Freedom: A New Reading of Molina, Wiebe Mark B.

This original study is concerned with the reconciliation of divine providence, grace, and free will. Mark Wiebe explores, develops, and defends Luis de Molinas work in these areas, and bridges the main sixteenth-century conversations surrounding Molinas writings with relevant sets of arguments in contemporary philosophical theology and philosophy of religion. The result fills a gap between theologians and philosophers working in related areas of study and is a unique contribution to the field of analytic theology. Wiebe begins by sketching the historical and theological context from which Molinas work emerged in the late sixteenth century. He then lays out Thomas Aquinass understanding of Gods nature and activity, as well as his understanding of the relationship between Gods action and creaturely activity. In the face of challenges like the Problem of Evil, Wiebe argues, Molinas work is a helpful supplement to Aquinass thought. Turning to direct consideration of Molinas work, Wiebe responds to several of the most well-known objections to Molinism. In support of Molinas understanding of creaturely freedom, he then develops some twentieth-century work in free will philosophy, focusing on the work of thinkers like Austin Farrer, Timothy OConnor, and Robert Kane. He argues that there are good reasons to defend a restrained version of libertarian or noncompatibilist free will, and also good reasons to believe this sort of freedom obtains among human agents. Wiebe concludes that a Molinistic revision of Eleonore Stumps work on the relationship between providence and free will provides a well-rounded, coherent theological option for reconciling divine providence, grace, and free will. This thoughtful study will appeal to theologians and philosophers, as well as educated readers with a basic knowledge of Christian theology.