Final answer:
Irenaeus, a Christian theologian from the 2nd century, viewed evil and suffering as necessary for 'soul-making,' a process which facilitates spiritual growth and development towards divine love and goodness, contrasting with St. Augustine, who saw evil's origin in human disobedience.
Step-by-step explanation:
Irenaeus' Perspective on Evil and Soul-Making
Irenaeus, a 2nd-century Christian author, introduced the idea that evil in the world serves a critical purpose in the divine narrative by contributing to 'soul-making'. In his theology, the existence of evil is not a mere happenstance but a means to an end. It is through the presence of evil and suffering that human beings have the opportunity for spiritual growth and development, ultimately becoming truly good individuals. This concept has been further discussed by modern philosophers such as John Hick and Richard Swinburne, and contrasts with the approach of St. Augustine, who attributed the presence of evil to human fall in the Garden of Eden.
Irenaeus suggests that the hardships we endure are not without purpose, but are means by which God facilitates our transformation from mere biological life (bios) into spiritual life imbued with divine love (zoe). This developmental and teleological view of God's role in human existence posits that evil, rather than challenging the goodness of God, actually corroborates our potential for attaining a state of spiritual maturity and closeness to the divine.