Alister E. McGrath

Bethany N. Sollereder

Pick Your Own Theological Expedition

Why Is There Suffering?

Take a Unique Adventure as You Explore Questions about God, Suffering, Evil, Pain, and Final Destiny Be engaged, enlightened, and surprised by this unique book on suffering that gives control to the reader. Similar to novels that allow readers to choose their own "paths," Why Is There Suffering? by Bethany Sollereder invites readers to make choices that lead them on an exploration of theological possibilities about topics like: God's existence God's nature The nature of suffering Evil Pain The final destiny of humans and animals Readers will face multiple possibilities regarding suffering and its theological explanations and have to make choices about which one they find most plausible. Each decision will lead to further complexities and new choices, helping readers see how theological choices lead to certain conclusions. This book does not offer final answers. Instead, it introduces the "theological" possibilities, both Christian and non-Christian, that readers can explore and wrestle with so they can make informed decisions about their beliefs. Taking an intentionally light-hearted approach to a heavy topic this accessible and winsome book presents an unusually helpful introduction to the problem of suffering and the most commonly offered responses to it. Suggestions for further reading are provided with each choice.

After the publication of On the Origin of Species in 1859, theologians were faced with the dilemma of God creating through evolution. Suddenly, pain, suffering, untimely death and extinction appeared to be the very tools of creation, and not a result of the sin of humanity. Despite this paradigm shift, the question of non-human suffering has been largely overlooked within theodicy debates, overwhelmed by the extreme human suffering of the twentieth century. This book redresses this imbalance by offering a rigorous academic treatment of the questions surrounding God and the suffering of non-human animals. Combining theological, philosophical, and biblical perspectives, this book explores the relationship between God and Creation within Christian theology. First it dismantles the popular theological view that roots violence and suffering in the animal kingdom in the fall of humanity. Then, through an exploration of the nature of love, it affirms that there are multiple reasons to suggest that God and creation can both be "good", even with the presence of violence and suffering. This is an innovative exploration of an under-examined subject that encompasses issues of theology, science, morality and human-animal interactions. As such, it will be of keen interest to scholars and academics of religion and science, the philosophy of religion, theodicy, and biblical studies.

Bethany N. Sollereder

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