God's Problem
This is the title of a recent book[1] by Bart D. Ehrman, a professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. It is an thorough presentation of the problem of suffering in the world as discussed in the Bible. It is also a personal statement by Dr. Ehrman on why he is an agnostic. He became an agnostic in response to the argument from evil against the existence of God.
This book is a very readable and excellent guide to what the Bible says about suffering, and points out that the answers are contradictory. Along the way, Dr. Ehrman points out the illogic of people who thank God for saving them when they are among the few saved in a disaster, when many others died at the same time. The obvious question is, "Why didn't He save them also?" or "Why did He allow the disaster in the first place?"
I have discussed the problems of good and evil and theodicy in other posts, so won't repeat the discussion. My answer, rather than agnosticism or atheism, was to decide that God was not omnipotent. [My thirty years of agnosticism were due to logical, philosophical issues not the problem of evil.]
Dr. Ehrman's presentation of the problem of evil is excellent. I think his attempted resolution is a bit weak, but then many would say my resolution leads to a God that is not worth worshipping. (Actually, I can't say as I worship God so much as revere, respect, and listen to Him.)
For anyone concerned with the theodicy, this is an important book. It presents all the sides of the issue, and all of the answers that have been offered. I strongly recommend it.
[1] Bart D. Ehrman, God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question--Why We Suffer, HarperCollins, New York, 2008
This book is a very readable and excellent guide to what the Bible says about suffering, and points out that the answers are contradictory. Along the way, Dr. Ehrman points out the illogic of people who thank God for saving them when they are among the few saved in a disaster, when many others died at the same time. The obvious question is, "Why didn't He save them also?" or "Why did He allow the disaster in the first place?"
I have discussed the problems of good and evil and theodicy in other posts, so won't repeat the discussion. My answer, rather than agnosticism or atheism, was to decide that God was not omnipotent. [My thirty years of agnosticism were due to logical, philosophical issues not the problem of evil.]
Dr. Ehrman's presentation of the problem of evil is excellent. I think his attempted resolution is a bit weak, but then many would say my resolution leads to a God that is not worth worshipping. (Actually, I can't say as I worship God so much as revere, respect, and listen to Him.)
For anyone concerned with the theodicy, this is an important book. It presents all the sides of the issue, and all of the answers that have been offered. I strongly recommend it.
[1] Bart D. Ehrman, God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question--Why We Suffer, HarperCollins, New York, 2008
posted by Bill | 6:36 AM
1 Comments:
In some ways, I consider the title of the book misleading. Suffering in the world for Ehrman, cannot be God's problem since for him God does not exist. It is Ehrman's problem in that it leads him to doubt the existence of God. If God exists, as I believe He does, suffering is His problem, but in the same sense as it is our problem, what to do about it. In my view of God, He is not omnipotent, so actually is no more efficacious than we are at preventing suffering. Mostly He can guide us in our efforts to relieve it, and provide direct comfort where He can.
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