This scholarly volume begins with the humble recognition that “humanity cannot and will never obtain the divine perspective on reality” and that “all our theological models and theories remain fragmentary and piecemeal” (preface, page xiii). In eighty brief and highly readable chapters, it presents a broad range of theological, philosophical, and religious traditions on the problem of evil. The tone is that of “a conversation between friends” that invites readers to “join in, learn from, reflect on, and be stretched” (preface, xiii-xiv).
In the introduction, Johannes Grössl provides a helpful conceptual map of the problem and reviews possible approaches. He distinguishes “theodicies” (that attempt to show why God is justified in allowing evil) from “defenses” (that argue only that the existence of God is logically compatible with the reality of evil). He carefully lays out the classical argument that the existence of evil precludes the existence of God and presents various philosophical and theological ways of addressing it. Although Grössl admits that “there is no universally accepted solution to the theodicy problem” (4), he confidently asserts that “theological scholarship on the problem of evil can be useful not only for those interested in the coherence of theism but also for those engaging in the practical task of trying to believe despite the reality of inexplicable evil” (9).
This review can spotlight only a few examples of the book’s rich scholarship. Part 1 comprises twelve chapters of biblical themes. Mark W. Scarlata presents Moses as the suffering servant who bears the burden of his people’s disobedience (chapter 1). Pheme Perkins notes that although the synoptic gospels “do not address philosophical or other critical problems of theodicy,” they do “provide a vision of faith and hope” (chapter 8, page 75).
Part 2 examines the thought of a judiciously selected group of historical and contemporary figures. Lydia Schumacher discusses St. Augustine’s account of the origin of evil in light of contemporary evolutionary theory (chapter 15). The thought of reformers (such as Luther, Calvin, and Hooker) and philosophers (such as Leibniz, Kant, and Kierkegaard) is concisely presented (chapters 19–23, 25). Simone Weil’s idea of “affliction” and Hannah Arendt’s concept of evil as “radical” and “banal” are explored by Stephen J. Plant and Philip Walsh (chapters 27–28). Marilyn McCord Adams’s notion of “horrendous evils” and Eleonore Stump’s use of “narratives” are reviewed by Shannon Craigo-Snell and Georg Gasser (chapters 36–37).
Part 3 explores various dogmatic themes such as the origin of evil, providence, divine suffering, and eschatology. Matthias Grebe argues that evil “ultimately arises from creaturely freedom” and is overcome in Christ: “When an individual is in Christ, she is daily renewed by the Spirit (2 Cor. 4:16) and transformed more and more into the image of the Son (2 Cor. 3:18), the first fruit of the new creation, God’s prototype of the perfected human” (chapter 38, pages 241, 244). The book readily presents opposing views. For instance, Paul S. Fiddes asserts that “it is more appropriate to say that ‘God suffers’ than that ‘God does not suffer’” (Chapter 40, p. 264), while Matthew Levering argues that “the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are supreme goodness and love, eternally free from any misery or lack whatsoever” (chapter 41, 275).
Part 4 covers a broad range of philosophical and ethical issues. Chad Meister carefully reviews free-will theodicies (chapter 57). Christopher Southgate considers how empirical science can affect the discussion of theodicy (chapter 60).
Part 5 explores interreligious and interdisciplinary approaches to the question of evil. Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Islamic, and Zoroastrian traditions are considered (chapters 67–73). The question of evil in feminist and Black theology is also explored (chapters 76–77). Finally, the theme of suffering in music and art is discussed (chapters 78–80).
As a handbook, this work fulfills its purpose admirably with concise, insightful chapters on a broad range of important topics presented by highly competent authors in a way that will benefit both beginners and advanced scholars.
