Pathways in theodicy : an introduction to the problem of evil / Mark S.M. Scott.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Scott, Mark S. M., author.

Contributor:

Sabin W. Colton, Jr., Memorial Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Good and evil.

Theodicy.

Physical Description:

xiii, 232 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Minneapolis [Minnesota] : Fortress Press, [2015]

Summary:

Why does God permit senseless suffering? If God is good and all-powerful, why does evil exist? The problem of evil perennially vexes theology, but many theologians have abandoned the project of theodicy, or the theological explanation of evil, as either fruitless or hopeless. Academic studies on theodicy, moreover, typically succumb to theological deficiency and abstraction, often devoid of any concrete connection to Christian life and practice. In Pathways in Theodicy, designed for students and scholars alike, Mark S. M. Scott reinvigorates stalled debates in philosophy and theology through a detailed reassessment of the problem of evil and the task of theodicy and through a careful analysis of the major models and motifs in theodicy. Scott explores the strengths and weaknesses of classic and contemporary perspectives on the problem of evil and invites readers to assess the cogency and relevance of each on their own. Rather than promoting a single perspective, Pathways in Theodicy explores the plurality of options available to treat the problem of evil and the provisional and tentative nature of theodicy, which searches not for final, definitive solutions but for viable ways to move the conversation forward.

Contents:

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

Rethinking evil : from ontology to theology

Redefining theodicy : expanding the boundaries

Free will defense : playing the blame game

Soul-making theodicy : no pain, no gain

Process theodicy : denying divine omnipotence

Cruciform theodicy : divine solidarity through the cross

Antitheodicy : intellectual and moral critiques

Beyond theodicy : the afterlife and mystery

Conclusion.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 217-224) and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Sabin W. Colton, Jr., Memorial Fund.

ISBN:

1451464703

9781451464702

OCLC:

898166584

Publisher Number:

99963372717