Reclaiming Theodicy: Reflections on Suffering, Compassion and Spiritual Transformation

by M. Stoeber

Overview

In Reclaiming Theodicy , Michael Stoeber explores various themes of theodicy - theology that defends God in the face of evil - by creatively developing a distinction between transformative and destructive suffering. Emphasising the importance of human compassion and illustrating various spiritual experiences of God that are healing, the book proposes a narrative of life within which one might understand suffering in relation to a personal God of ultimate power and love, and suggests basic principles toward developing a politics of compassion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781403997623
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	09/15/2005
Series:	Library of Philosophy and Religion
Edition description:	2005
Pages:	143
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.02(d)

About the Author

MICHAEL STOEBER is Associate Professor of Spirituality at Regis College, Toronto School of Theology, University of Toronto, Canada. His previous publications include Evil and the Mystics' God: Towards a Mystical Theodicy (Macmillan Press and University of Toronto Press, 1992) and Theo-Monistic Mysticism: A Hindu-Christian Comparison (Macmillan Press and St Martin's Press, 1994).

Table of Contents

Context and Issues Transformative Suffering Suffering and Christ Destructive Suffering Afterlife Beliefs

Editorial Reviews

'Michael Stoeber's new book is a quite beautiful and wise reflection on how to understand afflictive suffering in the presence of a compassionate God. He is an unusual thinker in that he can acknowledge the redemptive possibilities of suffering as well as the terrible reality that much suffering remains unredeemed. He calls for a continual spirituality of compassion as we experience our own suffering, encounter others' suffering, and participate more deeply in the redemptive goodness of God. The book is written in a very accessible style and should make this profound theodicy available to scholars and lay people alike.' - Professor Wendy Farley, Department of Religion, Emory University

'All in all, it is a beautiful and thought-provoking work, and if you're going to read any book on the problem of evil, I recommend this one.' - Seraphic Singles

'I would recommend Reclaiming Theodicy for Christian laypeople interested in engaging the problem of evil intellectually and socially...a welcome contribution.' - Mark S. M. Scott, Studies in Religion

From the Publisher