Suffering And Evil In Early Christian Thought (Holy Cross Studies In Patristic Theology And History) High Quality
"The presence of suffering and evil is considered the major problem for a theistic worldview. The challenge is old. So is the Christian response to it. An all-star cast of writers, mostly Catholic and Orthodox, consider what early Christian thinkers had to say about suffering in its varying forms and expressions--illness, death, persecution, natural disasters--and the sorrow that accompanies these things, especially as they relate to the human condition. From an overview of patristic theodicies to a contemporary theologian's reflections on how God enters human suffering, there is rich theological perspective on display here. This volume will enrich one's understanding of the thought of early Christians, especially in regard to the passion of Christ, and will provide insights helpful for modern Christian philosophy and theology."
Suffering and Evil in Early Christian Thought (Holy Cross Studies in Patristic Theology and History)
"In an age where we seem to do anything we can to ignore the suffering of others and the reality of our own mortality, this volume offers a nuanced and thoughtful treatment of what were once the central themes of Christian theology and hope. This is an important volume that will have wide appeal to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of early Christian thought."
This concise but substantial volume includes a wide variety of articles on Early Christian responses to the age-old problem of suffering and evil. The majority of these papers originated as conference presentations for the Third Annual Conference of the Pappas Patristic Institute in 2006. The director, Bruce Beck, aimed to bring together a number of distinguished scholars with the goal of addressing how ancient thinkers, from across the spectrum of Early Christianity, approached the issue of theodicy. At last, after a decade, these collected papers are now available in publication. Many of these papers have undergone fairly substantial changes from their initial form, all for the better. The editors have also solicited a few additional papers with the goal of presenting a more well-rounded vision of Early Christian thought on suffering and evil. In some cases, this has meant that selections were taken from previously published articles; for example, portions of Gary Anderson's contribution were gleaned from his book Sin: A History (2009). Overall, the various chapters in this volume fit together into a fine anthology of Early Christian responses to the issue of theodicy....