Can God be Trusted?: Faith and the Challenge of EvilIn a world riddled with disappointment, malice, and tragedy, what rationale do we have for believing in a benevolent God? If God is all-powerful and all-loving, why is there so much evil in the world? John Stackhouse takes a historically informed approach to this dilemma, examining what philosophers and theologians have said on the subject and offering reassuring answers for thoughtful readers. Stackhouse explores how great thinkers have grappled with the problem of evil--from the Buddha, Confucius, Augustine, and David Hume to Martin Luther, C. S. Lewis, and Alvin Plantinga. Without brushing aside the serious contradictions posed by a God who allows incurable diseases, natural disasters, and senseless crimes to bring misery into our lives, Stackhouse asks if a world completely without evil is what we truly want. Would a life without suffering be a meaningful life? Could free will exist if we were able to choose only good? Stackhouse examines what the best minds have had to say on these questions and boldly affirms that the benefits of evil, in fact, outweigh the costs. Finally, he points to Christian revelation--which promises the transformation of suffering into joy--as the best guide to God's dealings with the world. |
Contents
CHAPTER | 11 |
CHAPTER | 30 |
CHAPTER THREE | 45 |
CHAPTER FIVE | 68 |
CHAPTER | 88 |
CHAPTER SEVEN | 154 |
Notes | 177 |
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affirm all-powerful Alvin Plantinga ancient answer assert basic Bible blessing C. S. Lewis chair chapter choices Chris Christ Christian Christians believe church claim consider Cornelius Plantinga cosmos created creatures Daoist death decide divine Downers Grove Eerdmans eternal existence experience explain face fact faith final forgive Free Will Defense God's Gospels Grand Rapids heaven hell Henri Blocher historical human idea instance InterVarsity Press Islam J. L. Mackie Jesus of Nazareth Jewish Jews Job's Judaism knowledge Kreeft least live Lord Matt means Messiah moral Muslim mysterious nature Nicholas Wolterstorff offer one's options particular perhaps person Peter Kreeft Philip Yancey philosophers problem of evil question reality reason recognize religious response resurrection Satan Scriptures seems sense shalom simply somehow sometimes sort spiritual story suffering Testament theistic theists theodicy things tion trust truth ultimate understand warrants York