Saturday, November 21, 2015

THE PROBLEM OF EVIL...or THEODICY: Resources for Study

If God is all-loving and all-powerful, why is there so much evil in the world? This is called "the problem of evil" or "theodicy." Here are my recommendations for resources for gaining a better understanding of this issue.....

Click on the title links to find the great resources listed below 
(and then check out my growing MASTER LIST OF APOLOGETIC RESOURCES)....

INTRODUCTORY
Videos

*Wallace, J. Warner. "Does Evil Disqualfy The Existence of God?" (3 1/2 minutes). The "One Minute Apologist" interviews famous L.A. cold-case detective J. Warner Wallace.
*Plantiga, Alvin. "Does Evil Disprove God?" (4 minutes). An brief interview with the world's foremost philosopher on the problem of evil.
*Plantiga, Alvin. "Will There Be Freewill in Heaven?" (1 1/2 minutes)
*Geisler, Norm. "If God Exists, Why Evil?" (2 1/2 minutes). The "One Minute Apologist" interviews expert apologist Norm Geisler.
*Craig, William Lane. "Argument of Evil and Suffering Against the Existence of God" (1 1/2 minutes). The "One Minute Apologist" interviews William Lane Craig.
*Zacharias, Ravi. "How Could An All-Loving, All-Powerful God Allow Evil to Exist?" (6 minutes) from the John Ankerberg Show

Tracts
*True Way Tracts (by Marilyn Joy Tyner). "Can a Loving God Allow Pain and Suffering?" Available as a full-color pamphlet or a tract.

Articles (& Book Chapters)

*Craig, William Lane. "The Problem of Evil"
*DePoe, John. "The Problem of Evil and Reasonable Christian Responses." Chapter 15 (p.206-224) of True Reason, edited by Gilson and Weitnauer

Books
*The Book of Job (in the Bible)

*Jones, Clay. Why Does God Allow Evil? (2017)
*Yancey, Philip. Where Is God When It Hurts?
*Lewis, C.S. The Problem of Pain. 
*Kreeft, Peter. Making Sense Out of Suffering
*Zacharias, Ravi. Why Suffering?: Finding Meaning and Comfort When Life Doesn't Make Sense
*Piper, John and Justin Taylor. Suffering and the Sovereignty of God
*Wiersbe, Warren. Why Us?: When Bad Things Happen to God's People



INTERMEDIATE
Videos

*Meyer, Jon.
"Affliction: The Problem of Evil" (49 minutes)

*McDowell, Sean. "The Biblical Account Best Explains Evil" (51 minutes)
*Hall, Amy. "If God Is Good, Why Is There Evil and Suffering?(40 minutes)


Audio
*Craig, William Lane. "09 The Problem of Evil" (Over 1 1/2 hours). Three lectures from Craig's "Introduction to Apologetics" course, which is comprised of 51 lectures. Scroll down the list there to "09 The Problem of Evil."
*Groothuis, Douglas. "God and the Problem of Evil". Lectures 43 & 44 of Groothuis' 44-lecture course on apologetics.

Articles (& Book Chapters)
*Dunn, Steven. "Alvin Plantiga's Free Will Defense". A brief but excellent overview.
*Koukl, Greg. "Augustine on Evil." Seasoned apologist (and author of the bestselling must-read book Tactics) gives an excellent explanation of the solution to the problem of evil which Augustine came to, including the idea that evil is not really a thing but rather a lack of a thing.
*Geisler, Norm and Frank Turek. I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be An Atheist, Appendix 1: "If God, Why Evil?" (p.389-401).
*Last Seminary hosts 38 articles on the problem of evil that can be download for FREE--with brief abstracts for each.


Books
*Geisler, Norm. If God, Why Evil: A New Way to Think About the Question.
*Plantiga, Alvin. God, Freedom & Evil.

*Feinberg, John S. The Many Faces of Evil: Theological Systems and the Problem of Evil.
*Van Inwagen, Peter. The Problem of Evil
*Stump, Eleonore. Wandering in Darkness: Narrative and the Problem of Suffering
*Rice, Richard. Suffering and the Search for MeaningFrom the description at Amazon: "Richard Rice guides readers through the seven most significant theodicies―approaches that have been used to make sense of suffering in light of God's justice or control. He considers the strengths and weaknesses of each option, while always guiding us toward greater understanding and compassion. Rice goes further by offering guidelines for constructing a personal framework for dealing practically with suffering, one that draws from philosophy, ethics, theology and real-world experience."
*Carson, D.A. How Long, O Lord?: Reflections on Suffering and Evil
*Wright, N.T. Evil and the Justice of God
*Keller, Timothy. Walking With God Through Pain and Suffering
*Habermas, Gary. Why Is God Ignoring Me?: What To Do When It Feels Like He's Giving You the Silent TreatmentRead the first chapter for FREE!
*Little, Bruce A. God, Why This Evil?
*"Theodicy: God's Justice in an Evil World": An issue of the Western Reformed Seminary Journal. FREE!


ADVANCED
Video

*Plantiga, Alvin & Richard Gale. "The Existence of Evil and The Problem of God" (1 hour 35 minutes). A debate.

*Kreeft, Peter. "The Problem of Evil and Suffering." (1 hour 16 minutes)

Books
*Leibniz, Gottfried W. Theodicy: Essays on the Goodness of God, The Freedom of Man and the Problem of Evil (1710). FREE at title link and also here.


STILL LOOKING?....

*Check out these resources from bethinking....
OR....this extensive list of resources at Christian CADRE.....
OR....this long list of links at Another Slow News Day.




"The Scream" by Edvard Munch (1863-1944)
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

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