Evil And the Justice of God

Wright states at the outset that he wants to avoid an immature presentation on the classic problem of evil and that he wants to give the Christian (theological) response. In the end it seemed like his view was naive and didn't take full stock of the problem. He criticized a purely philosophical approach and tried to address evil by questions of action. I appreciate both of these, but...more

Wright states at the outset that he wants to avoid an immature presentation on the classic problem of evil and that he wants to give the Christian (theological) response. In the end it seemed like his view was naive and didn't take full stock of the problem. He criticized a purely philosophical approach and tried to address evil by questions of action. I appreciate both of these, but the discussion was shallow even though he mentioned issues of international relations and natural disasters. He reductionistically divides current responses into two categories, advocates Christus Victor atonement theology, and pushes all meaningful remedies to the future (though he denies this move). The best parts to me were the discussion of "the satan", the recommendation of Miroslav Volf's "Exclusion and Embrace" and the call to action of the forgiveness motif. Final analysis: Maybe NT Wright shouldn't write small books?   hide

Just finished this book. He talks about how evil is not a philosophical problem to be solved but a force to be overcome. How to we live presently knowing that in the future evil will be no more. Well, there is an "inaugurated eschatology&quo...t; whereby we can live free of evil through discipline. Ultimately, the forgiveness of Jesus and our implementing that in and through our lives is...more

Just finished this book. He talks about how evil is not a philosophical problem to be solved but a force to be overcome. How to we live presently knowing that in the future evil will be no more. Well, there is an "inaugurated eschatology&quo...t; whereby we can live free of evil through discipline. Ultimately, the forgiveness of Jesus and our implementing that in and through our lives is the way to overcome the world's evils.   hide

Yet another fantastic book by Wright, clearly explaining a very difficult and challenging topic. Wright provides a theologian's look at the question of the problem of evil. He begins by demonstrating the modern aversion to the question and the implications of that aversion when evil strikes. As he moves on to explain the issue of evil in the Old and New Testaments, he quite candidly admits...more

Yet another fantastic book by Wright, clearly explaining a very difficult and challenging topic. Wright provides a theologian's look at the question of the problem of evil. He begins by demonstrating the modern aversion to the question and the implications of that aversion when evil strikes. As he moves on to explain the issue of evil in the Old and New Testaments, he quite candidly admits that there is no ability to answer the question of the ultimate source of evil, and shows how the Bible also is not interested in that question. Instead, the Bible explains what God does about evil-- first, the promise embodied in Abraham and the chosen people, and ultimately, how God defeats evil through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Wright goes on to speak about how Christians are to live, heralding the Kingdom and its values, his inaugurated eschatology view expressed in other works, and specifically how it relates to the problem of evil. Believers are to work to defeat evil wherever it may express itself, both personally and corporately. Wright concludes by demonstrating how God ultimately resolves the problem of evil through forgiveness, explains what forgiveness is and is not, and therefore why Christians must be forgiving people if they are to live out the values of the new creation. An indispensable work for handling this very challenging issue.   hide

I am waiting to hear what David M. thinks about this one