Evil (Problems in Theology)

Jeff Astley, North of England Institute for Christian Education and University of Durham. David Brown has always combined teaching posts with pastoral work. He is Van Mildert Professor of Divinity at the University of Durham and a canon of Durham Cathedral. His books include Choices, Invitation to Theology, The Divine Trinity, and, most recently, a collection of sermons, The Word Set You Free. Ann Loades CBE is Professor of Divinity in the University of Durham

• Preface; Introduction: Reading the Readings; 1. Evil, Protest and Response; 1.1 Outrage and Rebellion; 1.2 Theodicy and Bad faith; 1.3 Finding God in Evil; 1.4 Protest Atheism and the Cross; 1.5 Suffering and the Death of Christ; 1.6 Survival, Endurance and the Holocaust; 2. The Buddha and Kierkegaard on Suffering: Two Religions Compared; 2.1 The Buddha, Suffering and Enlightenment; 2.2 On Not Explaining; 2.3 On Direct Experience; 2.4 Nirvana; 2.5 Compassion and Sacrifice; 2.6 Self and Suffering; 2.7 Kierkegaard on Truth, Job and Christ; Some Explanatory Notes on Buddhism; 3. The Varieties of Theodicy; 3.1 The Problem Posed; 3.2 Some Solutions Offered; 3.3 The Principle of Plenitude; 3.4 Evil and Non-Being; 3.5 The Free Will Defence; 3.6 The Vale of Soul-Making; 4. The Logic of Theodicy; 4.1 The Best Possible World; 4.2 Maximising Satisfaction; 4.3 Necessary Evil?; 4.4 The Cost-Effectiveness of Evil and the Quantifying of Pain; Further Reading; Topics for Discussion; Acknowledgements; Index of Subjects; Index of Names