Richard Norton is an independent theologian who has taught systematic theology and Church history in a variety of settings around the world. He is a member of the International Society for the Study of Mysticism, the American Academy of Religion, the Medieval Academy of America and the Royal Society of Arts. He is a Companion of Julian of Norwich and has written widely on her theology, ethics and Christology.

Norton is among Julian scholars who argue that Julian's use of the trope of Motherhood in God is much more than a reflection of feminine experience; he argues it is not only an integral part of her theology but particularly of her theodicy; that she uses this metaphor deliberately to emphasize the divine compassion in relation to evil; and "Christ's passion is the supreme manifestation of divine love" because it demonstrates "overwhelming compassion for all victims," especially in regard to the lack of anger in God.

• Preface ixIntroduction 11. Why the Problem of Evil is a Problem 9Possible Replies to the Epicurean Trilemma 10Additional Difficulties for Theodicy 132. Pastoral versus Theoretical Theodicy 15Critiques of Theoretical Approaches to the Problem of Evil 16Contemporary Distinctions and Debates 32Pastoral Responses to Suffering 53Conclusions 683. Key Issues in Modern Theodicy 73The Problem of Abandoning Traditional Theoretical Theodicy 74Towards a Defence of Traditional Theoretical Theodicy 79Does God Suffer? 82God's Compassion 86Destructive Suffering and Some Responses 90Conclusions 954. Julian of Norwich and the Problem of Evil 97Sin and Human Nature 98Human Bodies, Suffering and Evil 104The Motherhood of God in Christ 109Compassion 113Conclusions 1175. God, Suffering and Eschatology in Julian of Norwich 119Julian and Affliction 119Julian's Eschatology 122Towards a Julian Theodicy 128Conclusion 135Bibliography 141Julian of Norwich: Editions of Revelations of Divine Love 141Julian of Norwich and Theodicy 141Julian of Norwich: Books, Articles and Other Writings 143Contemporary Debates on the Problem of Evil 149Index 155

Richard Norton is an independent theologian who has taught systematic theology and Church history in a variety of settings around the world. He is a member of the International Society for the Study of Mysticism, the American Academy of Religion, the Medieval Academy of America and the Royal Society of Arts. He is a Companion of Julian of Norwich and has written widely on her theology, ethics and Christology.

Norton is among Julian scholars who argue that Julian's use of the trope of Motherhood in God is much more than a reflection of feminine experience; he argues it is not only an integral part of her theology but particularly of her theodicy; that she uses this metaphor deliberately to emphasize the divine compassion in relation to evil; and "Christ's passion is the supreme manifestation of divine love" because it demonstrates "overwhelming compassion for all victims," especially in regard to the lack of anger in God.

• Preface ixIntroduction 11. Why the Problem of Evil is a Problem 9Possible Replies to the Epicurean Trilemma 10Additional Difficulties for Theodicy 132. Pastoral versus Theoretical Theodicy 15Critiques of Theoretical Approaches to the Problem of Evil 16Contemporary Distinctions and Debates 32Pastoral Responses to Suffering 53Conclusions 683. Key Issues in Modern Theodicy 73The Problem of Abandoning Traditional Theoretical Theodicy 74Towards a Defence of Traditional Theoretical Theodicy 79Does God Suffer? 82God's Compassion 86Destructive Suffering and Some Responses 90Conclusions 954. Julian of Norwich and the Problem of Evil 97Sin and Human Nature 98Human Bodies, Suffering and Evil 104The Motherhood of God in Christ 109Compassion 113Conclusions 1175. God, Suffering and Eschatology in Julian of Norwich 119Julian and Affliction 119Julian's Eschatology 122Towards a Julian Theodicy 128Conclusion 135Bibliography 141Julian of Norwich: Editions of Revelations of Divine Love 141Julian of Norwich and Theodicy 141Julian of Norwich: Books, Articles and Other Writings 143Contemporary Debates on the Problem of Evil 149Index 155

Richard Norton is an independent theologian who has taught systematic theology and Church history in a variety of settings around the world. He is a member of the International Society for the Study of Mysticism, the American Academy of Religion, the Medieval Academy of America and the Royal Society of Arts. He is a Companion of Julian of Norwich and has written widely on her theology, ethics and Christology.

Norton is among Julian scholars who argue that Julian's use of the trope of Motherhood in God is much more than a reflection of feminine experience; he argues it is not only an integral part of her theology but particularly of her theodicy; that she uses this metaphor deliberately to emphasize the divine compassion in relation to evil; and "Christ's passion is the supreme manifestation of divine love" because it demonstrates "overwhelming compassion for all victims," especially in regard to the lack of anger in God.

• Preface ixIntroduction 11. Why the Problem of Evil is a Problem 9Possible Replies to the Epicurean Trilemma 10Additional Difficulties for Theodicy 132. Pastoral versus Theoretical Theodicy 15Critiques of Theoretical Approaches to the Problem of Evil 16Contemporary Distinctions and Debates 32Pastoral Responses to Suffering 53Conclusions 683. Key Issues in Modern Theodicy 73The Problem of Abandoning Traditional Theoretical Theodicy 74Towards a Defence of Traditional Theoretical Theodicy 79Does God Suffer? 82God's Compassion 86Destructive Suffering and Some Responses 90Conclusions 954. Julian of Norwich and the Problem of Evil 97Sin and Human Nature 98Human Bodies, Suffering and Evil 104The Motherhood of God in Christ 109Compassion 113Conclusions 1175. God, Suffering and Eschatology in Julian of Norwich 119Julian and Affliction 119Julian's Eschatology 122Towards a Julian Theodicy 128Conclusion 135Bibliography 141Julian of Norwich: Editions of Revelations of Divine Love 141Julian of Norwich and Theodicy 141Julian of Norwich: Books, Articles and Other Writings 143Contemporary Debates on the Problem of Evil 149Index 155