Pathways in Theodicy: An Introduction to the Problem of Evil

by Mark S. M. Scott

Overview

The problem of evil perennially vexes theology, but many theologians have abandoned the project of theodicy, or the theological explanation of evil, as either fruitless or hopeless. Academic studies on theodicy, moreover, typically succumb to theological deficiency and abstraction, often devoid of any concrete connection to Christian life and practice. In Pathways in Theodicy, designed for students and scholars alike, Mark S. M. Scott reinvigorates stalled debates in philosophy and theology through a detailed reassessment of the problem of evil and the task of theodicy and through a careful analysis of the major models and motifs in theodicy. Scott explores the strengths and weaknesses of classic and contemporary perspectives on the problem of evil and invites readers to assess the cogency and relevance of each on their own. Rather than promoting a single perspective, Pathways in Theodicy explores the plurality of options available to treat the problem of evil and the provisional and tentative nature of theodicy, which searches not for final, definitive solutions but for viable ways to move the conversation forward.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781451469806
Publisher:	Augsburg Fortress, Publishers
Publication date:	05/01/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	232
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Mark S. M. Scott is an Arthur J. Ennis Postdoctoral Fellow in the Augustine and Culture Seminar Program at Villanova University. He earned his PhD and AM from Harvard University and his MAR from Yale Divinity School. He is the author of Journey Back to God: Origen on the Problem of Evil (2012).

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Preface xi

Introduction 1

1 Rethinking Evil: From Ontology to Theology 11

2 Redefining Theodicy: Expanding the Boundaries 53

3 Free Will Defense: Playing the Blame Game 69

4 Soul-Making Theodicy: No Pain, No Gain 95

5 Process Theodicy: Denying Divine Omnipotence 119

6 Cruciform Theodicy: Divine Solidarity through the Cross 145

7 Antitheodicy: Intellectual and Moral Critiques 173

Beyond Theodicy: The Afterlife and Mystery 195

Conclusion 211

Bibliography 217

Index 225