Why? on Suffering, Guilt, and God
“Why? on Suffering, Guilt, and God” by A. van de Beek, published by Alban Books Limited in 1990, explores the complex relationship between divine love and human suffering. This 349-page book addresses the age-old question of why pain and guilt exist in a world governed by a loving and almighty God. Van de Beek engages with contemporary theologians and scrutinizes Scripture, particularly Old Testament texts, to provide insights into the nature of God in relation to suffering and evil.
Readers will find a thoughtful examination of how to coexist with God amid life’s challenges. The author presents a fresh perspective on suffering, emphasizing the role of Jesus as a figure who suffers alongside humanity. The work also highlights the dynamic relationship between divine action and human choice, suggesting that prayer and dialogue with God are integral to the process of redemption. This edition is suitable for anyone interested in psychology, emotions, and Christian theology, making it accessible to a broad audience beyond just professional theologians.
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This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable.
If God is loving and almighty, why do people experience so much pain, misery, and guilt? In the face of human suffering, the cry “why?” echoes through the ages.
In this book A. van de Beek grapples honestly with the mystery of suffering and evil. His writing reveals a pastoral heart keenly aware of the profound evil and suffering in our world today, and he considers these perplexities via a fresh, different approach, pointing to a way in which we can “live with” God through the experience of suffering.
Numerous thinkers — particularly contemporary theologians such as Barth, Moltmann, and Pannenberg — are considered in this study. Moreover, van de Beek carefully scrutinizes Scripture, especially Old Testament passages that relate God to evil and suffering. God is revealed in the Old Testament as changeable and free — at times even unpredictable in his actions — yet he remains faithful to his people and continues to move salvation history along.
In the New Testament, however, God’s ways and work are determined by the incarnate Christ. In Jesus God has chosen to suffer with and for his people; Jesus’ death and suffering and death help answer (but do not explain away) our questions about God and suffering. God’s way in Jesus is also the way of the Spirit, whose work in completing the process of redemption takes a zigzag tack here on earth. The Spirit works along with human wills and choices: prayer and argument with God are the human elements of God’s salvation weave.
Why? On Suffering, Guilt, and God is intended for all who are theologically interested, not just for professional theologians.
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