Lewis considers with an elegant sidewise gleam in an essay titled divine omnipotence from his altogether fascinating 1940 book the problem. The problem of reconciling human suffering with the existence of a god who loves, is only insoluble so long as we attach a trivial meaning to the word love, and look on things as if. Randy alcorn was a featured speaker at the 20 desiring god national conference, where he spoke about c. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain. By the way, this piece stems from a chapter in my own book on lewis. He is best known for his works of fiction, especially the screwtape letters, the chronicles of narnia, and. Lewis addresses the ageold question of how there can be suffering while god is allpowerful and still good. In the first section, he gives three elements of religion, and a fourth that. Disillusioned that god had not healed his mother, lewis set out on a path toward fullbodied rationalism and atheism.
Lewiss long journey away from, and back to, faith began with his mothers death from cancer when he was a boy. I would not say that he answers the question in the best way, nor that i agree with some of his basic assumptions. The problem of pain answers the universal question, why would an allloving, allknowing god allow people to experience pain and suffering. His apologetic work mere christianity remains a top 5 apologetic for the christian faith, while his childrens books the chronicles of narnia continue to teach the christian faith in a powerful way. As noted in above, lewis served in world war one, having enlisted, and returned home wounded in april 1918. This was followed in 1942 by the screwtape letters, in 1943 by the. Five truths for sufferers from the book of job the.
The purpose of this post is not to attempt a theodicy, that is, a defense of why god allows suffering. This classical book on suffering is one of the best i have ever read on the issue. The problem of pain jacek bacz the existence of suffering in a world created by a good and almighty god the problem of pain is a fundamental theological dilemma, and perhaps the most serious objection to the christian religion. C s lewis biography clive staples lewis 29 november 1898 22 november 1963, commonly referred to as c. Lewis writings range from technical academic works his works on medieval english literature are still considered magisterial, to popular apologetics, to childrens literature, and more. Lewis and out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human historymoney, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slaverythe long terrible story of man trying to find something other than god which will make him happy. Apr, 2012 lewis also insists that we know that the fit will find its fulfillment in the final chapter according to lewissand may i say the bibles. C s lewis biography and list of works c s lewis books.
You may have noticed that the books you really love are bound together by a. One of the readings this week in lewis s preparing for easter appropriately talks about suffering and its paradox. Cs lewis web november 14, 20 the magicians twin is both a book and a threepart documentary series that explores c. The great tragedy of cs lewiss life was the loss of his wife, joy davidman, to cancer in 1960. He considers the question of whether suffering is necessary to produce good.
Apr 12, 2015 since the presence of evil and suffering is a key argument against gods existence it is gods problem, to quote bart ehrman as a apologist, lewis did not shy away from evil or suffering. Lewis quotes on faith humans are amphibianhalf spirit and half animal. It brings us to the final chapter of this book as well as the last word of the bible. Lewis, in which lewis argues that human pain, animal pain, and hell are not sufficient reasons to reject belief in a good and powerful god. Years later, struck with a daunting grief of a mourning husband he will. Cs lewiss lost letters reveal how wifes death tested his. Lewis considers with an elegant sidewise gleam in an essay titled divine omnipotence from his altogether fascinating 1940 book the problem of pain public library a scintillating examination of the concept of free will in a material universe and why suffering is not only a natural but an essential part of the human.
Light among the shadows marie conn traces the evolution of lewis thought and demonstrates how this oxford don can help us more deeply understand the place of grief in our lives. Jul 28, 2010 god whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain. Lewis acknowledges this tension in his book the problem of pain. Clive staples lewis 18981963, former oxford professor, christian apologist, lay theologian of now legendary status. The problem of pain was lewis first foray into the field of popular apologetics. Lewis, we develop wholehearted disciples of jesus christ who will articulate, defend, share, and live their faith in personal and public life. Mar 07, 2020 the great tragedy of cs lewiss life was the loss of his wife, joy davidman, to cancer in 1960. The problem of pain by cs lewis summary, quotes, and chapter. Lewis, one of the most popular writers of the last century, had a complex and complicated relationship with the catholic church. The road back to faith was cluttered with obstacles lewis once thought impossible to overcome.
Csl20517 this podcast covers one of the important and helpful theological books that c s lewis wrote, entitled the problem of pain. The book was clearly not intended to advocate for one christian denomination. Apr 12, 2017 paradox of suffering one of the readings this week in lewiss preparing for easter appropriately talks about suffering and its paradox. Lewis published the problem of pain, his first major defence of christianity. Lewis also insists that we know that the fit will find its fulfillment in the final chapter according to lewissand may i say the bibles. Rather, i simply want to highlight ten ways the bible addresses suffering. Lewis puts his wages on a god who holds goodness and pain in a. The book of job is an obvious place to turn when a christian suffers, but it is not easy to discern what god means to teach his people through this difficult book. The screwtape letters my argument against god was that the. Lewis venture into theodicy 16 may, 2008 let me start by saying it is nearly impossible to paraphrase any point that c. The screwtape letters men or nations who think they can revive the faith in order to make a good society might just as well think they can use the stairs of heaven as a short cut to the nearest chemists shop. Instead lewis s conviction that suffering can lead to humility is tied to grasping that christians worship jesus christ, and as the 19th century writer george macdonald whom lewis quotes in the problem of pain commented, the son of god suffered unto the death, not that men might not suffer, but that their sufferings might be like his.
Ravi zacharias, founder and president of rzim provided a unique opportunity for christians to invite those with other beliefs to explore and seek answers to one of lifes most difficult questions. The material was published in three separate parts as the case for christianity 1943, christian behaviour 1943, and beyond personality 1945. Cs lewis first broadcast this book in a series of radio broadcasts. Mar 19, 2019 is there justice or wisdom to be won by suffering, or some reward beyond understanding. It is when our selfsufficiency is peeled away that we see how weak we really are. During holy week, we move from a celebratory entry into jerusalem to the cruelty of thorns, whips, nails and crosses. In his book the problem of pain, lewis argued that god allows suffering in the world in order to ensure human free will. Clive staples lewis 29 november 1898 22 november 1963 was a british writer and lay theologian. Lewis was an irish author and scholar, born into a protestant family in belfast, though mostly resident in england. The problem of pain is a book on the philosophical problem of evil by c.
The truth is that at the heart of gods love is a suffering messiah and. If god were good, he would make his creatures perfectly happy, and if he were almighty he would be able to do what he. Lewis is a good person to turn to, to both feel the hammer at your head and also find some instruction on how to unravel the difficulty of pain. We are most keenly aware of gods character in our suffering.
If god were good, he would make his creatures perfectly happy, and if he were almighty he. In this broken world, he argues, suffering is indeed necessary for turning toward god. Mere christianity outline cs lewis society of california. Her death tested the faith of the chronicles of narnia author, who was also a prominent christian. These two thoughts brought me back to a final word by, and on, c. His book the problem of pain 1940 and a grief observed 1961 are helpful guides to working through suffering theologically and emotionally.
Apr 10, 2018 the purpose of this post is not to attempt a theodicy, that is, a defense of why god allows suffering. This article interprets jobs teaching on suffering from five broad perspectives. Human free will lewis believed in the doctrine of human free will. If god were good, he would make his creatures perfectly happy. It is really a pleasure to be able to praise a book unreservedly, and that is. Sheila myers from my understanding after reading the book, i believe lewis is. Lewis here tackles the strongest objection to god there is. Lewis, in which lewis argues that human pain, animal pain, and hell are not sufficient reasons to reject belief in a good and powerful god lewis summarizes the problem of evil as follows. Later books on literature include a preface to paradise lost 1942, the personal heresy.
C s lewis books biography and list of works author of. It implies that there is something in you which stands sufficiently outside a to notice a passing away, and sufficiently outside b to notice b now beginning and coming to fill the place which a has vacated. His partial theodicy addresses human suffering and sinfulness, animal suffering, and the problem of hell, and seeks to reconcile these with the. Lewiss views on science, scientism, and society, including such controversial issues as bioengineering, evolution, and intelligent design. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Lewis the problem of pain is more relevant than ever. The problem of reconciling human suffering with the existence of a god who loves, is only insoluble so long as we attach a trivial meaning to the word love, and look on things as if man were the centre of them. Antony flew examines his views on free will and evil it was in 1940 that c. The good comes when the sufferer bends toward gods will and the onlookers commit themselves to acts of mercy as a result. He held academic positions in english literature at both oxford university magdalen college, 19251954 and cambridge university magdalene college, 19541963. Before doing so, however, he sets the stage, providing background information on what he perceives to be the origins of religion. Lewiss the problem of pain a summary logically faithful. He states in the first chapter that if this was a world without good and evil, then how did we arrive at this problem of pain.
Lewis considers with an elegant sidewise gleam in an essay titled divine omnipotence from his altogether fascinating 1940 book the problem of pain public library a scintillating examination of the concept of free will in a material universe and why suffering is not only a natural but an essential part of the human experience. A study in medieval tradition 1936, was highly praised and established his reputation as a leading figure in british literary studies. Lewis on suffering and what it means to have free will in a. Last year marked the 50th year of his death, and in honor of c. Part of a large selection of christian quotes and sayings in a variety of topics by famous people, authors, theologians, pastors, preachers, teachers, and other notable christians. The reading is from miracles, where lewis explains that suffering is not good, in and. This book displayed what he wrote twenty years earlier about not underestimating pain because here lewis expresses a profound doubt in the. The problem of pain is a 1940 book on the problem of evil by c. Lewis examines the perennial problem of suffering in. Lewis on suffering and what it means to have free will.
Jacks later the war wasnt free from suffering and pain, to be sure, but the crises were significantly abated by the time he took up the request by ashley sampson to write a book on suffering in a series of popular theology, christian challenge. Lewis asserts that pain is a problem because our finite, human minds selfishly believe that painfree lives would prove that god loves us. Many fine books have done this, including the classical book the problem of pain, by c. Though explored through the lens of the contradictions and impossibilities of belief, the questions lewis raises touch on elements of. If god were good, he would wish to make his creatures perfectly happy, and if god were almighty, he would be able to do what he wished. Lewis venture into theodicy 16 may, 2008 let me start by saying it is nearly impossible to paraphrase any. As a young atheist who witnessed the horror of trench warfare, lewis simply accepted suffering as a grim fact of life. In chapter 6, lewis really gets into the heart of the titular issue by addressing human pain. I conclude this series with the final purpose for suffering as presented by this oxfordtrained specialist in ancient and medieval literature and philosophy. It was written to answer the intellectual problem raised by suffering and pain in world created by a good, allpowerful god.
Feb 01, 2017 randy alcorn was a featured speaker at the 20 desiring god national conference, where he spoke about c. In the problem of pain, lewis grapples with the problem of suffering in a world creating by an ultimately good and powerful god. One of the readings this week in lewiss preparing for easter appropriately talks about suffering and its paradox. Five truths for sufferers from the book of job the gospel. The reading is from miracles, where lewis explains that suffering is not good, in and of itself. Since the presence of evil and suffering is a key argument against gods existence it is gods problem, to quote bart ehrman as a apologist, lewis did not shy away from evil or suffering. Lewis, author of the lion, the witch and the wardrobe, was a tireless academic defender of christianity. Is there justice or wisdom to be won by suffering, or some reward beyond understanding. Antony flew examines his views on free will and evil.
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