The immense suffering caused by sin and evil within the modern world, especially in the light of the Holocaust, has had a profound impact on the contemporary understanding of God and his relationship to human suffering. Since the early part of this century there has been a growing consensus among theologians that God himself, within his divine nature, suffers in solidarity and love with those who suffer. This present theological position contradicts the traditional Christian understanding of almost two thousand years that God is impassible and so does not experience negative emotional states, such as suffering.Thomas Weinandy, O.F.M., resolutely challenges this contemporary view of God and suffering. Calling upon scripture, and the philosophical and theological tradition of the Fathers and Aquinas, Weinandy creatively and systematically addresses all of the contemporary concerns. He strongly advocates the incarnational truth that the Son of God actually does experience, as man, all that pertains to living an authentic human life, and so does indeed suffer.This book is both a challenge to much received contemporary philosophical and theological wisdom, and a scholarly, original, and refreshing account of the Christian Gospel. It is one of the most comprehensive Christian presentations of God and human suffering available today. "The immense suffering in the modern world, especially in the light of the Holocaust, has had a profound impact on the contemporary understanding of God and his relationship to human suffering. There has been a growing acceptance that God himself suffers in solidarity and love with those who suffer.". "Wemandy's comprehensive presentation resolutely challenges this view of God and suffering, arguing from scripture and from the philosophical and theological tradition of the Fathers and Aquinas. He maintains that a God who is impassible is more loving and compassionate than a suffering God. He also argues that it is the Son of God's experience of suffering as a man that is truly redemptive and life-giving."--BOOK JACKET. Contents Preface Chapter 1: The God Who Suffers Chapter 2: Theology - Problems and Mysteries Chapter 3: Yahweh: The Presence of the Wholly Other Addendum: A. Hescheland Divine 'Pathos' Chapter 4: Bridges to the Patristic Doctrine of God Chapter 5: The Patristic Doctrine of God Chapter 6: The Trinity's Loving Act of Creation Chapter 7: God's Love and Human Suffering Chapter 8: The Incarnation -The Impassible Suffers Chapter 9: The Redemptive Suffering of Christ Chapter 10: Suffering in the Light of Christ Conclusion Bibliography Index of Names Index of Subjects The author of this book challenges the contemporary view of God and suffering. Calling upon scripture, and the philosophical and theological tradition of the Fathers and Aquinas, he advocates the incarnational truth that the Son of God actually does experience human living, including suffering.
