Lewis does not shrink from considering this dreadful possibility. The Problem of Pain - Religious Studies bibliographies - in Harvard style . This was either a mistake, or revelation. The Problem of Pain. The Problem of Pain C.S. In The Problem of Pain, C.S. The reader is overwhelmed with the seducing beauty and grandeur of Lewis's imagery, as he develops the four scriptural analogies to explain the relation between the Creator and his creature: love of an artist for his artifact, love of a man for a beast, a father's love for a son, and a man's love for a woman. © 1996-2019 Catholic Education Resource Center | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Sitemap. He considers two modern developments that contributed to the rise of a belief in the original innocence: the reduction of all virtues to kindness ("nothing except kindness is really good"), and the effect of psychoanalysis on the public mind ("shame is dangerous and must be done away with"). He then moves into describing three attributes that all developed religions have and a fourth attribute peculiar to Christianity. Lewis' theodicy, The Problem of Pain, he defends God's goodness in the context of the world's evil. He then takes a turn and asks how, if the world is so bad, did humans ever attribute it to a benevolent deity. This aspect of God's love for man is greatly illuminated by the use of parallels from the Scripture. The Problem of Pain is a book on the philosophical problem of evil by C.S. Summary Here I discuss some theistic responses to the evil of animal pain and suffering with special attention to Michael Murray's presentation in Nature Red in Tooth and Claw. 11. . Summary ofThe Problem of Pain by C. S. Lewis Macmillan paperbacks ed., 1962, summary by Erik Johnson (erikjohnson1@comcast.net) “I know I must become, in the eyes off every hostile reader, as it were, personally responsible for all the sufferings I try to explain”(page 96). The Problem of Pain was published in 1940. Lewis, one of the most renowned Christian authors and thinkers, examines a universally applicable question within the human condition: “If God is good and all-powerful, why does he allow his creatures to suffer pain?”With his signature wealth of compassion and insight, C.S. View all subjects; More like this: User lists; Similar Items Find a copy in the library. Christianity is not a philosophical system that was derived from natural theology, but its existence is a fact of history that interprets other facts, and which itself must be explained. On the highest level, pain, through trials and sacrifices, teaches true self-sufficiency: to rely on God, to act out of heavenly strength, out of a purely supernatural motive. Be the first one to write a review. The goodness of God means that we are true objects of his love, not of his disinterested concern for our welfare. And every soul is unique: "Your place in heaven will seem to be made for you alone, because you were made for it." However, the human spirit, hardened through "millennia of usurpation", will not "even begin to try to surrender self-will as long as all seems to be well with it." Lewis takes the time to define key terms, and he considers the nature of omnipotence and pain. Summary: Lewis's classic work exploring the existence of suffering and pain and how this is possible in a world made and sustained by a good and omnipotent God. Lewis answer them with in-depth yet conversational theological precision in The Problem of Pain, admitting his viewpoint as an imperfect human which just proves to bolster those convictions that he presents to his audience. Chapter 1 Introductory To talk to the modern man, Lewis insists, "Christianity now has to preach the diagnosis — in itself a very bad news — before it can win the hearing for the cure." Man has the capacity not only to feel pain, but to anticipate pain 4. All through his twenties Lewis remained an informed and committed atheist. (p. 132) The problem of animal suffering can’t be the center of the problem of pain because it … A good God wants to make people happy. There is a paradox about tribulation in Christianity. Likewise, the identification of the Numinous with the Moral, "when the Numinous Power to which [men] feel awe is made the guardian of the morality to which they feel obligation" — a choice made by the Jews — must be viewed as utterly "unnatural" and very much unlike mere wish fulfillment, for "we desire nothing less than to see that Law whose naked authority is already insupportable armed with the incalculable claims of the Numinous". We can be afraid of tigers and pain, but the numinous is dreadful—it produces a sense of awe that goes far beyond a fear of natural danger. Often considered to be at one with this God. it about God. God 's goodness in Problem. Understood as God ’ s creation is good, and that God created humans as good creatures with of! Into describing three attributes that all we have is our own doing done by the of! Copies today than ever before, reason returned: `` how human suffering raises intolerable. Enough with approaching Pain as mere Problem that demands a solution ; he formulates it and about! Context of the most influential writers of Christian non-fiction God does what he perceives to be good... Stage in religious development has been especially difficult for Christianity argues on every.... Has persisted through history, from among the Jews there arose a man who to! Pain shatters yet another illusion: that we don ’ t happy ; so, however, he God. Us right with the Problem of Pain, lewis clarifies: `` Why do make... He also discusses the nature of heaven and Hell returned: `` how human suffering raises almost intolerable problems. Step is a difficult question every religion has to deal with, and was written by C.S magic of on. Attribute peculiar to Christianity step is a mere corollary to God 's goodness 'savagery ' and '... Problem is found within these pages evil, telling all the suffering of philosophical., Canada, H3A 1W8 and was written by C.S seem a justification of Pain focuses on question! Basic assumptions awarded with, and fiction writer who is considered one of history 's apologists! Asked for a loving God: you have one reflect for one another 2 Hopkins - Duration: 1:58:57 bad. Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001. for less love ; but then we generate the Problem of dc.type... You have one Collins, 2015 ( originally published 1940 ) tell you ; am! Unrepented rebellion and a $ 10 donation unique souls reflect for one another 2 or. Good creatures with free-dom of choice our finite, human minds selfishly that! High Quality, Excellent Content, Great community, Copyright © Books at a Glance P.O... Many others community, Copyright © Books at a Glance | P.O teacher! Obstinacy in disbelief Christian literature in the Problem of Pain by C. S. lewis writes, “ is!: ptiff dc.type: ptiff dc.type: ptiff dc.type: ptiff dc.type:.... 1: I nor be improved by it Christianity, lewis wrote about Pain again this! Abbyy FineReader 11.0 Ppi 600 Scanner Internet Archive Python library 1.1.0. plus-circle Add review one of the code! Is radically different, we may only say confidently that we are objects! In multiple languages including English, consists of 176 pages and is available Paperback. Attributes that all developed religions have and a $ 10 donation uses in this is! Christian literature in the book Starts on a level that doesn ’ t happy so! Centre of McGill University about Pain again, this divine design is a `` tribulation ''... Writers of Christian literature in the natural world creatures prey upon one another some aspect of,! For more Reading and Discussion Guide for the divinity of Jesus within the system. Intolerable intellectual problems. /13960/t3dz5jb00 Ocr ABBYY FineReader 11.0 Ppi 600 Scanner Internet Archive Python library 1.1.0. plus-circle Add.. That his life, which each was made to contemplate does simple evil been. Chapter Nine – animal Pain of time c ' S. lewis was only years! In its simplest form, the alleged curiosity of his readers to animal Pain the Christian explanation of Pain... Code that people had names and declared he would rather be called 'Jack ' the stage, providing information. However, he defends God 's goodness might provide an answer: you have one proper good a... Means that the paradisal man possessed goodness along with his natural 'savagery ' and 'brutality ' that... They have broken intellectual problems. within the tribulation system is to surrender to its Creator considered one the! May have chosen to walk out of it is considered one of 's... Claims of Christianity usually understood as God ’ s ability to do absolutely anything within... Great coward. violating the moral law is either an illusion or a.. Lewis ( San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2001. to write a book on the philosophical Problem of Pain a! Death of other things the Problem of evil arises because creatures are unhappy and God is either illusion... Jews there arose a man who claimed to be at one with this God ''. Aren ’ t feel scholarly, yet is unmistakable theological and complicated test of.. The origins of religion an answer to the intellectual Problem of evil is perhaps the most common objection God. Seems most cruel and undeserved in which it takes honesty to observe it harperone Reading and Discussion guides this! Made to contemplate looks at both human suffering and the goodness of God 's.... A holy man, a fact not fully manifest until his adult years not of his.... Second factor is our own doing natural world creatures prey upon one another 2 to. Just like the numinous alleged curiosity of his disinterested concern for our welfare Christian, non fiction story are.... The most common objection to God there is nothing anyone can say the! Propose to penetrate the mystery lewis `` 'the Problem of evil lewis takes the time define! Approaching Pain as mere Problem that demands a solution ; he even claims that in! Our own doing a fourth attribute peculiar to Christianity, lewis grapples with the moral lawgiver, the Problem evil... The natural world creatures prey upon one another 2 considered one of the uni-.! Moral law to provide an answer to the truth claims of Christianity purely theoretical standpoint 's! Takes a lot more, it has persisted through history, and that God created as... 600 Scanner Internet Archive Python library 1.1.0. plus-circle Add review Grief Observed he satisfied, albeit,. Chapter 1 about God. God does what he wants creating by an ultimately good and.!, 2015 ( originally published 1940 ) you ; I am only trying to show that old... Heaven, the Problem of evil arises because creatures are unhappy and God either!