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Why Suffering?: Finding Meaning and Comfort When Life Doesn't Make Sense
Why would a loving and powerful God allow so much pain and suffering? In Why Suffering? Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale carefully walk you through a variety of responses that considered together provide a clear, comprehensive, and convincing answer. Responses like:
Where there is the possibility of love, there has to be the reality of freedom, and therefore the possibility of pain.
Wishing God had made a different world is to wish yourself out of existence.
The cross is the key to a compelling and rational explanation for trusting in God in the face of suffering.
In comparison with other world religions, the Christian response is highly distinctive.
The reality of evil only makes sense in light of the reality of divine goodness.
Relational knowledge about God takes the argument beyond reason to the presence of God amidst suffering.
God's decision to allow temporal suffering is understandable when viewed from an eternal perspective.
Divine goodness shows how to conquer not in spite of, but even through suffering.
Here is a book written with great respect for the complexity of the issue, recognizing that some who read it will be in the trenches of deep suffering themselves and others questioning the very existence of a loving God. Why Suffering? provides an answer to the problem of pain and suffering with emotional sensitivity and intellectual integrity.
Where there is the possibility of love, there has to be the reality of freedom, and therefore the possibility of pain.
Wishing God had made a different world is to wish yourself out of existence.
The cross is the key to a compelling and rational explanation for trusting in God in the face of suffering.
In comparison with other world religions, the Christian response is highly distinctive.
The reality of evil only makes sense in light of the reality of divine goodness.
Relational knowledge about God takes the argument beyond reason to the presence of God amidst suffering.
God's decision to allow temporal suffering is understandable when viewed from an eternal perspective.
Divine goodness shows how to conquer not in spite of, but even through suffering.
Here is a book written with great respect for the complexity of the issue, recognizing that some who read it will be in the trenches of deep suffering themselves and others questioning the very existence of a loving God. Why Suffering? provides an answer to the problem of pain and suffering with emotional sensitivity and intellectual integrity.
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First published September 2, 2014
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About the author
Ravi Zacharias
253 books1,662 followersFrederick Antony Ravi Kumar Zacharias was an Indian-born Canadian-American Christian evangelical minister and Christian apologist who founded Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). He was involved in Christian apologetics for a period spanning more than forty years, authoring more than thirty books. He also hosted the radio programs Let My People Think and Just Thinking. Zacharias belonged to the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA), the Keswickian Christian denomination in which he was ordained as a minister. After his death, allegations of sexual harassment against him emerged, were investigated, and found to be true.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
February 23, 2015
This is an admirable take on one of the major questions that persists for people of faith. Zacharias and Vitale don’t offer answers as such, but ways of thinking around the issue. Whether you find their tactics convincing will likely depend on where you stand on the orthodoxy spectrum. The approach reminds me very much of classic C.S. Lewis (e.g. Mere Christianity) in its reliance on both scripture and practical, real-world analogies – usually anecdotes from the authors’ lives. (I once attended a summer theology course with Vitale, so I’m pleased to see him having success as a faculty member and tutor at Oxford University. Still, I have the sneaking suspicion he’d be better used as a pastor than a philosopher.)
Speaking personally, I found Chapter 4, “A Response at the Cross,” to be the only acceptable strategy. This is the idea of Jesus as the suffering God; so long as you strip away the atonement theories that sprang up later, it can be extrapolated to other religions, too. Perhaps the only way Jews can make sense of the Holocaust and continue in faith, for example, is to insist that God was suffering right alongside them, then and always.
Why an omnipotent deity would stoop to suffer pain and death, however, is another matter, and does call into question the interventionist model. To my disappointment, the authors take the familiar cop-out line: we can’t understand suffering now, but when we get to Heaven God’s ways will all become clear. That’s little comfort to someone who doesn’t believe in an afterlife.
Speaking personally, I found Chapter 4, “A Response at the Cross,” to be the only acceptable strategy. This is the idea of Jesus as the suffering God; so long as you strip away the atonement theories that sprang up later, it can be extrapolated to other religions, too. Perhaps the only way Jews can make sense of the Holocaust and continue in faith, for example, is to insist that God was suffering right alongside them, then and always.
Why an omnipotent deity would stoop to suffer pain and death, however, is another matter, and does call into question the interventionist model. To my disappointment, the authors take the familiar cop-out line: we can’t understand suffering now, but when we get to Heaven God’s ways will all become clear. That’s little comfort to someone who doesn’t believe in an afterlife.
March 29, 2017
This book is not a light read. I mean, how can it be dealing with the subject of suffering and God. I listened to the book of which the author and his co-author narrate.
This is ultimately a book I'll purchase. I've always appreciated the deep thinker that Ravi Zacharias is and some of the concepts discussed in this book I feel like need to pondered over by reading repeatedly.
Does Christianity hold the only reasonable answer for suffering in this world? Definitely worth your time in reading (or listening) to find out.
Highly recommended.
This is ultimately a book I'll purchase. I've always appreciated the deep thinker that Ravi Zacharias is and some of the concepts discussed in this book I feel like need to pondered over by reading repeatedly.
Does Christianity hold the only reasonable answer for suffering in this world? Definitely worth your time in reading (or listening) to find out.
Highly recommended.
February 19, 2023
Wake up to reality! Nothing ever goes as planned in this accursed world. The longer you live, the more you realize that the only things that truly exist in this reality are merely pain. suffering and futility. Listen, everywhere you look in this world, wherever there is light, there will always be shadows to be found as well.
This is an amazing book for someone who has 0 pain in life, this is not for someone who lost his way, saw his Plan in the dark or lost the one he loved the most... Just old stories about pain and God
The old devil named Dawkins whispered to my ears in all chapters :
In a universe of blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt, other people are going to get lucky, and you won’t find any rhyme or reason in it, nor any justice. The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind pitiless indifference
Dawkins framework is so powerful, but Dawkins have his own airplane, he is from high class society, i think he have no business in the story of true pain and God (...)
Maybe Schopenhauer ?? in his book "L’arte di conoscere se stessi" he talk about fight and go beyond the path. am sorry Schopenhauer you spent all your weekends with whores, your books are far from your lifestyle you're the last to talk about fight in life.
Maybe Gautama (Bouddha)??, your framework is so so powerful but there's no desire in it, no flames, it's against human nature
Maybe Nietzsche, the great man who teaches the Übermensch, you fell in love with Lou Andreas-Salomé, and all what you said about superman is just words (i i understand you)
Is there other great Models that describes pain and god? of course there are, but trust me, Models are all a derivation or primitive of what i said before
Ravi Zacharias i understand you, your book is so good it should be 5⭐, but can you understand me?
This is an amazing book for someone who has 0 pain in life, this is not for someone who lost his way, saw his Plan in the dark or lost the one he loved the most... Just old stories about pain and God
The old devil named Dawkins whispered to my ears in all chapters :
In a universe of blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt, other people are going to get lucky, and you won’t find any rhyme or reason in it, nor any justice. The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind pitiless indifference
Dawkins framework is so powerful, but Dawkins have his own airplane, he is from high class society, i think he have no business in the story of true pain and God (...)
Maybe Schopenhauer ?? in his book "L’arte di conoscere se stessi" he talk about fight and go beyond the path. am sorry Schopenhauer you spent all your weekends with whores, your books are far from your lifestyle you're the last to talk about fight in life.
Maybe Gautama (Bouddha)??, your framework is so so powerful but there's no desire in it, no flames, it's against human nature
Maybe Nietzsche, the great man who teaches the Übermensch, you fell in love with Lou Andreas-Salomé, and all what you said about superman is just words (i i understand you)
Is there other great Models that describes pain and god? of course there are, but trust me, Models are all a derivation or primitive of what i said before
Ravi Zacharias i understand you, your book is so good it should be 5⭐, but can you understand me?
March 11, 2015
Sigh...sigh. I am just gutted at the last round of Christian books I have read. So many sound the same, it's like the regurgitation of the bible without a clear, fresh message to express from it.
I was keen on this book as going through very complex serious health crisis at quite a young age. I was hoping to find God's comfort and some down to earth wisdom to help me cope and well "find meaning".
Through personal anecdotes, scripture references and expansions the book does certainly cover what God has to say about suffering and even about suffering well. But sadly lacking is the actual real life application of the message, the Bible is a book of wisdom, of how to live, yet I don't felt the author got the true message across, at least not to me.
As a reader of Christian books for about 15 years now, I have found the content and quality going gradually downhill for some time. Very average reading, it was okay but there are better books out there on the subject in my opinion. But that's all it is, my opinion.
I was keen on this book as going through very complex serious health crisis at quite a young age. I was hoping to find God's comfort and some down to earth wisdom to help me cope and well "find meaning".
Through personal anecdotes, scripture references and expansions the book does certainly cover what God has to say about suffering and even about suffering well. But sadly lacking is the actual real life application of the message, the Bible is a book of wisdom, of how to live, yet I don't felt the author got the true message across, at least not to me.
As a reader of Christian books for about 15 years now, I have found the content and quality going gradually downhill for some time. Very average reading, it was okay but there are better books out there on the subject in my opinion. But that's all it is, my opinion.
March 1, 2025
I bought this book long before the Ravi Zacharias scandal came to light. Just recently, I saw it on my bookshelf and decided to read it now knowing how he lived outside the limelight. Many interesting and even valid arguments were made about why there can be a good God in the midst of suffering. However, reading this book reminded me more than anything that a relationship with Jesus must be more than head knowledge or any one of us can live our lives with hidden sins. Jesus is not an intellectual problem to be solved but a friend to be known. If nothing else, this book reminded me to have a friend in Jesus rather than a theory of Jesus.
January 22, 2015
Several years ago I listen to a podcast by Ravi critiquing Rob Bell's controversial book "Love Wins" (a book I ultimately didn't agree with) but it really didn't seem Ravi even read what he strongly condemned, he claimed Bell was a universalist (a misrepresentation) and that Bell didn't believe there was a hell (another misrepresentation), and then Ravi used an argument for the existence of hell to prove Bell wrong, and get this, it was the very argument Bell himself used in the book to show why Bell himself believed there is a hell! It was absolutely outrageous and a shameful display of Ravi and this completely turned me off to reading or hearing anything more from him. But I saw this audiobook at the Library and decided despite my bad experience, I'd give him one more go. And for the most part, this book soften my heart, and convinced me that the podcast I listen to several years ago was Ravi at his worst (no ones perfect). I am glad I got to hear him speak on a different topic. This book showed me why evangelicals like him so much, when countering and showing the vacuousness of eastern ideas and western materialist philosophy--Ravi is genius and enlivens his logic with some excellent stories and conversations he's had.
With Vince, I liked some what he wrote. It was in one of Vince's chapters that he spoke of the book of Job and finally, I think I was able to recognize an aspect of the books significance. There is a sense where no matter how HUGE, all encompassing and gripping our grievances, questions, hurt and conundrums, when we actually experience God, it is as if all of it evaporates like mist, something that seemed the size of the universe now seems the size of an insignificant ant. I've experience this kind of thing, and I liked that Vince draw my attention to this.
With Vince, I liked some what he wrote. It was in one of Vince's chapters that he spoke of the book of Job and finally, I think I was able to recognize an aspect of the books significance. There is a sense where no matter how HUGE, all encompassing and gripping our grievances, questions, hurt and conundrums, when we actually experience God, it is as if all of it evaporates like mist, something that seemed the size of the universe now seems the size of an insignificant ant. I've experience this kind of thing, and I liked that Vince draw my attention to this.
June 4, 2015
I bought this book last year when Ravi was doing a book signing and it's taken me this long to get to reading it! Definitely one of the best and most lucid books on suffering I've read. This is a popular level apologetics work, but it still brought fresh observations to the table for me. I highly recommend this if the question of evil or suffering is bothering you! Zacharias and Vitale have gathered a strong cumulative case in favor of suffering actually being a strong argument FOR not AGAINST God. .
December 2, 2014
Typical apologists method using selective rationale to support pre-existing beliefs.
It is a book that preaches to choir.
It is a book that preaches to choir.
March 6, 2015
Had a difficult time following his reasoning.
November 26, 2016
Thought provoking and encouraging!
July 30, 2016
Even though Ravi Zacharias is my number one favorite thinker and religious philosopher on the planet - I held off reading this for a long while. I assumed it would be all emotional and depressing (with many hints of HOPE, it is Ravi after all) and go into great detail about old Job and other Bible character's sufferings and trials. As essential as this topic is, it's just not my fight right now - soon perhaps.
But I loved it. AS I do all Ravi's books.
I've found most of my answers to comprehending human suffering a few years ago ("Cough, that Bible book God have us centuries ago"). So no reason to endlessly go researching how to beat a dead horse. Suffering is what it is, and i've spent time coming to grips with it. But There's NOT a Ravi book or video that i'm not eager to embrace. So the time came to read this...
And it was essential. This book should have been bigger though. This is a bit of a starter kit for making sense of suffering. There's a reason God's book has around a 1000 pages and is jammed packed - It's NOT necessarily for beginners. But i'm thinking that many who are suffering are in need of some quick comprehension and application. For that: thanks Ravi and Vince Vitale.
So "Why suffering? Finding meaning and comfort when life doesn't make sense".
If life makes perfect sense, then simply move on and live out your days. AND PLEASE STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMS (we all complain endlessly). But for the rest of us that are inquisitive about our challenges and purposes; we need to learn to think and question things like Ravi and Vince do. And this book shows us how.
The problem is:
Some folks find comfort in a lie. Atheists claim to find a meaning that offers Zero hope. Buddhists and Hindu's claim the meaning is to be ignored and treated as an illusion. Cults assume we must overcome our suffering with works and desperation. But Christianity and Jesus? It claims Suffering is a relationship with eternal value and purpose - it brings out the best and WORST in us. And our Jesus embraced suffering with us to show the depths of HIS LOVE.
Give us a natural disaster: and we'll show you a humanity that puts aside its selfish desires and learns to apply Love and Compassion. If we had a world with no danger - i'm betting we'd be so bored with pleasure and profit that we simply cease to care. (so why won't this happen in Heaven? Because we won't have a fleshly human nature, we will have a NEW nature that looks to a Kingly Savior for joy and purpose. Not alot of that happening down here. And with Jesus as our eternal King: what HE says will have full agreement amongst his people. There could be nothing better)
So what's in this book exactly?
Suffering AND pain... and how to see it through God's eyes. And how we annoying humans see it.
The problem is most people don't think very deeply about it. They just apply pure and total emotion to their predicament (which is why JOB showed us friends can come in handy, or in hindrance.)
No getting around it - pain hits us emotionally. All of the logic in the universe won't make us dismiss our pain with a smile or wink. God knew we would need it to have deep healthy relationships, and it tests those relationships. (remember that Bible verse: "Jesus wept.")
AS much as i've heard endless atheists accuse God of NOT being loving and there to stop the pain and suffering - I seldom see them apply that same logic to parenting their own children. To not allow for any chance of pain is to not allow a loving freedom to your children. Have you ever met those kids that were so coddled by insane protective parents that they were unfit to ever have a job or spouse or risky vacation or hobby? No extreme sports for them, not even a rowdy trip to the Water-slide park. These people won't even have pets because of the risk to their children. Hmmm, i'm glad we don't have a God like that. (and so is my DOG!)
So: Can God stop Evil?
Sure he can, who wants to go first? ... hmmm, nobody it seems. folks insist only OTHER people's freedom's be restricted.
Funny enough, for all those people who blame God for not stopping evil. They are the first to complain about all the times God ACTUALLY DID stop evil (remember NOAH'S flood in the Bible? The stopping of the Canaanites? Death of the Egyptians? God killing Annanias & Sapphira in the New Testament? God making a HELL to separate those who love HIS SON from those who refuse to?)
Stopping evil and suffering is not a challenge for God.
And dealing with it properly causes us to rely on HIM.
It's a game perfectly played.
____________________
Here's a good chapter heading: "The Pain of Painlessness"
Yes, often pain is a good thing. It tells us amazing and essential things. Even though modern doctors tell us to take a pill whenever we are uncomfortable - this can hide the warning system that announces there's a HUGE FREAKIN' PROBLEM coming. Kind of like a loud siren that warns of a coming Monsoon, imagine somebody asking if the siren could be turned down a little so they can enjoy their favorite TV show??? And that is the blessing of pain. It means something is wrong. Pay attention.
I could quote endlessly from this book. Here's a few:
(pg. 29)
When belief in God becomes difficult, the tendency is to turn away from him-but in heaven's name to what? When Jesus asked the twelve disciples closest to Him whether they too would desert Him with the rest of His disciples, Peter replied for all us down through the ages when he said, "Lord, to whom shall we go?" (John 6:68) Where can one go for an answer?
(pg. 35)
"the point is clear that if God is the author of life, He has an answer to suffering. If something indeed came from nothing then nothing is really the answer to suffering. But if we are the creation of a personal, moral, infinite, loving God, then He will have the answer for us."
If there is no god: then I don't think the Universe likes us. Best to just wait for an asteroid to pummel into us and halt our bickering.
They quote G.K. Chesterton a few times. Here's a good one:
(pg. 38)
"With God as the prime mover, an explanation for everything else can be found... (similar to) the sun is the one created thing we cannot look at, but it is the means by which we look at the rest of creation. Like the sun, it is the spiritual that gives light to and explains everything else."
Here's a rare moment of truth:
(pg. 39)
"I remember a young woman once saying to me through her tears, "Let no one ever tell you that divorce is easy. It is the ultimate form of inner shattering."...A broken love means a broken life. Love enters the deepest recesses of who we are. When love is plundered, the loneliness one is left with is agonizing... Why did we walk away from the love of God? We made a free choice. We DIVORCED Him."
So that's some of the stuff in this book. REAL issues we must deal with in a broken reality. Some claim because there are issues - There must be no god. I say it's the opposite. Since we aren't simply meaningless weeds growing and dying on a backwater planet - There must be a GOD.
__________
Here's a fun final quote:
(pg. 184)
"I find it interesting to note that when we create worlds -movie worlds, for instance- we too, tend not to create utopias with no possibility of suffering. Without the possibility of serious suffering, there would be no Frodo, no Forrest Gump, no Superman (no FAST AND FURIOUS part 5). The difference, someone might point out, is that in the movie worlds things work out well in the end. But of course, according to the Christian story, that will also be the case with our world."
So, this book is much better than I expected. And it goes into numerous philosophical and physical areas of suffering. There are some great personal stories by Ravi and Vince. And there are indeed answers FROM A GOD - A god who allowed himself to suffer WITH and FOR us.
But I loved it. AS I do all Ravi's books.
I've found most of my answers to comprehending human suffering a few years ago ("Cough, that Bible book God have us centuries ago"). So no reason to endlessly go researching how to beat a dead horse. Suffering is what it is, and i've spent time coming to grips with it. But There's NOT a Ravi book or video that i'm not eager to embrace. So the time came to read this...
And it was essential. This book should have been bigger though. This is a bit of a starter kit for making sense of suffering. There's a reason God's book has around a 1000 pages and is jammed packed - It's NOT necessarily for beginners. But i'm thinking that many who are suffering are in need of some quick comprehension and application. For that: thanks Ravi and Vince Vitale.
So "Why suffering? Finding meaning and comfort when life doesn't make sense".
If life makes perfect sense, then simply move on and live out your days. AND PLEASE STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMS (we all complain endlessly). But for the rest of us that are inquisitive about our challenges and purposes; we need to learn to think and question things like Ravi and Vince do. And this book shows us how.
The problem is:
Some folks find comfort in a lie. Atheists claim to find a meaning that offers Zero hope. Buddhists and Hindu's claim the meaning is to be ignored and treated as an illusion. Cults assume we must overcome our suffering with works and desperation. But Christianity and Jesus? It claims Suffering is a relationship with eternal value and purpose - it brings out the best and WORST in us. And our Jesus embraced suffering with us to show the depths of HIS LOVE.
Give us a natural disaster: and we'll show you a humanity that puts aside its selfish desires and learns to apply Love and Compassion. If we had a world with no danger - i'm betting we'd be so bored with pleasure and profit that we simply cease to care. (so why won't this happen in Heaven? Because we won't have a fleshly human nature, we will have a NEW nature that looks to a Kingly Savior for joy and purpose. Not alot of that happening down here. And with Jesus as our eternal King: what HE says will have full agreement amongst his people. There could be nothing better)
So what's in this book exactly?
Suffering AND pain... and how to see it through God's eyes. And how we annoying humans see it.
The problem is most people don't think very deeply about it. They just apply pure and total emotion to their predicament (which is why JOB showed us friends can come in handy, or in hindrance.)
No getting around it - pain hits us emotionally. All of the logic in the universe won't make us dismiss our pain with a smile or wink. God knew we would need it to have deep healthy relationships, and it tests those relationships. (remember that Bible verse: "Jesus wept.")
AS much as i've heard endless atheists accuse God of NOT being loving and there to stop the pain and suffering - I seldom see them apply that same logic to parenting their own children. To not allow for any chance of pain is to not allow a loving freedom to your children. Have you ever met those kids that were so coddled by insane protective parents that they were unfit to ever have a job or spouse or risky vacation or hobby? No extreme sports for them, not even a rowdy trip to the Water-slide park. These people won't even have pets because of the risk to their children. Hmmm, i'm glad we don't have a God like that. (and so is my DOG!)
So: Can God stop Evil?
Sure he can, who wants to go first? ... hmmm, nobody it seems. folks insist only OTHER people's freedom's be restricted.
Funny enough, for all those people who blame God for not stopping evil. They are the first to complain about all the times God ACTUALLY DID stop evil (remember NOAH'S flood in the Bible? The stopping of the Canaanites? Death of the Egyptians? God killing Annanias & Sapphira in the New Testament? God making a HELL to separate those who love HIS SON from those who refuse to?)
Stopping evil and suffering is not a challenge for God.
And dealing with it properly causes us to rely on HIM.
It's a game perfectly played.
____________________
Here's a good chapter heading: "The Pain of Painlessness"
Yes, often pain is a good thing. It tells us amazing and essential things. Even though modern doctors tell us to take a pill whenever we are uncomfortable - this can hide the warning system that announces there's a HUGE FREAKIN' PROBLEM coming. Kind of like a loud siren that warns of a coming Monsoon, imagine somebody asking if the siren could be turned down a little so they can enjoy their favorite TV show??? And that is the blessing of pain. It means something is wrong. Pay attention.
I could quote endlessly from this book. Here's a few:
(pg. 29)
When belief in God becomes difficult, the tendency is to turn away from him-but in heaven's name to what? When Jesus asked the twelve disciples closest to Him whether they too would desert Him with the rest of His disciples, Peter replied for all us down through the ages when he said, "Lord, to whom shall we go?" (John 6:68) Where can one go for an answer?
(pg. 35)
"the point is clear that if God is the author of life, He has an answer to suffering. If something indeed came from nothing then nothing is really the answer to suffering. But if we are the creation of a personal, moral, infinite, loving God, then He will have the answer for us."
If there is no god: then I don't think the Universe likes us. Best to just wait for an asteroid to pummel into us and halt our bickering.
They quote G.K. Chesterton a few times. Here's a good one:
(pg. 38)
"With God as the prime mover, an explanation for everything else can be found... (similar to) the sun is the one created thing we cannot look at, but it is the means by which we look at the rest of creation. Like the sun, it is the spiritual that gives light to and explains everything else."
Here's a rare moment of truth:
(pg. 39)
"I remember a young woman once saying to me through her tears, "Let no one ever tell you that divorce is easy. It is the ultimate form of inner shattering."...A broken love means a broken life. Love enters the deepest recesses of who we are. When love is plundered, the loneliness one is left with is agonizing... Why did we walk away from the love of God? We made a free choice. We DIVORCED Him."
So that's some of the stuff in this book. REAL issues we must deal with in a broken reality. Some claim because there are issues - There must be no god. I say it's the opposite. Since we aren't simply meaningless weeds growing and dying on a backwater planet - There must be a GOD.
__________
Here's a fun final quote:
(pg. 184)
"I find it interesting to note that when we create worlds -movie worlds, for instance- we too, tend not to create utopias with no possibility of suffering. Without the possibility of serious suffering, there would be no Frodo, no Forrest Gump, no Superman (no FAST AND FURIOUS part 5). The difference, someone might point out, is that in the movie worlds things work out well in the end. But of course, according to the Christian story, that will also be the case with our world."
So, this book is much better than I expected. And it goes into numerous philosophical and physical areas of suffering. There are some great personal stories by Ravi and Vince. And there are indeed answers FROM A GOD - A god who allowed himself to suffer WITH and FOR us.
March 18, 2017
O carte de apologetica foarte buna!
February 26, 2020
As usual, Ravi Zacharias gives the reader a lot to think about, and this book is no exception. As a person who has lived over two decades in the Middle East and North Africa, I appreciate how this book helps the reader to see that suffering is not viewed the same by all people groups. What may be hard for an American to handle in relation to suffering could be a daily occurrence to a person in Africa or Asia.
Ravi's chapter on freedom is powerful and there are two quotes that really got me. One is from G.K. Chesterton: "The sun is the one created thing we cannot look at, but it is the means by which we look at the rest of creation."
The second relates to the different perspectives of worldviews: "No matter how the naturalist focuses on science or the pantheist on detachment from the material, the people of this world cry out for meaning and purpose in their existence."
Vince Vitale and Ravi Zacharias weave a wonderful narrative and thought-provoking work on this topic that will help many in the years to come.
Ravi's chapter on freedom is powerful and there are two quotes that really got me. One is from G.K. Chesterton: "The sun is the one created thing we cannot look at, but it is the means by which we look at the rest of creation."
The second relates to the different perspectives of worldviews: "No matter how the naturalist focuses on science or the pantheist on detachment from the material, the people of this world cry out for meaning and purpose in their existence."
Vince Vitale and Ravi Zacharias weave a wonderful narrative and thought-provoking work on this topic that will help many in the years to come.
March 16, 2020
Very impactful read. The authors delivery was easy to read, but offered deep insight that kept your mind thinking even when you put the book down.
November 27, 2020
Fără scop, suferința nu poate fi explicată. Fără dragoste, nu putem cunoaște sensul vieții.
Ravi Zacharias
Ravi Zacharias
August 13, 2024
I debated between giving this book 3 or 4 stars. Ultimately, the portion of the book focused on the example of a doctor being willing to give up his own blood and/or his own life to save his patient (even if the patient did not understand what was wrong or why something went wrong) - implying that regardless of your understanding, you can at least trust that the doctor is likely “for your good” and cares about you - this portion is what bumped the book up to 4 stars, from my perspective. (Pages 84-85)
I was on board with the logical reasoning that love involves free-will, and anytime free-will is involved, it necessitates the possibility of man-made pain or suffering (rejection, physical violence, etc.). However, I do wish the book had provided more than a few sentences regarding non-man-made suffering, such as natural disasters, diseases, etc. I still don’t quite know that the argument of free-will is sufficient to answer the questions of “Why Natural Disasters or Why Disease?”. I suppose this was touched on in the chapter related to God wanting to love the real me that could only be achieved through those types of suffering, but I don’t think that provides a great framework other than “God is free to use terrible things to produce the type of creature He wants”. From an intellectual perspective, I think I’d like to learn more regarding the rationale behind non-made-modes of suffering, but I also recognize that it’s possible that God could have reasons for allowing these types of suffering that aren’t possible for me to understand at this time. But overall, the book did a good job of providing many thought-provoking chapters on the topic of pain and suffering.
For my own future notes:
Page 62 - When asked what was wrong with the world, G.K. Chesterton responded, “I am.”
Pages 70-71 - In regards to God potentially wanting to create a universe that would result in the exact version of yourself that we have now: “In sum, had the possibilities for suffering in this world been
very different, events would have unfolded so differently that an entirely different community of people would have come to exist. Our parents never would have gotten together. They never would have conceived at the precise time that they did. And therefore “we," as the individuals we are, never would
have lived. We often wish we could take some piece of suffering out of the world while keeping everything else the same. But it doesn't work that way. Changing anything changes everything, and everyone.”
Page 78 - “The philosopher Peter van Inwagen, for instance, notes that earthquakes and tornadoes are not
intrinsically evil. They are evil only when people are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Van Inwagen suggests that at some point in the earth's history, God raised beings to a state of rationality and moral awareness and then brought them into intimate relationship with Himself. In that state of untainted union with God, van Inwagen wonders whether
these first human persons would have had a sort of sixth sense that always allowed them to not be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The loss of this sense when these persons fell into estrangement from God, van Inwagen theorizes, would be just as natural a consequence as the loss of human language is for a feral child." Thus, there are coherent theories accord-
ing to which even so-called natural suffering can be traced back to free decisions against God, and therefore understood as allowed by God rather than directly caused by Him.”
Chapter 5 touched on the responses to suffering from Buddhism, Islam, and Naturalism.
The trilemma in Chapter 1 from the atheist philosopher J.L. Mackie:
1. God is all-powerful
2. God is all-loving
3. Evil is a reality
Ravi’s counter trilemma in Chapter 6:
1. No God exists
2. Man is the source of all definitions of love
3. Good exists
I was on board with the logical reasoning that love involves free-will, and anytime free-will is involved, it necessitates the possibility of man-made pain or suffering (rejection, physical violence, etc.). However, I do wish the book had provided more than a few sentences regarding non-man-made suffering, such as natural disasters, diseases, etc. I still don’t quite know that the argument of free-will is sufficient to answer the questions of “Why Natural Disasters or Why Disease?”. I suppose this was touched on in the chapter related to God wanting to love the real me that could only be achieved through those types of suffering, but I don’t think that provides a great framework other than “God is free to use terrible things to produce the type of creature He wants”. From an intellectual perspective, I think I’d like to learn more regarding the rationale behind non-made-modes of suffering, but I also recognize that it’s possible that God could have reasons for allowing these types of suffering that aren’t possible for me to understand at this time. But overall, the book did a good job of providing many thought-provoking chapters on the topic of pain and suffering.
For my own future notes:
Page 62 - When asked what was wrong with the world, G.K. Chesterton responded, “I am.”
Pages 70-71 - In regards to God potentially wanting to create a universe that would result in the exact version of yourself that we have now: “In sum, had the possibilities for suffering in this world been
very different, events would have unfolded so differently that an entirely different community of people would have come to exist. Our parents never would have gotten together. They never would have conceived at the precise time that they did. And therefore “we," as the individuals we are, never would
have lived. We often wish we could take some piece of suffering out of the world while keeping everything else the same. But it doesn't work that way. Changing anything changes everything, and everyone.”
Page 78 - “The philosopher Peter van Inwagen, for instance, notes that earthquakes and tornadoes are not
intrinsically evil. They are evil only when people are in the wrong place at the wrong time. Van Inwagen suggests that at some point in the earth's history, God raised beings to a state of rationality and moral awareness and then brought them into intimate relationship with Himself. In that state of untainted union with God, van Inwagen wonders whether
these first human persons would have had a sort of sixth sense that always allowed them to not be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The loss of this sense when these persons fell into estrangement from God, van Inwagen theorizes, would be just as natural a consequence as the loss of human language is for a feral child." Thus, there are coherent theories accord-
ing to which even so-called natural suffering can be traced back to free decisions against God, and therefore understood as allowed by God rather than directly caused by Him.”
Chapter 5 touched on the responses to suffering from Buddhism, Islam, and Naturalism.
The trilemma in Chapter 1 from the atheist philosopher J.L. Mackie:
1. God is all-powerful
2. God is all-loving
3. Evil is a reality
Ravi’s counter trilemma in Chapter 6:
1. No God exists
2. Man is the source of all definitions of love
3. Good exists
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
February 25, 2016This is a book that is intended to give an answer, not only to skeptics, but to those who are of various persuasions, as to why suffering is not inconsistent with the reality of a living, and loving God. It also dispels the notion that if a loving, beneficent God genuinely cares for humanity, thereby- since suffering is so obvious and universal- it must therefore follow that he is not an omnipotent God.
Zacharias lives up to his reputation as a Christian apologist with heart, acknowledging that people under extreme circumstances are often not comforted even with the very best of reasons, while the suffering runs its course. At the time of greatest need, they don’t need the cold comfort of logical argument. The inadequacy may only be met by being hugged, or having someone of understanding quietly standing at their side, they need friends and family beside them, and most essentially, “the balm of Gilead”. Vitale also, adds a personal story illustrating the same thing as he relates to an Aunt who gracefully reminds him that a mother watching the suffering of her child doesn’t ask for, or need a justification for suffering, they simply want their child to be delivered from it.
Nevertheless, as these authors go on to show, the need for answers to this perennial “trilemma” is ongoing and vital. They point out that the question of suffering is really an illegitimate question for the naturalist. Not only is it a problem for the naturalist, but from the perspective of Buddhism, and Islam and other persuasions, there are inherent contradictions the authors do a solid job of exposing. They not only cover old ground, but bring new perspectives into the discussion. Among which is the question: Would you actually have come into existence as you now find yourself, if the world was not as it is, full of suffering and anguish? The old adage “be careful what you wish for” applies here. They bring a philosophical rigour to the questions that will satisfy any but closed minds.
Between the two authors, Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale, they bring a wealth of knowledge, apologetic argument, and personal anecdotes into the whole arena of suffering. Only someone in the midst of anguish and personal loss can adequately answer the question: Is this book what they need? Well, the book does answer that question, not by being the answer- but in all humility, by pointing to the person of Christ, who in his own suffering reveals a God who is there, a God who enters our world to suffer as a human, and alongside a suffering humanity in a broken world.
As an apologetic resource, this is a must read for all Christians who wish to honour God, and meet head on with those who oppose themselves and arm themselves with the argument from suffering. As such it also shows why defending the faith is so necessary in today’s skeptical world.
Zacharias lives up to his reputation as a Christian apologist with heart, acknowledging that people under extreme circumstances are often not comforted even with the very best of reasons, while the suffering runs its course. At the time of greatest need, they don’t need the cold comfort of logical argument. The inadequacy may only be met by being hugged, or having someone of understanding quietly standing at their side, they need friends and family beside them, and most essentially, “the balm of Gilead”. Vitale also, adds a personal story illustrating the same thing as he relates to an Aunt who gracefully reminds him that a mother watching the suffering of her child doesn’t ask for, or need a justification for suffering, they simply want their child to be delivered from it.
Nevertheless, as these authors go on to show, the need for answers to this perennial “trilemma” is ongoing and vital. They point out that the question of suffering is really an illegitimate question for the naturalist. Not only is it a problem for the naturalist, but from the perspective of Buddhism, and Islam and other persuasions, there are inherent contradictions the authors do a solid job of exposing. They not only cover old ground, but bring new perspectives into the discussion. Among which is the question: Would you actually have come into existence as you now find yourself, if the world was not as it is, full of suffering and anguish? The old adage “be careful what you wish for” applies here. They bring a philosophical rigour to the questions that will satisfy any but closed minds.
Between the two authors, Ravi Zacharias and Vince Vitale, they bring a wealth of knowledge, apologetic argument, and personal anecdotes into the whole arena of suffering. Only someone in the midst of anguish and personal loss can adequately answer the question: Is this book what they need? Well, the book does answer that question, not by being the answer- but in all humility, by pointing to the person of Christ, who in his own suffering reveals a God who is there, a God who enters our world to suffer as a human, and alongside a suffering humanity in a broken world.
As an apologetic resource, this is a must read for all Christians who wish to honour God, and meet head on with those who oppose themselves and arm themselves with the argument from suffering. As such it also shows why defending the faith is so necessary in today’s skeptical world.
April 10, 2015
Why Suffering? Finding Meaning and Comfort When Life Doesn’t Make Sense. This book is fabulous, clear, insightful, interesting & engaging. You really want to read this book.
In finding a way to approach the problem of pain and pleasure or good and evil, the authors use worldviews as a lens to peer through in order to gain some sort of understanding. The book is written by Ravi Zacharias & Vince Vitale, & this combination works well. Vitale shows us, with a large arrow pointing to the gospel, how the sacrifice of a parent to suffer on behalf of a child paints a wonderful portrait of what God has done for us in Christ. Zacharias approaches the problem a little differently through conversations he's had in the past where other worldviews simply failed to provide a solid answer for suffering. Not only does he show us through conversation, he examines Islam & Buddhism & in the end they fall short of anything truly helpful.
The authors hold up Christianity next to Islam, Buddhism, & Naturalism. One by one, like a stack of dominoes, the other views simply cannot answer with any relevancy the desperate cry of a generation wrapped in darkness. They fold in on themselves when held up against the light of the gospel of Christ. No one aspect of what the authors claim has any power on its own. However, when paired up with that of the entire volume a cumulative case begins to emerge as the focus on God gets clearer & the reliance on transcending pain or relying on cause & effect begins to fade.
There are many books on suffering. There are many "paths" one may choose in answering the question on problem of pain. It's complexity is deep and it's answers numerous. Ravi & Vince help you to move through the complexities & make sense of it all & all the while revealing the hope that is Christ.
In finding a way to approach the problem of pain and pleasure or good and evil, the authors use worldviews as a lens to peer through in order to gain some sort of understanding. The book is written by Ravi Zacharias & Vince Vitale, & this combination works well. Vitale shows us, with a large arrow pointing to the gospel, how the sacrifice of a parent to suffer on behalf of a child paints a wonderful portrait of what God has done for us in Christ. Zacharias approaches the problem a little differently through conversations he's had in the past where other worldviews simply failed to provide a solid answer for suffering. Not only does he show us through conversation, he examines Islam & Buddhism & in the end they fall short of anything truly helpful.
The authors hold up Christianity next to Islam, Buddhism, & Naturalism. One by one, like a stack of dominoes, the other views simply cannot answer with any relevancy the desperate cry of a generation wrapped in darkness. They fold in on themselves when held up against the light of the gospel of Christ. No one aspect of what the authors claim has any power on its own. However, when paired up with that of the entire volume a cumulative case begins to emerge as the focus on God gets clearer & the reliance on transcending pain or relying on cause & effect begins to fade.
There are many books on suffering. There are many "paths" one may choose in answering the question on problem of pain. It's complexity is deep and it's answers numerous. Ravi & Vince help you to move through the complexities & make sense of it all & all the while revealing the hope that is Christ.
December 10, 2014
Why suffering? Every viewpoint of human origin has to deal with that question. Did the authors answer the question? Without spoiling the read, they take a shotgun approach, admitting they wrestle with the question from different angles using Christian-based arguments to try to get to a clearer picture. I did find the book worth my time to read, and do feel I received some valuable insight to a season of suffering I was going through. I have often enjoyed books by Ravi Zacharias, and hope you will too.
January 23, 2016
This was an excellent book. Ravi and Vince do a great job of listing not one but multiple reasons why belief in God is not made null by the problem of suffering. While they don't claim that any one reason is without question or conclusive in and of itself, the number of reasons makes the Christian Worldview and the view of a good God pretty reasonable.
Aside from the apologetic value of this book, it is a good read in the midst of suffering, where you want to look up at God and ask - WHY?
The writing styles of both men are different, and each excellent. I definitely recommend this book.
Aside from the apologetic value of this book, it is a good read in the midst of suffering, where you want to look up at God and ask - WHY?
The writing styles of both men are different, and each excellent. I definitely recommend this book.
January 19, 2015
Ravi shares the writing with Vince Vitale, a member of the RZIM team. As one would expect from Ravi it is an excellent apologetic for the unity of Suffering in this world and each individual life and a loving compassionate God! This question of Suffering and a good God is often asked by the audiences of college students. The book goes beyond the apologetic for the Biblical answer by also looking at how Buddhism, Islam, and Naturalism address suffering.
February 22, 2015
A terrific book.
The best book I have ever read on why suffering and evil do not prove that God does not exist. The authors present a number of arguments which individually you may or may not find persuasive, but for me when considered together prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the existence of suffering and evil does not foreclose the existence of a loving God. After all, as they demonstrate, but for this world , exactly as it is, I would not exist.
The best book I have ever read on why suffering and evil do not prove that God does not exist. The authors present a number of arguments which individually you may or may not find persuasive, but for me when considered together prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the existence of suffering and evil does not foreclose the existence of a loving God. After all, as they demonstrate, but for this world , exactly as it is, I would not exist.
August 20, 2016
I bought this from a book shop in Bangkok/
the title was nice so I had a look at it.
I read it In 1 days.
it is well written and it a short read.
the author talks about his life in india.
the mains thing that he says is that why is there so much pain in the world when there is a loving god
and that why does god allow suffering in the world.
he says that god is the author of life,
I liked his book , It gave insight .
the title was nice so I had a look at it.
I read it In 1 days.
it is well written and it a short read.
the author talks about his life in india.
the mains thing that he says is that why is there so much pain in the world when there is a loving god
and that why does god allow suffering in the world.
he says that god is the author of life,
I liked his book , It gave insight .
August 17, 2015
The comments explaining the Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim answer to suffering were informative. His philosophical musing on suffering were rather confusing. I think that we will not ever understand suffering on this side of eternity. The descriptions of Christ's suffering on the cross were graphic.
November 5, 2014
Amazing. Ravi Zacharias, along his colleague Vince Vitale, has written another book that I will re-read over and over.It was very encouraging,brilliant philosophically, and spiritually nourishing Thanks for everything Ravi. All the glory to God!
April 20, 2015
I love the way Ravi stretches my mind. He knows how to plot his arguments and ideas.
However, I found Vince's chapters too long and basic yet important. I believe Vince could have made his points with less words.
However, I found Vince's chapters too long and basic yet important. I believe Vince could have made his points with less words.
January 11, 2016
This is a beautifully-written book. It gives arguments towards Christianity with clear basis and considers other worldviews as well.
It may not completely answer my question on pain and suffering, but definitely helps me appreciate its existence. Well-said arguments with supporting examples.
It may not completely answer my question on pain and suffering, but definitely helps me appreciate its existence. Well-said arguments with supporting examples.
January 12, 2018
Ravi Zacharius and Vince Vitale provide excellent insight into life’s questions and especially the questions surrounding pain and suffering in life and the responses from the major religions and worldview of the world.
April 23, 2015
A great philosophical read. Not a great theological one.
May 19, 2015
Nothing new or life changing.
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