God, Struggle, and Suffering in the Evolution of Life

by Christopher Southgate, Paul S. Fiddes, Michael Lloyd

208 pages, Hardcover

Published October 16, 2025

Reviews

[Amund Helgaas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a well structured debate on the topic of evolutionary theodicy between five central proponents. It shows how an attentive analysis of differing views can be done, and how to think creatively and scripturely on the intersection of science and theology.

[Cameron Blom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone interested in the current state of the field in theological discussions around evolution, natural evil, and animal suffering.

[Ben Jeapes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very in-depth look by six Christian academics at the old and knotty problem of why suffering can, and does, happen in God's created universe. The format is deliberately academic and formal so that the contributors all discuss within the same framework, keeping their questions and answers relevant to what the others have already said rather than heading off in directions of their own. As such it is extremely comprehensive though not the easiest read, but well worth the journey. Of course, any questions along these lines must always bear in mind God's response to Job, which can be summarised as, "Because. Who's asking?" - but it is quite in order to seek theories as to why things as they are, and test them through logic and discussion, without coming firmly down onto one ideological point, and using those theories to develop one's own faith and spirituality. The authors are not in full agreement on everything but there is enough common ground and mutual respect to serve as a guideline for how Christians can constructively disagree and work towards a common understanding. I felt they would agree with Elizabeth I: there is one Jesus Christ, and "all else is a dispute over trifles".

Another reason for the deliberate academic format is so the book can act as a seedbed for future discussion by anyone who so chooses. But I felt there was already so much good stuff in here that it could very well be re-edited into a spin-off, accessible volume of popular theology.