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Dis-Ordered: A Christian Journey Through the Problem of Evil & Suffering
A Christian Journey Through the Problem of Evil & Suffering
is a foundational introduction to the common questions and responses Christians have given to the problem of evil throughout time. Paul Anleitner (Master in Christian Thought, Bethel Seminary) leads readers through the challenges of making sense of the Bible on the problem of evil and helps them compare two-thousand years of Christian thought on God, evil, and suffering from arguably the most influential Christian minds in history.
From the book of Job to the Gospels, from ancient Church Fathers such as Augustine to modern Open Theists like Greg Boyd (and over a dozen other perspectives including Origen, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and more!) Anleitner thoughtfully compares some of the most important perspectives on the problem of evil in a way that is not only accessible but also profoundly meaningful to those who are hungry for deeper answers that go beyond common Christian clichés. In the final chapters, he moves from impartial "tour guide" surveying the historical options to humbly offering his own unique synthesis of past perspectives in a way that is intellectually compelling, emotionally moving, and deeply resonant with the Christian Scriptures.
What others are
"This book models what it looks like to grapple with deep and complex matters with both clarity and charity. Even those who disagree strongly with the author's conclusions will find themselves strengthened by exploring various positions with neither caricature nor jargon."
--Dr. Russell Moore, Editor-in-Chief, Christianity Today
"This is a superb response to one of the most difficult problems that Christians face. Paul Anleitner proves himself an excellent guide, offering both intellectual answers and pastoral wisdom for the hardest questions of suffering and evil. Anybody who is asking God the question 'Why?' should read this book."
-- Justin Brierley, Host of Unbelievable?, Author, and Speaker
"Dis-Ordered is a truly remarkable book. Paul Anleitner first provides readers with fair, clear and succinct critical overviews of all the major figures and movements in church history that have had something distinctive to say on the problem of evil. He then offers readers his own perspective, which synthesizes various elements of the figures and movements he's reviewed. One need not agree with all of Anleitner's conclusions to benefit immensely from this work. This book is a must read for all who are invested in thinking through the problem of evil from a Christian perspective."
--Greg Boyd (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary), Theologian, Author, Senior Pastor at Woodland Hills Church
"Dis-Ordered is an accessible and enlightening introduction to how major Christian thinkers have engaged the problem of evil. Anleitner's writing tackles head-on the hardest questions we face in life about tragedy and suffering, and his synthesis and proposals powerfully attest to the Christian hope that can bring redemption out of what seems like our darkest places."
-- Dr. Matthew J. Thomas (University of Oxford), Catholic Theologian, Dominic School of Philosophy and Theology
"One of evil's most frequent lies is that we are that God is not with us and no one else has suffered like we do.
From the book of Job to the Gospels, from ancient Church Fathers such as Augustine to modern Open Theists like Greg Boyd (and over a dozen other perspectives including Origen, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and more!) Anleitner thoughtfully compares some of the most important perspectives on the problem of evil in a way that is not only accessible but also profoundly meaningful to those who are hungry for deeper answers that go beyond common Christian clichés. In the final chapters, he moves from impartial "tour guide" surveying the historical options to humbly offering his own unique synthesis of past perspectives in a way that is intellectually compelling, emotionally moving, and deeply resonant with the Christian Scriptures.
What others are
"This book models what it looks like to grapple with deep and complex matters with both clarity and charity. Even those who disagree strongly with the author's conclusions will find themselves strengthened by exploring various positions with neither caricature nor jargon."
--Dr. Russell Moore, Editor-in-Chief, Christianity Today
"This is a superb response to one of the most difficult problems that Christians face. Paul Anleitner proves himself an excellent guide, offering both intellectual answers and pastoral wisdom for the hardest questions of suffering and evil. Anybody who is asking God the question 'Why?' should read this book."
-- Justin Brierley, Host of Unbelievable?, Author, and Speaker
"Dis-Ordered is a truly remarkable book. Paul Anleitner first provides readers with fair, clear and succinct critical overviews of all the major figures and movements in church history that have had something distinctive to say on the problem of evil. He then offers readers his own perspective, which synthesizes various elements of the figures and movements he's reviewed. One need not agree with all of Anleitner's conclusions to benefit immensely from this work. This book is a must read for all who are invested in thinking through the problem of evil from a Christian perspective."
--Greg Boyd (PhD, Princeton Theological Seminary), Theologian, Author, Senior Pastor at Woodland Hills Church
"Dis-Ordered is an accessible and enlightening introduction to how major Christian thinkers have engaged the problem of evil. Anleitner's writing tackles head-on the hardest questions we face in life about tragedy and suffering, and his synthesis and proposals powerfully attest to the Christian hope that can bring redemption out of what seems like our darkest places."
-- Dr. Matthew J. Thomas (University of Oxford), Catholic Theologian, Dominic School of Philosophy and Theology
"One of evil's most frequent lies is that we are that God is not with us and no one else has suffered like we do.
197 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2022
5 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 9, 2023
I think this was a book I needed. In it, the author wrestles with the great unsolved problem of theology, the problem of evil. In other words, if God is both all good and all powerful, why is there evil in the world? He takes us on a journey, surveying the great philosophers and theologians of antiquity and continuing right up to the current day with newer theories such as process theology and open theology, in a fairly objective fashion. Then he finishes with his own current conclusions and the reasons he takes this view. In that last section are some beautiful analogies to music with references to Tolkien and to the art of jazz playing that particularly appeal to me. All this is done in a very casual coffee-shop conversation style, with many references to current culture and entertainment that is accessible to readers at many levels. I had encountered some of this content on the author's podcast, "Deep Thoughts."
That said, if you are looking for a rigorous academic or scholarly book, this is probably not a fit, though the end-notes are interesting and helpful. There are also many places where a good editor might have guided him to different choices ... maybe this can happen in the 2nd edition. In the end, I believe he met his stated goal: to help readers understand how people in the past have thought about this problem and to see more clearly the strengths and weaknesses of of the assumptions they may bring to the reading.
That said, if you are looking for a rigorous academic or scholarly book, this is probably not a fit, though the end-notes are interesting and helpful. There are also many places where a good editor might have guided him to different choices ... maybe this can happen in the 2nd edition. In the end, I believe he met his stated goal: to help readers understand how people in the past have thought about this problem and to see more clearly the strengths and weaknesses of of the assumptions they may bring to the reading.
October 2, 2022
This book was incredibly and practically helpful but also ultimately quite beautiful - basically my perfect kind of theology book!
It takes us through a brief but thorough survey of Chrstian (and some non-Christian, such as Nietzsche) thinkers throughout history in regards to their theodicy and ideas about how God's sovereignty and our free will co-exist, and indeed whether they do.
I'm not nearly as well-read in historical Christian thinking as I should be, and honestly find some of it (Aquinas in particular) abstract and lofty to the point of inpenetrability. Paul does a fantastic job of bringing it down to earth for the lay reader without being patronizing or oversimplifying to the point of losing nuance (and where he does summarize in such a way that might be questioned by some, he's completely transparent about it).
I didn't realize that pretty much every angle from which I've considered God's role in either perpetrating or somehow allowing evil has already been considered and indeed in most cases an entire school of thought has arisen around said ideas! For instance, didn't realize I was a partially committed Molinist.
In the end chapters Paul summarizes his own thinking on the topic and draws in references from both contemporary and classic works of art / literature. I found SO much to relate to therein, including the concession I routinely struggle with: inevitably, no matter what "system" of theology we may embrace, we encounter a measure of mystery in considering all this that is irreducible to any single system. Reminds me of one of my favorite Psalms - 131 - which I return to again and again when reaching the dead-end of my own faculties:
"My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore."
It takes us through a brief but thorough survey of Chrstian (and some non-Christian, such as Nietzsche) thinkers throughout history in regards to their theodicy and ideas about how God's sovereignty and our free will co-exist, and indeed whether they do.
I'm not nearly as well-read in historical Christian thinking as I should be, and honestly find some of it (Aquinas in particular) abstract and lofty to the point of inpenetrability. Paul does a fantastic job of bringing it down to earth for the lay reader without being patronizing or oversimplifying to the point of losing nuance (and where he does summarize in such a way that might be questioned by some, he's completely transparent about it).
I didn't realize that pretty much every angle from which I've considered God's role in either perpetrating or somehow allowing evil has already been considered and indeed in most cases an entire school of thought has arisen around said ideas! For instance, didn't realize I was a partially committed Molinist.
In the end chapters Paul summarizes his own thinking on the topic and draws in references from both contemporary and classic works of art / literature. I found SO much to relate to therein, including the concession I routinely struggle with: inevitably, no matter what "system" of theology we may embrace, we encounter a measure of mystery in considering all this that is irreducible to any single system. Reminds me of one of my favorite Psalms - 131 - which I return to again and again when reaching the dead-end of my own faculties:
"My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore."
November 26, 2022
Just for a quick review (I could write a lot about this book)…
This is a great book to use as a beginning point for exploring and forming one’s own theodicy (to me one of the most foundational and important belief systems). I’ve been pretty stuck and all over the place personally with where I have been with my theodicy and I felt comforted knowing my own deep wrestlings were not isolated to my own experience. This book provided a platform of hope for me while also being educational and informative.
Gosh I can’t even summarize it well but this was a really good crash course in the history of western theodicies and it has encouraged me to continue working out my beliefs in a grace-filled way.
This is a great book to use as a beginning point for exploring and forming one’s own theodicy (to me one of the most foundational and important belief systems). I’ve been pretty stuck and all over the place personally with where I have been with my theodicy and I felt comforted knowing my own deep wrestlings were not isolated to my own experience. This book provided a platform of hope for me while also being educational and informative.
Gosh I can’t even summarize it well but this was a really good crash course in the history of western theodicies and it has encouraged me to continue working out my beliefs in a grace-filled way.
November 11, 2022
A solid 3-star recommendation.
Anleitner gives a wonderful introduction to Christian theodicy (the problem of evil): academic in its sources, popular in its presentation. If you've never thought much about the topic, this book is a wonderful place to start.
But as mentioned in another review, numerous proofreading errors and the occasional missed opportunities to editorialize for clarity and brevity plague this independent debut.
If all you want is a brief intro, read the book. If you want some more depth, listen to the podcast series: https://youtu.be/3LBuVVx_YEU. And support Paul. He's a wonderful Christian thinker and a valuable pastoral voice.
Anleitner gives a wonderful introduction to Christian theodicy (the problem of evil): academic in its sources, popular in its presentation. If you've never thought much about the topic, this book is a wonderful place to start.
But as mentioned in another review, numerous proofreading errors and the occasional missed opportunities to editorialize for clarity and brevity plague this independent debut.
If all you want is a brief intro, read the book. If you want some more depth, listen to the podcast series: https://youtu.be/3LBuVVx_YEU. And support Paul. He's a wonderful Christian thinker and a valuable pastoral voice.
November 18, 2023
Thought provoking
July 9, 2025
It was a good book. A basic primer on the topic. I didn’t see the value of the last couple chapters where the author shared his personal journey but I’m sure others will.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews