A survey of the Judeo-Christian tradition and the contemporary theological conversation concerning ways of speaking of God s relation to suffering people and to a world in which suffering is such a stark reality.
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Robin Ryan, CP, is a Passionist priest who serves as associate professor of systematic theology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He has long been interested in the theme of God and suffering and has taught many seminars on this theme at the graduate level.
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Robin Ryan, CP, has taught graduate theology at Saint John's Seminary (Boston) and Catholic Theological Union (Chicago), where he served as associate professor of systematic theology. While at Catholic Theological Union, Fr. Ryan also served as the founding director of Catholics on Call, a national vocation discovery program for young adults. A Passionist priest, he currently serves on provincial council of the Passionist community in the eastern United States and travels extensively giving talks and retreats. Fr. Ryan is the author of numerous articles on theological topics such as God and human suffering, Christology, and ecclesiology, as well as on ministry to young adults. Since earning his PhD in systematic theology from The Catholic University of America, he has engaged in research and writing on the topic of God and the mystery of human suffering.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The Christian conversation about God and the mystery of human suffering began during the time of Jesus and continues today. Through the book, "God and the Mystery of Human Suffering: A Theological Conversation Across the Ages," author Robin Ryan, C.P., invites each of us to listen and join in that conversation.
According to the author, whether we have read any theology or reflected on our beliefs about suffering, each of us has a theology of suffering. Oftentimes these theologies are implicit, which have yet to be explored, reflected upon, or put in conversation with the tradition of the church. And therefore, in times of great suffering when we seek to console a friend, a loved one, a colleague, or a stranger, we could actually be doing damage to them and their relationship with God.
Written for the student of theology in mind, but also ideal for anyone who is working in pastoral ministry, this book is a fine read. The author is clear and explains complex themes in a manner that makes them accessible. While academic and rich with information about tradition, this book was also written to help the minister to find the right language in order to serve the people of God.
Put simply this book seeks to answer this question -"How should we conceive of and talk about God in the face of tragic, inexplicable human suffering?"
Through questions found in the introduction, as well as through the online resources provided by the publisher, the reader is encouraged to enter into the "conversation" with the various authors that are highlighted so that "our own theology of God and suffering will be deepened and refined."
A systematic theologian and Passionist priest, Fr. Ryan lets the reader listen in or eavesdrop on a theological conversation that started with the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, was taken up by the early church fathers, and continues through the Middle Ages with Thomas Aquinas and Julian of Norwich. At a marked moment in time - the 20th Century Shoah - the dialogue about God and the mystery of human suffering changes. The reader is invited to explore the thoughts of Elie Wiesel and Dietrich Bonhoeffer on suffering - two men who were imprisoned during WWII at the hands of the Nazi's. It is their conversation that must be engaged by contemporary theologians - Jurgen Moltmann, Edward Schillebeeckx, Gustavo Gutiérrez, and Elizabeth Johnson as they explore this mystery in modern times. Finally, Ryan himself offers his own theological understanding of God and the mystery of human suffering and how language about this mystery can bring people to prayer, to hope, and into conversation with God.
If you are looking for answers to the questions: "Why do we suffer?" or "How can God let us suffer?", or looking for an answer to the mystery itself, this is not the book for you. But if you want to explore your own implicit theologies while listening to some of the finest thinkers throughout the ages, this is a must read.
In his introduction, Ryan reminds us that "theologies can point people toward God; they can drive people away from God." And while suffering is a mystery, a mystery that all believers of the Judeo-Christian traditions should be scandalized by, "we must speak in faith" in the midst of this mystery. We must find ways to speak about God because ultimately, the "criterion for judging the appropriateness of our talk about God in the face of suffering is whether or not it enables people to talk to God in the midst of their experience of suffering."
According to the author, whether we have read any theology or reflected on our beliefs about suffering, each of us has a theology of suffering. Oftentimes these theologies are implicit, which have yet to be explored, reflected upon, or put in conversation with the tradition of the church. And therefore, in times of great suffering when we seek to console a friend, a loved one, a colleague, or a stranger, we could actually be doing damage to them and their relationship with God.
Written for the student of theology in mind, but also ideal for anyone who is working in pastoral ministry, this book is a fine read. The author is clear and explains complex themes in a manner that makes them accessible. While academic and rich with information about tradition, this book was also written to help the minister to find the right language in order to serve the people of God.
Put simply this book seeks to answer this question -"How should we conceive of and talk about God in the face of tragic, inexplicable human suffering?"
Through questions found in the introduction, as well as through the online resources provided by the publisher, the reader is encouraged to enter into the "conversation" with the various authors that are highlighted so that "our own theology of God and suffering will be deepened and refined."
A systematic theologian and Passionist priest, Fr. Ryan lets the reader listen in or eavesdrop on a theological conversation that started with the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, was taken up by the early church fathers, and continues through the Middle Ages with Thomas Aquinas and Julian of Norwich. At a marked moment in time - the 20th Century Shoah - the dialogue about God and the mystery of human suffering changes. The reader is invited to explore the thoughts of Elie Wiesel and Dietrich Bonhoeffer on suffering - two men who were imprisoned during WWII at the hands of the Nazi's. It is their conversation that must be engaged by contemporary theologians - Jurgen Moltmann, Edward Schillebeeckx, Gustavo Gutiérrez, and Elizabeth Johnson as they explore this mystery in modern times. Finally, Ryan himself offers his own theological understanding of God and the mystery of human suffering and how language about this mystery can bring people to prayer, to hope, and into conversation with God.
If you are looking for answers to the questions: "Why do we suffer?" or "How can God let us suffer?", or looking for an answer to the mystery itself, this is not the book for you. But if you want to explore your own implicit theologies while listening to some of the finest thinkers throughout the ages, this is a must read.
In his introduction, Ryan reminds us that "theologies can point people toward God; they can drive people away from God." And while suffering is a mystery, a mystery that all believers of the Judeo-Christian traditions should be scandalized by, "we must speak in faith" in the midst of this mystery. We must find ways to speak about God because ultimately, the "criterion for judging the appropriateness of our talk about God in the face of suffering is whether or not it enables people to talk to God in the midst of their experience of suffering."
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Excellent contempory study of evil and suffering in the world. The author gives a very comprehensive analysis of the various theologians and philosophers who have attempted to reconcile the idea of an all loving all powerful God with the existence of evil in this world.
The author gives a good analysis of Scripture both the Old and New Testaments. He covers the thinking of the Church Fathers and notable theologians like Aquinas. He also gives a very comprehensive analysis of the more modern writers such as Moltmann, Elizabeth Johnson, Gustavo Gutierrez, Wesel, and others.
I just completed a graduate level course on "Creation and Providence" at the seminary I attend and this book was an excellent companion to the readings in the course. I would classify the writer as having a Catholic perspective on this subject matter and to his credit he attempts to give a very unbiased viewpoint on each of the people he discuees.
I recommend the book highly for anyone who wants to understand suffering and evil from a Christian perspective
The author gives a good analysis of Scripture both the Old and New Testaments. He covers the thinking of the Church Fathers and notable theologians like Aquinas. He also gives a very comprehensive analysis of the more modern writers such as Moltmann, Elizabeth Johnson, Gustavo Gutierrez, Wesel, and others.
I just completed a graduate level course on "Creation and Providence" at the seminary I attend and this book was an excellent companion to the readings in the course. I would classify the writer as having a Catholic perspective on this subject matter and to his credit he attempts to give a very unbiased viewpoint on each of the people he discuees.
I recommend the book highly for anyone who wants to understand suffering and evil from a Christian perspective
Format:Paperback
I confess to have grieviously misused Fr. Ryan's fine work. I snuck ahead and read the chapter on Thomas Aquinas' part of the theological conversation on suffering that Fr. Ryan presents. What a find.
Fr. Ryan's writings on Aquinas here come with a particular point of view in mind. His book, God and the Mystery of Human Suffering , is a theological meditation across history on the topic of human suffering. As such, he distills the writings of Aquinas from the POV of his topic, giving them a renewed focus in the process. I found myself understanding some things about Aquinas that I hadn't realized before.
The sentence here: "He makes this same point (the pure actuality of God) in another way when he argues that God's essence is God's existence," was sort of a mind-opener for me, having always compartmentalized the two ideas and not seeing their interelatedness.
When you see these arguments impacting the conversation on suffering, it demonstrates a greater sense or logic, that view from 30,000 feet folks talk about. How many "Suffering Father in Heaven" asides have I read concerning Christ's passion? It is, quite simply, bad theology. And now I know why, thanks to the clarity and force of argument mustered by Father Ryan.
In a brilliant approach to an age-old consideration he has made theology totally practical, delineating why we should think about human suffering in the ways he shows us. Just a wonderful read, totally absorbing and, above all, making great sense.
Fr. Ryan's writings on Aquinas here come with a particular point of view in mind. His book, God and the Mystery of Human Suffering , is a theological meditation across history on the topic of human suffering. As such, he distills the writings of Aquinas from the POV of his topic, giving them a renewed focus in the process. I found myself understanding some things about Aquinas that I hadn't realized before.
The sentence here: "He makes this same point (the pure actuality of God) in another way when he argues that God's essence is God's existence," was sort of a mind-opener for me, having always compartmentalized the two ideas and not seeing their interelatedness.
When you see these arguments impacting the conversation on suffering, it demonstrates a greater sense or logic, that view from 30,000 feet folks talk about. How many "Suffering Father in Heaven" asides have I read concerning Christ's passion? It is, quite simply, bad theology. And now I know why, thanks to the clarity and force of argument mustered by Father Ryan.
In a brilliant approach to an age-old consideration he has made theology totally practical, delineating why we should think about human suffering in the ways he shows us. Just a wonderful read, totally absorbing and, above all, making great sense.
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