Peter Kreeft observes that our world is full of billions of normal lives which have touched by apparently pointless and random suffering. He then records the results of his own wrestling match with God as he struggles to make sense out of this pain.
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About the Author
Peter Kreeft, professor of philosophy at Boston College, is the author of such well-received books as Between Heaven and Hell; The Unaborted Socrates; Yes or No?: Straight Answers to Tough Questions About Chrisitanity; Heaven: The Heart's Deepest Longing; and Prayer: The Great Conversation
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--------- AUDIO LECTURES --------- $1 each (MP3)
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Peter Kreeft MP3
RECORDED LECTURES:
http://peterkreeft.com/audio.htm
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---"Beauty" -- The branch of philosophy dealing with aesthetics.
---"C. S. Lewis and Mere Christianity" -- C.S. Lewis' masterpiece
---"Christianity in Lord of the Rings" -- The cleverly disguised role of God
---"Culture War" -- A call to arms, mapping key enemies and battlefields
---"Existence of God" -- A magnificent overview of the arguments
---"Good, True, Beautiful" -- C.S. Lewis on three great transcendentals
---"Happiness" -- How do you get it? Christ's version vs. the world's
---"Heaven" -- The heart's deepest longing
---"Hollywood Screenwriting" -- Encouragement to film's creative storytellers
---"If Einstein Had Been a Surfer" -- Rediscovering intuitive thinking
---"Lord, Liar, or Lunatic" -- The famous argument for Christ's identity
---"Problem of Pain" -- C.S. Lewis's brilliant exposition on suffering and evil
---"Sex in Heaven" -- Imaging the fire of God's love
---"Sexual Reconnection" -- Healing the link between sex & love
---"Shocking Beauty" -- The live character of Christ
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Lecture scheduling and more info:
http://www.peterkreeft.com
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
84 of 85 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Peter Kreeft has written an intellectually stimulating book on something we all have to face: suffering. He does so by giving us clues from philosophy, the arts, and the Bible to the meaning of suffering. As a Catholic Christian, Kreeft finds the ultimate meaning of suffering in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. It is a book worth reading and re-reading. In my view, his most striking insight is how in literature, including the biblical story of Job, the protagonist must undergo suffering before the final triumph of good over evil. He urges us to view ourselves as protagonists in the midst of our own life stories. If good finally triumphs, as Christians believe, then the story is worthwhile, even with its inevitable suffering. Like a true philosopher, he also includes a thought-provoking chapter on why modernity can't understand suffering. This is a book that will appeal to all Christians, Catholic or non-Catholic, and to all persons searching to understand the meaning of suffering.
66 of 68 people found the following review helpful
By K. Eames
Format:Paperback
Peter Kreeft has done a masterful job of creating a readable work that can both address the confounding issue of God and suffering, and at the same time bring comfort to a wounded believing heart. Though rightfully indebted to C. S. Lewis, Kreeft brings a philosopher's precision to this topic, which differs from Lewis's more popular, though no less effective, approach. Moreover, there are times when Kreeft's prose is crafted so well, it can make the reader want to stand up and cheer - which can be awkward in public places. I have purchased multiple copies of this book to replace ones I've given to others. This is the book for the broken-hearted contemplative who seeks to make meaning out of his or her sorrow and better understand God's role in their pain. I am grateful to Dr. Kreeft for the comfort he has delivered through this compassionate and intellectually honest book. I recommend it unreservedly.
30 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
Kreeft's best asset is that he has read the right books. His task in this tome is to tackle the giant question that looms over our modern era: Why do we suffer? If you are willing to wait for an answer, you'll probably believe it. A reader might grow impatient because Kreeft does what modern philosophers are reluctant to do--or don't believe they can do--which is to state absolutes. We are never totally happy, for example. Who is patient enough to really consider that anymore? It is our right as an American! But Kreeft will lure you away with a colloquial style and wise exhortation. He brings with him the wisdom of many ages: Socrates, to Jesus, to C.S. Lewis. Kreeft is best at exposing the fallacious thinking that guides our popular mindset. Once that thinking is cracked, Kreeft fills those flaws with the universe's strongest glue: the love of God. This is a compelling work, one that can be read during a moment of grief, and should certainly be read after. This book would have received a 10, but I admit (and Kreeft probably would too) that C.S. Lewis' efforts in this area are better.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am a liberal 61-year-old deacon who, very likely like you if you're considering this book, has read thousands of books. This ranks with the very finest of them all. Creative, illuminating, reassuring, brilliant, entertaining (!), absolutely a must-read for every thinking human being. By far the finest book by Kreeft I've read. He answers the questions of suffering as no one has.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By "mikolajm"
Format:Paperback
I would like to strongly recommend this book to all. It handles the hard question in a very sober and inspiring way and even humorously :-). Kreeft has not the role of an excathedral theologian or philosopher. No, he is a philosopher in the true sense. Majeneutics, the Socratic method of philosophical dialogue, is mixed with reflexions. The author points out and by hints lets the reader find the answer. He is a seeker, voyager and a challenger like we all. Like any good voyager he has his common sense and lot of experience as compass and ofcourse lot of professional knowledge and wisdom. Thouse of us who luck it or can not structure our life-experiences should read this humble and beautifull creation of a genius. Suffering makes sense. AMDG
19 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Peter Kreeft wrote a book twenty years ago that I've just gotten around to reading. I wish I had read it twenty years ago.
Kreeft is a philosophy professor at Boston College, and his book Making Sense Out of Suffering is a look at the implications of suffering in philosophy and theology. His audience is the skeptic, the person of uncertain beliefs and convictions who is tossed about in this world of sorrow and pain and is struggling to find some way to understand existence in light of that raw fact.
One thing that I really enjoyed about his book was his attention to various traditions and schools of thought. He starts with this observation:
"By the time you finish reading this book, ten thousand children will starve, four thousand will be brutally beaten by their parents, and one thousand will be raped.
If you took a poll asking who the profoundest thinker of all time was, the man who would probably come out second, after Jesus, is Buddha. Buddha's entire philosophy centers around his answer to the problem of suffering. How can we not hear him out?"
Gotama Buddha's voice is only the first of many which we must hear out. If we follow Kant's suggestion that the great questions revolve around God, the world, and the soul, then the question of suffering becomes a question of the existence of a supreme being and its relationship to the human world. The difficulty of suffering, for belief is that we are asked to accept the following:
1. God exists.
2. God is all-powerful.
3. God is all-good.
4. Evil exists.
How can this be?
Kreeft summarizes the possible alternate theologies, which differ on these points, either bluntly or subtly. For examine, the atheist may deny that God exists.... Read more ›
Kreeft is a philosophy professor at Boston College, and his book Making Sense Out of Suffering is a look at the implications of suffering in philosophy and theology. His audience is the skeptic, the person of uncertain beliefs and convictions who is tossed about in this world of sorrow and pain and is struggling to find some way to understand existence in light of that raw fact.
One thing that I really enjoyed about his book was his attention to various traditions and schools of thought. He starts with this observation:
"By the time you finish reading this book, ten thousand children will starve, four thousand will be brutally beaten by their parents, and one thousand will be raped.
If you took a poll asking who the profoundest thinker of all time was, the man who would probably come out second, after Jesus, is Buddha. Buddha's entire philosophy centers around his answer to the problem of suffering. How can we not hear him out?"
Gotama Buddha's voice is only the first of many which we must hear out. If we follow Kant's suggestion that the great questions revolve around God, the world, and the soul, then the question of suffering becomes a question of the existence of a supreme being and its relationship to the human world. The difficulty of suffering, for belief is that we are asked to accept the following:
1. God exists.
2. God is all-powerful.
3. God is all-good.
4. Evil exists.
How can this be?
Kreeft summarizes the possible alternate theologies, which differ on these points, either bluntly or subtly. For examine, the atheist may deny that God exists.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not for me...
Confusing. The narrative was hard to follow and stay connected during the author's play like scenarios. I was looking for more of a straight narrative. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Techla
5.0 out of 5 stars
Readable..
Well-written, and it makes sense. You don't have a theological or philosophical background to understand it. A useful guide for anyone.
Published 4 months ago by June A. Bowser
5.0 out of 5 stars
Suffering is what it is, what you do with it is what will transpose...
Another excellent book by Kreeft, I've read several he has a great grasp on theology. I lost all my others due to a forest fire so need to rebuild my library along with my life,... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Richard Breece
5.0 out of 5 stars
Grief Helped
Peter Kreeft, author of many good books, presents one of his best in "Making Sense Out Of Suffering." Grief and suffering is part of every life. How to you explain? Read more
Published 6 months ago by Charles E. Greer
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Keeper
I have not yet purchased this book. I got it from the library. However, the book is so good, and so insightful, that it is now going right onto my Amazon wishlist, and I may even... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Tamara
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent work, Tackles the Hard Questions
My wife got this for me after a tragic death in my family. While it didn't immediately "make everything all better," Kreeft uses his distinctive style to make sense out of why we... Read more
Published 13 months ago by JD McNichol
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book to start Lent
Our media encourages us to think that we can eliminate suffering, but no civilization in the history of mankind has been able to do so. Read more
Published 16 months ago by M. Jordan
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointment
This sudy was a great disappointment. The author condemns opposing viewpoints without giving reasons. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Frank Gulley, Jr.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Making Mistakes Out of Suffering.
Let me get something out of the way first, here. I do not hate Peter Kreeft. I apologize if it's come across that way in some of my past reviews. Read more
Published on May 21, 2011 by K. Ostrowski
5.0 out of 5 stars
Usual Kreeft, Brilliantly Lucid. Best Book on the Topic
Best book ever written on the subject. Kreeft masterfully defines the problem, then defines humanities erroneous 10 "easy" answers to the problem (memorize page 29). Read more
Published on September 15, 2010 by Justin Martyr
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