Customer Reviews

Raging with Compassion: Pastoral Responses to the Problem of Evil

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Can we defend God's love, goodness, and power in a world scarred by violence and suffering? Do we need to? Traditional attempts to explain the problem of evil have mostly seen it as a philosophical and theological task. In this book the author reminds readers that the experience of evil and suffering precedes pontification on its origin. This book seeks to inspire fresh Christian responses and modes of practice in our broken, fallen world.

In "Raging with Compassion", Swinton argues for a practical theodicy, one embodied in the life and practices of the Christian community. This practicality does not seek to provide an explanation for the existence of evil, but rather presents ways in which evil and suffering can be resisted and transformed. This, he insists, will enable Christians to live faithfully with unanswered questions as they await God's redemption of the whole creation. Swinton explores essential practices of redemption - lament, forgiveness, thoughtfulness, hospitality, and friendship - drawing out their implications for the faithful resistance of evil. Enhanced by case studies from current events and by Swinton's own experience as a pastor and mental health nurse, "Raging with Compassion" seeks to inspire fresh Christian responses and modes of practice in our broken, fallen world.

Taken from http://www.abdn.ac.uk/cshad/publications.shtml

we read this for a religion class and I was seriously disappointed with the book. I found the premise for this book to be good, but the author states his case in rather black and white terms. His argument is well developed in the first three chapters but in chapter four he begins to narrow his scope and in doing so, somewhat isolates the Christian community for the secular world that he purports to be reaching out to. As the book continues I found myself offended by his treatment of non-Christians as he reduces them to the very picture of monsters that he discusses in the opening chapters. Is it really true that atheists should be regarded as two dimensional persons who need to be dismissed? better I think to reach out to these individuals and try to create a bond. Seeing them as three dimensional people who are worthy of compassion would go a long way. I believe that ultimately this book does not belong in a classroom setting because it tends to alienate people. I also would offer caution to devout Christians to look inside their own hearts and draw a more well-rounded conclusion on the teachings of Christ. All human beings are deserving of merit and love. Swinton,by his efforts in this text, disagrees.

Having become a recent doctoral student in practical/ pastoral theology I was at a loss where to begin when looking for a model to emulate in my own work. Professor Swinton, here, is to be applauded and thanked, for his work on "theodicy" from a practical theology standpoint. I believe he provides a magnificent model for the pastor who seeks to deal with troubling issues, like evil, illness, death and so on. I've read quite a few books and this is one of the finest I have on my shelf. Get it!!