The Triumph of God over Evil: Theodicy for a World of Suffering (Strategic Initiatives in Evangelical Theology) [Paperback]

William Hasker (Author)

Book Description

Series: Strategic Initiatives in Evangelical Theology | Publication Date: March 24, 2008

Noted philosopher William Hasker explores a full range of issues concerning the problem of evil. Having taken account of the current state of the discussion and squarely facing some of the most trenchant arguments marshaled by John K. Roth and D. Z. Phillips, Hasker forges a constructive answer in some depth showing why the evil in the world does not provide evidence of a moral fault in God, the world's creator and governor. A fresh and provocative contribution to the ongoing discussion of theodicy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is not simply a compilation of Hasker's earlier helpful work on the standard challenges to God's goodness allegedly posed by evil. Hasker here also offers us a thoughtful assessment of a number of recent challenges, especially those based on God's relationship with the natural order. I am especially impressed by his provocative analysis of evolution and its relationship to evil. And I feel that the type of ultimate triumph of good over evil Hasker outlines is one that rightly preserves a strong sense of divine sovereignty without diminishing our role and responsibility as humans." (David Basinger, professor of philosophy and ethics, Roberts Wesleyan College )

"Hasker's book is a model of first-rate philosophy. Beginners are unlikely to get a better introduction to the problem of evil; Hasker is a master at summarizing and getting hold of the core of the issues at stake. Veterans will be brought up to speed on the current debate; Hasker is sure-footed and fair in his assessment of friend and foe. Through it all there shines a beautiful mind that manifests a heart on fire with honesty, compassion and robust faith." (William J. Abraham, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University )

"A serious and original work of philosophy that will engage thoughtful pastors, educated lay Christians of an intellectual bent, and advanced undergraduates in philosophy and theology, as well as professional philosophers." (C. Stephen Evans, University Professor of Philosophy and Humanities, Baylor University )

About the Author

William Hasker (Ph.D., University of Edinburgh) is professor emeritus of philosophy at Huntington College in Huntington, Indiana. His books include Metaphysics: Constructing a World View; God, Time, and Knowledge; Reason and Religious Belief (with Michael Peterson, David Basinger and Bruce Reichenbach); The Openness of God (with Clark Pinnock, Richard Rice, John Sanders and David Basinger); Philosophy of Religion: Selected Readings (edited with Michael Peterson, David Basinger and Bruce Reichenbach); The Emergent Self; Middle Knowledge: Theory and Applications (edited with David Basinger and Eef Dekker) and Providence, Evil and the Openness of God.

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: IVP Academic (March 24, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830828044
• ISBN-13: 978-0830828043
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #518,940 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Introduction to Christian Philosophical Responses to the Problem of Evil, September 5, 2008

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A. Customer (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Triumph of God over Evil: Theodicy for a World of Suffering (Strategic Initiatives in Evangelical Theology) (Paperback)

This book is perhaps the finest introduction to Christian philosophical responses to the problem of evil. Note: this is a philosophical text, and Hasker is a philosopher. Thus, some of the theological and pastoral problems that arise for Christians are, more or less, tangential. Hasker does review and evaluate all the major ideas and contributes in the literature on the problem of evil. However, this book is not set up as an overview. Hasker will present his own views, and disagree with various theists. Furthermore, this book is not highly complex; any general reader would be able, with a little effort, to read it.

Thus, Hasker will begin with important distinctions (such as `defense' vs. `theodicy') and an endorsement of what is called `Open Theism.' He spends his second chapter with an evaluation of John Roth and D. Z. Phillips various approaches to God and evil. Then the third chapter beings with the logically problem of evil a la Mackie, followed up with Plantinga's now famous defense. The fourth chapter addresses problems concerning which possible world God could have actualized, and interacts with Leibniz, Rowe, and Adams. The fifth chapter moves to the problem of natural evil--roughly, evil that is not caused by human free choice. Here Hasker interacts with Dembski, Morris, and Polkinghorne, before endorsing a van Inwagen like response. Chapter six deals with moral evil, and contains Hasker's critique of Plantinga's theodicy. Chapter seven deals with the epistemology of the problem of evil. Thus, it begins with Rowe's famous argument and then the important responses to it: Wykstra, Alston, and Swinburne, before concluding with Hasker's own proposal. The final chapter is an interesting proposal where Hasker sketches some light ruminations upon how God can triumph over evil--an area little discussed by professional Christian philosophers!

The greatest virtue to this book is also its greatest vice. If you do not know what Mackie's logical problem of evil is, and Plantinga's response--or, Rowe's argument and Wykstra's response--then you should buy this book. It will provide a solid introduction and contains a plethora of footnotes for further study. But, if you have already these various articles and are familiar with the issues here, then perhaps the utility of this book will be limited for you. Regardless, this is a solid book which provides a beneficial introduction to Christian philosophical responses to the problem of evil. If one is interested in this topic, this is quite possibly the best place to begin.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Treatment of the Problem of Evil, January 30, 2009

By 

Ryan Mullins (Deerfield, IL) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Triumph of God over Evil: Theodicy for a World of Suffering (Strategic Initiatives in Evangelical Theology) (Paperback)

I do not wish to repeat what other reviewers have already said so I will try to focus on other issues in Hasker's book that have not been mentioned yet. Hasker sets out to look at the problem of evil with an eye on the current philosophical and theological landscape. In particular he wants to use some of the recent work by theologian N.T. Wright (Wright's "Evil and the Justice of God") in order to give an explicitly Christian response to the problem of evil. Wright's book is somewhat negative on philosophical attempts to answer the problem of evil. Indeed, Wright seems to think that there is something wrong with trying to answer the philosophical problem of evil. Instead, he focuses on the death and resurrection of Christ as God's actual work to rid the world of evil. Hasker kindly disagrees with Wright about philosophical attempts to answer the problem of evil, and thinks that there is a great amount of worth to Wright's work that a philosopher could use in giving a Christian answer to the problem of evil.

There are several things about this part of Hasker's book that disappointed me. First, I was disappointed that Hasker was using Wright's work because I wanted to do that. Oh well, such is life. Second, I found Hasker's chapter on Wright's work to be rather weak. Hasker is a first rate philosopher of religion and I thought he could have done better in his use of Christ's resurrection in answering the problem of evil. My hope is that Hasker's work will at least inspire more dialogue between analytic Christian philosophers and theologians like Wright.

Apart from this disappointment the book has many strengthens. He does an excellent job at articulating an Open Theist account of providence. (However, I found his critique of Molinism to be rather crass.) His discussion of post-Holocaust theodicies was fascinating, and his critique of these theodicies is even more intriguing. As mentioned by other reviewers, he also does a great job at examining the philosophical discussions on the problem of evil that have taken place over the past few decades.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars god's triumph placed in philosophical terms, October 16, 2008

By 

Michael Thompson (Elkhart, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Triumph of God over Evil: Theodicy for a World of Suffering (Strategic Initiatives in Evangelical Theology) (Paperback)

The dialogue regarding God, suffering and evil has been long and often confusing (especially for many people who are struggling to find answers to their particular situations). Indeed, most treatments on the topic tend to err by being overly theoretical and philosophical that they do not lend any support or comfort to the suffering, or they are so comfort-minded that they accomplish little more than simple reassurance and some quick counseling. While I concede the need for either of these two options at particular points in time, neither really gets to the heart of the problem - to construct an understanding of God and the world which answers the problem of evil in the world while also maintaining the image of God which is envisaged by Scripture (and the church).

To this end, Hasker provides a solid step forward.

In the introduction is found this caveat: "To put it more briefly: a Christian response to the problem of evil should not be focused too exclusively on evil" (10). At this point I realized that I would appreciate the author's perspective on the subject (and direction of the book), for he is quite right that too often we approach the topic (and many other theological/biblical discussions!) without adequately considering the biblical data. Although this is a philosophical treatment to the discussion Hasker clearly writes from the position of Christian theism, a commitment which keeps him heading in the right direction on this point.

What Hasker is attempting to do in the present work is create a theodicy regarding the nature of the world of suffering. Since a number of different understandings and definitions of this exist, he clarifies his approach as one which "seeks to provide a justifying reason for the existence of the evil in the world, a reason such that, if it obtains, God is not morally at fault for permitting the evil" (20, emphasis in original).

He begins by offering a review and evaluation of the current "state of play" in the work being done on the question of suffering - an overview of various arguments and defenses. One of the first and fundamental questions which he raises in the book concerns the fundamental nature of these other options and defenses: "It seems clear, furthermore, that the most important question that needs to be asked about these arguments concerns their cogency as judged in the light of assumptions that are congruent with the religious worldview that is being called into question" (16, emphasis in original).

Finally, Hasker reviews his own theological disposition to approaching the problem of suffering. As an open theist he works from the understanding that God does not control every aspect of creation - that there are elements which act outside of his will. Although no open theist would deny that suffering can be explained (or that anyone would find comfort in these other models), I personally believe that issues surrounding suffering and evil provide opportunity for the openness model to demonstrate one of the strongest aspects of their position. And Hasker indeed capitalizes on this in various points throughout the book.

(. . . the complete four-part review of the book may be found on my blog.)

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