The Groaning of Creation: God, Evolution, and the Problem of Evil (Paperback)

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Key Phrases: evolutionary theodicy, evolutionary suffering, pelican chick, The Groaning of Creation, The Call of Humanity, Theology of Creation (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Pain, suffering, and extinction are intrinsic to the evolutionary process. In this book Christopher Southgate shows how the world that is "very good" is also groaning in travail and subjected by God to that travail. Southgate then evaluates several attempts at evolutionary theodicy and argues for his own approach-an approach that takes full account of God's self-emptying and human beings' special responsibilities as created co-creators.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press (June 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0664230903
• ISBN-13: 978-0664230906
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #226,049 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a thoughtful, honest treatment, February 20, 2009

By	Matthew Marston - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In this book, Christopher Southgate addresses the "problem of evil" with particular attention to evolution. He notes that evolution necessarily includes pain, suffering, death, and exctinction as part of the process. How does someone who confesses the goodness of God respond to this? Southgate attempts his answer in this book.

Along the way, Southgate helpfully critiques other proposals (i.e. process theology, creationism, intelligent design, de Chardin), and interacts with a wide variety of thinkers, all in clear writing and with a charitable spirit. For instance, Southgate believes that God suffers with creatures and employs "kenosis" as an important part of his constructive moves. But he carefully interacts with critics of these two theological positions and refines his own views as a result. After describing his approach to creation, Southgate outlines the role of humanity before ending with some concrete ethical proposals.

For anyone interested in this subject, this is a helpful book. I found Southgate's honesty, his willingness to ask the difficult questions, and his own modesty extremely refreshing. I imagine everyone who reads it will be challenged in some deep ways, but will find the book well worth their attention.

1.0 out of 5 stars Awful!, November 21, 2009

By	Sam Booksmith - See all my reviews

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Southgate is a typical philosophical theologian. He uses a lot of ten cent words, puts too much ink into reviewing the history of the subject, and puts too little ink into solving the problem. When so many big words are used, and the author beats around the bush, you start to suspect that he has nothing of substance to say. Such is the case once again. Boring. Dry. Inflated. un-compelling.

I recommend Chaos Theology by Sjoerd Bonting for an accessible, realistic, concise and compelling treatment of evolution and the problem of evil.