Evil Beyond Belief Book

Excellent in challenging modern analytic philosophy of religion in its tendency to sideline particular theological traditions. For too long philosophy of religion has tried to appeal to "all reasonable people" when it comes to dealing with the problem of evil. Adams is adamant that the Christian theological tradition (particularly the Trinity and Incarnation) is justified in playing on its own turf, offering rich explanations for why God allows evil and what He has done about it. Religion-neutral values are no longer the king of the hill when it comes to talking about evil.

However, her argument that because horrendous evils happen to particular people, God must be good to those individuals by guaranteeing them blissful postmortem existence is theologically problematic. Universalism is always dubious; the biblical witness maintains a tension between all being saved and few being saved. Christians must uphold that tension. She also relies too heavily on philosophical speculation in why God must guarantee such victims/perpetrators, perhaps causing her to sideline that theological tension more than is called for.

Otherwise, a very helpful and insightful work.