Reviews for Evil and the Cross: An Analytical Look at the Problem of Pain

The average rating for Evil and the Cross: An Analytical Look at the Problem of Pain based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2012-11-10 00:00:00 Michael Peters Evil and the Cross, is a book that attempts to look at the problem of evil from an analytical point of view. The book is written by Henri Blocher, a very famous French theologian. In this book, Blocher summarized the 3 schools of theodicy. Namely: 1) Evil is the absence of good, has affinity with non-being, therefore tend towards destruction. 2) THe solution of the problem of evil by free will, and 3) Solution of evil by dialectical reasoning (evil as a way for reconciliation to bring good). Blocher rightly pointed out that strength and the weaknesses of these 3 theodicy. And at the end, he pointed to the cross of Jesus as God's solution to the problem of evil. However, I cannot feel that this is a book where Blocher heavily criticized the 3 schools of theodicy, yet Blocher himself tells the reader nothing, not even a hypothetical speculation of the origin, and the reason for evil's existence. In other words, I think this is a book where the author says he is going to look at the problem of evil "analytically", but at the end tell you nothing. Another problem of the book is, the use of language, and the writing is very dense. A friend of mine who was a theological college student told me they usually call Henri Blocher "Henri Blockhead". While I agree with Blocher that there are weaknesses in the 3 schools of theodicy, but I disagree with him when he branded the 3 schools of theodicy as "false teaching". The truth is, the Bible does not really say where evil comes from, or why evil exists. i.e. The origin and the problem of evil remains, largely a mystery. We only have pieces of information from the Bible to aid us to try to comprehend the existence of evil and suffering. Personally, I don't see any problems with a hypothetical speculation on the origin of evil, and I definitely won't go as far as branding these speculations as "false teaching". The only thing I agree with Blocher in this book, are 3 things: A) The Bible does not say where evil comes from, or why evil exists. B) God defeated evil through Jesus. and C.) The 3 schools of theodicy has some grains of truth, and parts of their ideas can be used to explain the problem of evil and suffering. My conclusion is, while this is a good book that gives an overview of different theodicy, but Blocher himself actually told me nothing about the existence of evil. More than 50% of the book consists of Blocher trying to explain why other people's theodicy are not Christian, but he has no proper solution to offer on the topic.

Review # 2 was written on 2008-07-19 00:00:00 Dude James A fascinating look at the Bible's answer to the question, "Why does evil exist?" Blocher seems to be in agreement with N.T. Wright (in his book Evil and the Justice of God) that the Bible never tries to explain where evil comes from but is interested instead with God's response to it: limiting its effects and eventually conquering it. But Blocher's book spends a little less time examining the Biblical texts and instead enters into discussion with the various historical Christian explanations of evil. In doing so he demonstrates that most attempts to explain evil really end up justifying its existence, diminishing its evil-ness, or voiding the sovereignty of God. He insists that a real understanding of evil must see it the way God sees it, as completely abhorrent and something being defeated by him in his sovereign power. This book left me thinking a lot, and I feel I will have a whole new answer when someone tells me they cannot believe in a God who allows evil. Previously I might have fallen into the trap of justifying evil by explaining its "greater purpose." Now I think I will be inclined to agree with that person--to say, "You're absolutely right about evil. It's inexcusable, and God rejects it like you do. But the good news is that he has conquered it and it will be destroyed!" This book is a bit heady and theologically complex, but not so much as to be inaccessible. I recommend it.