Reviews for The Problem of evil

The average rating for The Problem of evil based on 2 reviews is 3 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2021-02-25 00:00:00 Edmond Ko Deep plowing is one term that might describe this work. It will require time to think through the arguments that Peterson presents. He deals with the are of theodicies, with the free will defense postulated by Alvin Plantinga, he also covers David Hume´s argument for atheism, and a host of other hugely significant ideas realted to the matter of evil in the world. The table of contents is a valuable read by itself! It will help you see the broad spectrum ahead. Since I read this work for a graduate class, I did not read all 32 chapters. It was a selected reading. Therefore I will only venture to give some personal thoughts about the book. 1. The matter of evil is NOT simply "cut and dried." Peterson substantiates that clearly. 2. The proposed solutions to the existence of evil ALL have some weakness. Some have little or nothing to salvage. 3. Christians are possibly the most guilty of dismissing or over simplifying the existence of evil in the world. This causes them (us) to miss the gravity of the problem and dismiss it too soon. We may need to be more honest and less in a hurry to "solve" the problem of evil and be ready to listen to those struggling with it more truthfully. 4. Evil is defeated in the world, but HOW it is defeated remains to be a problem for many. 5. The other outstanding authors quoted here (Plantings, Swinburne, Stump, Peters, Van Inwagen and Diller...) are brought together and provide much to discuss and meditate. The book is worth the price! The book will be one you read more than once, of that I am certain. But you may change your mind after the third or fourth reading. It will be an encounter with hard but worthwhile issues. DR

Review # 2 was written on 2017-11-29 00:00:00 Harold Mckinney Good introduction to the Problem of Evil as set forth in contemporary philosophy. I originally read this book for a course in 2005, and it was published in 1992. Twenty five years later, it could use an update, although most of the work does not suffer from age. I found parts three and four to be particularly useful, although I did find Lewis Ford's excerpt on Process Theodicy to be lacking. While it is clear from the introduction that Mr. Peterson takes a certain side on the Problem of Evil, I found the readings to be pretty even-handed in regards to showing the best of both the theistic and atheistic thought. I think those that come into this book with a selected view will be challenged, no matter what that view is.