false 26435 18 <I>The Problem of Pain</I> answers the universal question, "Why would an all-loving, all-knowing God allow people to experience pain and suffering?" Master Christian apologist C.S. Lewis asserts that pain is a problem because our finite, human minds selfishly believe that pain-free lives would prove that God loves us. In truth, by asking for this, we want God to love us less, not more than he does. "Love, in its own nature, demands the perfecting of the beloved; that the mere 'kindness' which tolerates anything except suffering in its object is, in that respect at the opposite pole from Love." In addressing "Divine Omnipotence," "Human Wickedness," "Human Pain," and "Heaven," Lewis succeeds in lifting the reader from his frame of reference by artfully capitulating these topics into a conversational tone, which makes his assertions easy to swallow and even easier to digest. Lewis is straightforward in aim as well as honest about his impediments, saying, "I am not arguing that pain is not painful. Pain hurts. I am only trying to show that the old Christian doctrine that being made perfect through suffering is not incredible. To prove it palatable is beyond my design." The mind is expanded, God is magnified, and the reader is reminded that he is not the center of the universe as Lewis carefully rolls through the dissertation that suffering is God's will in preparing the believer for heaven and for the full weight of glory that awaits him there. While many of us naively wish that God had designed a "less glorious and less arduous destiny" for his children, the fortune lies in Lewis's inclination to set us straight with his charming wit and pious mind. <I>--Jill Heatherly</I> 2976220 1940 The Problem of Pain total:2794|5:922|4:1114|3:625|2:117|1:16| 2794 11191 4625 213 5 1 false false Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2003 Sun Nov 16 17:47:26 -0800 2008 Thu Nov 20 19:51:17 -0800 2008 2
Memorable quotes:

"Love, in its own nature, demands the perfecting of the beloved; that the mere 'kindness' which tolerates anything...more...]]> 4 1 false false Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Wed May 16 00:08:41 -0700 2007 Fri Jun 01 16:53:05 -0700 2007 more...]]> 5 1 false false Mon Dec 15 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sun Jan 25 14:58:40 -0800 2009 Sun Jan 25 15:03:16 -0800 2009 3 1 false false Fri Sep 21 00:54:15 -0700 2007 Fri Sep 21 01:19:35 -0700 2007 more...]]> 2 1 false false Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Thu Sep 06 15:51:06 -0700 2007 Thu Sep 06 15:56:06 -0700 2007
Lots of word spins. The only real meat and potatoes is that s...more...]]> 4 0 false false Thu Oct 01 00:00:00 -0700 1998 Fri Nov 06 08:26:09 -0800 2009 Fri Nov 06 08:34:43 -0800 2009
I don't have a love/hate thing going on with C.S. Lewis. ...more...]]> 3 0 false false Fri Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Oct 09 12:29:06 -0700 2009 Fri Oct 09 12:48:56 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 0 false false Wed May 27 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed May 27 08:47:44 -0700 2009 Wed May 27 08:57:02 -0700 2009 The language is thick and elevated, completely a different level than his ...more...]]> 1 1 false false Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2003 Thu Dec 20 15:47:46 -0800 2007 Sun Jan 20 20:08:08 -0800 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sat Oct 17 19:28:14 -0700 2009 Fri Oct 23 20:57:05 -0700 2009 I read read some in Fall '08 and some in Fall 09 more...]]> 5 1 true true Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 1998 Sun Feb 17 21:53:54 -0800 2008 Sun Feb 17 21:57:57 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 1 false false Wed May 13 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun May 03 09:15:50 -0700 2009 Wed May 13 17:26:11 -0700 2009 more...]]> 5 1 false false Wed Feb 13 18:53:08 -0800 2008 Wed Feb 13 18:55:58 -0800 2008 more...]]> 5 1 false false Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sun Apr 06 19:06:56 -0700 2008 Sun Apr 06 19:08:45 -0700 2008 4 1 false false Thu Sep 04 04:14:22 -0700 2008 Tue Sep 16 05:52:23 -0700 2008
Disappointing, actually.]]> 3 0 false false Fri Jul 03 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed May 27 08:37:07 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 03 09:22:09 -0700 2009 This time, I read along while listening to the CD. Unfortunately, I didn't devote consistent time to the project, and it was too spread out to b...more...]]> 2 0 false false Mon Mar 16 17:24:56 -0700 2009 Mon Mar 16 17:44:42 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false true Sun Mar 29 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Jan 07 11:16:23 -0800 2009 Tue Mar 31 20:05:47 -0700 2009 more...]]> 4 0 false false Wed Jun 15 00:00:00 -0700 2005 Sat Jul 19 17:21:24 -0700 2008 Sat Jul 19 17:41:09 -0700 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Wed Mar 12 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Sat Mar 08 20:49:54 -0800 2008 Wed Mar 12 13:56:32 -0700 2008 On God about Hell: "To forgive them [sinners who don't repent]? They will not be forgiven. To leave them alone? Alas, I am afraid that is what He does." pg. 128
According to the Orthodox, Hell is not a real place with fire and brim that's depicted in Medieval ...more...]]>