Why Is There Suffering?: Pick Your Own Theological Expedition

by Bethany N. Sollereder

Your journey begins. The road before you is smooth and straight. You walk for some time, recalling your experiences that call into question the deep realities of life. Up ahead, you can see the road branching in three directions. . . In Why Is There Suffering? you, reader, control the route you take through its "choose-your-own-path" chapters, asking questions and exploring different theological possibilities on the big topics Taking an intentionally light-hearted approach to a heavy topic this book presents an illustrative introduction to the problem of suffering and the most commonly offered responses to it. Along the road, you'll face multiple possibilities regarding suffering and its theological explanations, and you'll make choices about which one you find most plausible, skipping to that section of the book. Each decision you make leads to further complexities and new choices that reveal how theological beliefs lead to certain conclusions. This book does not offer final answers. Instead, it introduces the "theological" possibilities—both Christian and non-Christian—that you can explore and wrestle with to make informed decisions about your beliefs and clearly see the road you've taken to reach such beliefs. You are, of course, in control of the paths you take through these pages. You decide which explanations work. You can always go back and see what would change if you'd taken a different path. And, who knows. . .you may find that certain pathways resonate with your experiences in ways you didn't expect.

Genres: Philosophy, Christianity, Faith

192 pages, Paperback

Published November 2, 2021

Reviews

[Andrew Tucker]

Having some undergrads read this in the Fall

[Chris McMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful resource that takes some dense theology/ philosophy and packages it into a very conversational and easy-to-read format. Also offered neat examples for each view. Will definitely be re-visiting.

Would have loved to see her suggested resources for each of the views she describes.

[B Dohle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this class for my Problem of Evil class in college. I was hoping for something that would help my students discover their own answer to the Problem of Evil. After all, they were assigned to write their own theodicy by the end of the semester.
My class is 100% non-Christian and this book did NOT deliver on what I thought it would. Don't get me wrong, its a great concept. I wish more theodicy writers would take a Choose Your Own Adventure approach to the topic, but the subtitle should be "Guess What My Theology Is" not "Pick Your Own Theological Expedition." Why? Well...
1. There's three steps to get to the end of the line for atheists. Three. Why not any more? Because the writer wants you to guess what she believes (and she clearly isn't an atheist) so she has only given you three options. Also I get the impression she doesn't understand atheism at all. The two atheists in my class had a very short paper to write.
2. There's NO real non-Christian option. Why? Because the author believes that redemption is something only Christians can achieve. Also she uses "redemption" for non-Christian options which isn't right because redemption is a very Christian concept and doesn't belong in that section of the book.
What could improve this book? (And it can be improved).
1. Two authors. That way the author isn't being FORCED(and she describes it as being forced in the Introduction) to write options that she does NOT agree with. Having more options would eliminate this.
2. Either ... 1. Change the title to: "Why Is There Suffering? Pick your own Christian Theological Expedition." I would have passed on this book for my secular class, but at least it would have been honest. or... 2. Ask non-Christians to answer this question for themselves. Don't try to answer it for them.
There's so much potential to this book, but it just doesn't reach it. I will NOT be recommending this to other classes unless another edition of it is written with a broader scope of authors.

[Mark Mattek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clever, well-researched, and a creative & objective format. But the overall impact for me lacked a point of view (probably the author’s intent) and overall stickiness of any of the potential theories for why suffering exists. Likely deserves a 4, but personally a 3 for me.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cleverly "choose your own afterlife adventure" arranged. A challenge on my Kindle, as you'll lose track a couple of clicks into the hyperlinks; a flowchart appears at the conclusion but without "live" pagination. I heard Sollereder discuss her book on a Pints with Jack podcast about CS Lewis. And as a dogged skeptical but seeking inquirer long intrigued if not convinced by "imaginative apologetics," I sought this out. No clue why certain reviewers carped at her Christian bias, as this was published by the mainstream evangelical (being in Grand Rapids, adjacent to the heartland of the Reformed Church fka Calvinist) Zondervan press, and as annihilation and universalism occupy barely brief mention contrasted with somewhat longer considerations of animal salvation, atheism, and God's indifference.

Of course, most of the chapters point to more predictable destinations of hell, purgatory, and heaven. As a doubter going through grief after losing my (non-theist) longtime wife suddenly, I didn't find quick fixes for my sorrow, although I guesstimate Sollereder as a CSL follower tries to match the two attempts, The Problem of Pain and A Grief Observed, her inspiration's intelligent and intellectual reasoning aligned with theology. To her credit, Sollereder by avoiding a linear narrative tries to change up the preaching game for today's more disbelieving readership, many bereft of the faith that at least numerically had kept those going on a century ago in "the Christian West" supported by family and community in their shared experience in an arguably slightly less unstable social and educational environment. For she tries to encompass what I'd call "spiritual but not religious," and New Age or "co-exist," cohorts whose ranks increase in our own troubled times, amidst searchers.

However, as many agree, the results tally but as summaries. True, suggested reading for the forty possibilities (many naturally overlap and dovetail, and post-chapter guideposts give a few directions in the progress of the quest, although some terminate) offers a set of smart thinkers among learned colleagues and predecessors of Oxford-based Sollereder. Yet, for some who may be suffering or who can't settle on one "destination," the range may dissuade instead of comfort on theodicy as mystery.

[Gailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Our witness of the good born out of pain in our lives... may be a source of courage as we enter a bout of pain. It may help us to see why God does not prevent all extremes of suffering, because the extremes of holiness are strangely and mysteriously linked to them."

The problem of pain will never be a closed case so long as pain continues to make its presence known in our lives. This is the undeniable reality of living in a fallen world - but why is this the case? What does the presence of pain tell us about God's character and/or His plan redeem creation?

In "Why is there suffering", Bethany N. Sollereder creatively frames the discussion in the form of a journey, complete with a map of many branching paths (see slide 3). You as the reader get to follow the trail through a Narnia-like landscape, with each path representing a different theological position or question.

This is a deeply fascinating approach to a subject that can be so heavy. It is far more than a gimmick however. This book allows us to explore various perspectives on the problem of pain, and to follow the threads to their logical conclusion (for better or for worse).

The failings of even the most commonly held answers are honestly presented, but each is treated fairly, even that are outside orthodoxy (Atheism, naturalism, universalism, Deism etc.) On one hand, this is a useful resource that helps us to interact with how these perspectives might be so appealing to those that are suffering.

Although, one should apply discerning caution with this book. With you in the driving seat, I do feel there is a danger that this approach may relativize the entire issue, and may give the impression that some clearly wrong or even dangerous ideas are viable.

Sollereder's choice to make an often cold discussion a narrative journey is clever and engaging. There is merit in the exploration of various answers but we should be careful that we don’t lead those that suffer down the wrong path entirely.

[Kristine Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The question “Why is there suffering?” is as old as any question, and the answers, while many, are never fully satisfactory. And so the question continues to be asked. This fall, our small group Bible study intends to tackle this topic so I have been reading from several perspectives to prepare. I selected this particular book for two main reasons, it explores many perspectives and it a woman wrote it. (Men have written all of the books I have read so far and yet there are types of suffering that primarily women experience so it is important to consider input from women on this topic.)

Despite the heaviness of the topic of suffering, the approach in this book is rather lighthearted, a journey taken by the reader with choices along the way to consider various perspectives and possibilities. The reader decides where to travel and what concepts to explore. The chapters are very short and therefore each idea is covered only briefly. The benefit of this approach is the reader learns about many possible views in a short book. However, the reader may not feel satisfied with the lack of depth or nuance because of the brevity of the chapters. Still, there is a lot of value in showing different approaches exist and a reader could go in depth through further book options that focus on the most compelling options they find in this introductory work.

This book functions best for an individual to read and reflect on their theological beliefs and view of God. I will suggest it to my small group as supplemental material for our study but do not see it as easily used as a primary source both because of the format and the brevity of each position. I would recommend this book to someone just starting to explore the topic of suffering as an overview of many points of view.

[Kamal Ragheb Bishai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Painless introduction to The Problem of Pain

The book offers an easy to read guide to the problem of pain, suffering and evil and how it has been approached from different perspectives, primarily philosophical, existential and Christian religious. It contains a flowchart on how to navigate and relate to the different perspectives. It also has generous bibliography for readers who wish to explore the ideas raised further.
It is built around a Chronicle of Narnia or a Pilgrim's Progress type adventure which I found somewhat irritating and unnecessary, but this a small negative criticism to an otherwise excellent effort to make a complex subject approachable. It is aimed at the general reader, but I am sure readers with specialist knowledge will benefit from the approach.

[Ming Chen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really short, if one takes a particular path without going back to other paths. The pedagogical use of such a creative presentation is probably worth reflecting on. I chose options that were relatively similar to my own views, and Sollereder presents those views quite well. I am not a huge fan of the format, however, especially given that poorly-exegeted verses are used to support something like a chapter on universalism. It reeks too much of hermeneutical relativism of some kind for me, though that surely is not the author's intent.

[Zachary Skarka · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this may be the worst book I have ever read. I am undergoing cancer treatment and reading every Christian book on suffering I can find. Not only does this book hardly address the issue of suffering, but the only options it leaves are minority views, annihilationism and universalism. Eternal conscious torment is dismissed because of a made up non-biblical metaphor. I am used to such quality from Zondervan. I don’t know how this trash slipped through the cracks.

[Emily M. McConkey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though it was helpful to read about the different views on why there is suffering and how it is dealt with it; I feel this book says, "believe what you want ", instead of giving a solid explanation of suffering that could give hope to survivors of atrocities.

[Justin Kendrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lighthearted appetizer to constructing a personal theodicy. The added description used to fill out the choose-your-own-adventure concept stilted the writing. Useful further reading in the appendix. Probably best for middle/high schoolers.

[Jake Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept was good but the execution wasn’t.

[Melodie Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book - it really helped me understand the way suffering has been thought about and prayed through, and helped me articulate my own position. I really recommend it for anyone who has wondered where God is in the pain. It was such a fun format too! Very easy to read.