LLPRELIGION - Religion

Course Description

 

Why The Innocent Suffer - The Problem of Evil and Suffering

Commonly known as the “problem of evil and suffering,” innocent suffering is an intriguing intellectual/theological question. It becomes compellingly, forcefully, and uncomfortably intimate when you’re standing over the hospital bed of an innocent friend or child suffering greatly from a terminal illness. A perennial question in religious traditions, it has its own name - “theodicy” (literally, the justice of God). Books have been written about it. We’ll examine the Judeo-Christian tradition. Most people immediately think of Job, and we’ll certainly take a good look at that incredible book. However, there are other texts and streams of the biblical tradition that are relevant. Dr. Calvin Mercer has long written and lectured about the Bible. His academic training, and for many years, his research were in biblical studies, especially the Greek New Testament. He is professor in the ECU Religious Studies Program.