theology of human suffering

SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1 Does God Use Evil

A Review of Gregory Boyd 's (2003 ) Is God to Blame (InterVarsity Press

In the history of Christianity , the problem of evil , or theodicy , has been one of the more vexing questions . It derives from the issue between God 's omnipotence on the one hand , and the manifestation of radical (i .e . unexplainable ) evil on the other , that is , evil that does not admit of a satisfying ' explanation

As a matter of course , Christian history has used to specific and distinct models for explaining

the problem of evil . They go by many names , but in this book they are called blueprint ' and warfare models of evil . Hence , this review will explain both world views (which in reality , are holistic views of God as such , and then seek to use the one the author accepts , the warfare ' view , as a basis for Christina worship

1 . The Blueprint view refuses to accept the problem of evil as such . In the blueprint view , there is no evil as radically considered . Good is all present since all is part of God 's will , that is , under His power On the other hand , evil is relative , not absolute , since its purpose in creation and history is to bring God 's people to a knowledge of Himself and a dependency upon Himself . Evil , in this understanding , is only apparent and transitory

There are two versions of the blueprint view that are worth mentioning a strong and a...