Theodicy ... what is involved is not a theoretical answer…
““Theodicy ... what is involved is not a theoretical answer to the enigma of evil ... but an answer of faith ... God's being is expressed in earthly suffering, not an "uninvolved heavenly holiness" ... The atheistic protest is rendered mute by the theology of the cross ... the abstract questions of theodicy fall away in the shadow of the event of the cross ... the reality of the cross, a reality that offends human logic ... counters all natural expectations of divine power ... In the environs of Jesus Christ, we are conscious of both transcendence and closeness. It is a transcendence, however, that is not empty transcendence. And it is a closeness that reveals that God's answer transcends even our highest concepts.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Faith explains suffering through the crucifixion, showing God's presence in pain, challenging abstract evil theories.
In simple terms: God's answer to evil is found in the cross, not distant holiness.
Key Takeaway
Seek meaning in suffering.
Themes
faith
theodicy
divine
suffering
Mood
contemplative
hopeful
Type
theological
inspirational
When to use this quote
- personal loss
- social injustice
- spiritual crisis
- ethical dilemmas
Key Concepts
theology
existentialism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the cross reshape your view of evil?
- Can suffering be a conduit for divine closeness?
A Different Perspective
Human logic struggles with divine mystery.