Description
Book SynopsisThis Element concerns itself with a particular aspect of the problem posed to monotheistic religious thought by suffering, namely the suffering of non-human creatures in nature. It makes some comparisons between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and then explores the problem in depth within Christian thought.
Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Monotheism and suffering; 2. Clarifying the problem; 3. Applying approaches to the problem of evil to animal suffering; 4. Theodical moves in the Christian tradition, and the challenge of Darwinism; 5. Fall-event-based theodicies; 6. Process theodicy and free-process arguments; 7. Only-way arguments; 8. Self-emptying and cruciform creation; 9. Questions of providence and divine co-suffering; 10. Forms of redemption and immortality for non-human creatures; 11. Combining strategies; 12. Speculative proposal I – influenced by Plato's Timaeus; 13. Speculative proposal II – creaturely resistance and angelic rebellion; Conclusion.