{"product_id":"the-hardest-problem-9781399802710","title":"The Hardest Problem","description":"\u003cb\u003eBook Synopsis\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTo many,\u003cwbr\u003e the problem of evil and suffering constitutes by far the most serious objection to mainstream religious belief. For all its starkness and salience,\u003cwbr\u003e though,\u003cwbr\u003e the dilemma is also widely misinterpreted. That visceral feelings often dominate discussion is understandable on one level. But this can displace the clearer-headed thinking needed to shed greater light on the subject.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In this brief but broad-ranging book,\u003cwbr\u003e Rupert Shortt shows that belief in a divine Creator is much more coherent intellectually than many sceptics suppose. Basic misconceptions about core aspects of Judaism,\u003cwbr\u003e Christianity and Islam can in turn spawn still greater caricatures of subjects including divine power. Having cleared the ground,\u003cwbr\u003e Shortt goes on to discuss the nature of evil from a classical Abrahamic standpoint and how Christian resources in particular offer guidance in an area where raw emotion,\u003cwbr\u003e conceptual th\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eTrade Review\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRupert Shortt is clear and incisive in this new work of theodicy -- Iain McGilchrist\u003cbr\u003e'One of the most cogent writers of our day' -- Peter Sedgwick\u003cbr\u003e'Beguiling' -- Julia Neuberger\u003cbr\u003e'Deep theological knowledge and spiritual discernment' -- John Barton\u003cbr\u003e'Wise, informed and immensely thoughtful' -- Alister McGrath\u003cbr\u003eA stunning challenge to the casual atheism of our age -- Angela Tilby\u003cbr\u003eHis arguments are powerful -- Bishop Erik Varden\u003cbr\u003eThe book succeeds in presenting a reasoned case for holding fast to the reality of God, as Christianity understands it, and not shirking from the troubling existence of suffering. -- Mark Vernon\u003cbr\u003eintelligent and lucid -- Melanie McDonagh\u003cbr\u003ea profoundly helpful book -- Timothy Radcliffe\u003cbr\u003eUnlike most participants in this lively debate, Rupert Shortt hasn't decided the answer before asking the question . . . After all, evil and suffering are not a problem to be fixed but a mystery to be entered. -- Sam Wells\u003cbr\u003eShortt has an admirable gift for making the obscure lucid, for chasing away confusions, and for saying a great deal in a small space without sacrifice of substance or profundity -- David Bentley Hart\u003cbr\u003eRupert Shortt gets to grips with this philosophical, theological, pastoral and human conundrum incisively but sensitively -- Fr Alban McCoy\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Hardest Problem\u003c\/i\u003e contains hard thought, emotional honesty and keen awareness of the issues. * TLS *\u003cbr\u003eThis is an immensely attractive exposition of Christian faith, accessible to a wide readership, and ideal for discussion groups on these topics. * Church Times *\u003c\/wbr\u003e\u003c\/wbr\u003e\u003c\/wbr\u003e\u003c\/wbr\u003e","brand":"Hodder \u0026 Stoughton","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48738924069207,"sku":"9781399802710","price":13.49,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1739\/5799\/files\/9781399802710.jpg?v=1720050597","url":"https:\/\/bookcurl.com\/products\/the-hardest-problem-9781399802710","provider":"Book Curl","version":"1.0","type":"link"}