The Trinity and Theodicy The Trinitarian Theology of von Balthasar and the Problem of Evil Routledge New Critical Thinking in Religion, Theology and Biblical Studies Series

Why does God permit the great suffering and evil that we see in our world? This basic question of human existence receives a fresh answer in this book as the mystery of evil is explored in the context of the mystery of the Trinity. God's permission of evil and the way in which suffering can lead human persons into the life of the Trinity are discussed in dialogue with the great Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar. In the light of Balthasar's model of the Trinity as divine self-giving love, we gain a profound grasp of the nature of suffering in human life by placing our suffering in the context of the divine life of the Triune God.

Contents: Introduction; Part I The Problem of Evil: Introduction to the problem of evil; The challenge of evil in analytic philosophy; Responses to the problem of evil in analytic philosophy. Part II A Trinitarian Theodicy: The Bible and theodicy; Hans Urs von Balthasar's theology of the Trinity; The Trinity and theodicy; Glossary; Bibliography; Index.

Jacob H. Friesenhahn is the Chair of the Religious Studies Department at TMI - The Episcopal School of Texas. He has also taught at the University of Dallas and Holy Trinity Seminary. He holds a Ph.D. in systematic theology from the Graduate Program in Religious Studies at Southern Methodist University.