Description:

Why is there pain in the world? Why do bad things happen to good people? How can you reconcile the reality of human suffering with the existence of a merciful God? You have no doubt wrestled with these questions. Now, this moving course offers you well-considered theological perspectives—and some heart-warming insights—on the mystery of suffering. In 12 lectures, you’ll eavesdrop on the important and vigorous conversation that has taken place in Judeo-Christian tradition since time immemorial. A priest and veteran professor of systematic theology, Father Robin Ryan has lectured widely on the topic of suffering. It’s a thorny subject that he routinely finds himself confronted with in his pastoral duties—at hospitals, nursing homes, and funeral parlors. In 2011, he published the book God and the Mystery of Human Suffering: A Theological Conversation Across the Ages (Paulist Press), from which this audio program is loosely adapted. Coupled with the warmth of his delivery, Fr. Ryan’s anecdotes lend sensitivity to questions that often flout logic, conventional wisdom, or our sense of justice and proportion. The accompanying study guide will help you reflect on those teachings, and is ideal for use in group settings. The goal of this series is to help you, as a believer, engage in discourse about God and suffering in a way that is both faithful to tradition and responsive to real experience.