“Why?” Chapter II, Parts 9-11: Suffering and God’s Providence Continuing here my review of and commentary on A van de Beek’s book “Why? On Suffering, Guilt and God.” Some of you are reading the book. Hopefully by now you have read up through Part 11 (“God as Potter”). Next we will go on the Chapter III: “God Does Not Will Evil.” The title of Chapter III gives us a clue what Chapter II has been about—Christian answers to the question... Read more

Is Any Religion True? Most often we hear “Are any religions true?” I’m changing that to “Is any religion true?” There’s at least a slight difference between the two questions. But I won’t go any deeper into that here, now. The question has to be parsed out carefully by defining the words. What does “religion” mean? What does “true” mean? Here, by “religion” I mean a religious system of beliefs. I realize, of course, that religions include more than beliefs,... Read more

“Why?” Chapter II, Parts 6-8: My Commentary This blog post continues my commentary/review of Dutch theologian A van de Beek’s book “Why? On Suffering, Guilt and God.” This is part of a series, a kind of “book club” within this blog. I have already commented on Chapter I a couple weeks ago. Whenever I read a non-fiction book, especially a theological book, I look closely for THE key sentence (or two or three together) in each chapter. That is the... Read more

Can a Christian Be “Defender of the Faiths?” King Charles III of the UK is by law “The Defender of the [Christian] Faith” as well as “Chief Governor of the Church of England.” However, in the past, before he became king upon the death of his mother, he has declared that he intends to be “Defender of the Faiths [plural]” as well as “Defender of the [Christian] Faith.” Notable at his coronation were representatives of world religions including The Bahai... Read more

About Reading More of “Why?” Setting a Date An old saying goes “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” well, don’t judge “Why?” By the first few chapters. Although Beek drops clues to his conclusions in these early chapters, mostly he is “clearing the ground,” so to speak, eventually to build his own theodicy. This is more typical of European works of theology than of American. First he has to show that he knows all the traditional views (although I... Read more

“Why? On Suffering, Guilt and God” Part 1 Today I begin my commentary and critique of A van de Beek’s book “Why?” Some of you are reading it along with me. Others can listen in and ask questions, but please do not make any judgments about the book or what others who are reading it say about it if you are not reading it with us. I will continue to announce here when we who are reading it are to... Read more

Comments and Cautions Regarding “Why?” My announced plan is to post a first commentary on “Why? On Suffering, Guilt and God” by A van de Beek this Thursday (May 4). But, as they say, “Man plans and God laughs.” So, God willing and (as they say in the South) “the creek don’t rise,” I still plan on that. However, I do have a doctor’s appointment this week and…. So please do not be dismayed if the planned first installment does... Read more

Is American Becoming a Failed State? Recently, a few political scientists have suggested that America may be the world’s first “greatest” or “strongest” failed state. “Greatest” or “strongest” refers to America’s economic and military might in the world. It is still the only “super-power.” China is closing in on being the other one. But America remains a powerful country theoretically capable of solving problems in the world (e.g., arguably the War in the Balkans and the invasion of Kuwait by... Read more

“Faith Healing” : What Is It? This subject has come to my attention through reading and hearing the phrases “faith healing” and “faith healer” in journalism and popular culture. They are phrases often used to label, among others, Pentecostal evangelists who claim to have some special “gift” of transmitting God’s healing power to sick, injured, or otherwise physically or mentally impaired people for whom they pray. Problem is…I grew up “in the thick” of America’s healing revivals and never once... Read more

Announcement of First Reading/Discussion of “Why?” My plan is to begin discussing I Introduction (pp. 1-23) of “Why? On Suffering, Guilt and God” by A. Van de Beek on May 5. That day, God willing, I will post my thoughts about the Introduction. Then I will space out discussion of other portions of the book, increasing the “chunks” of reading (number of pages) a bit beyond 23 pages. I’ll announce the “chunks” to read at least a few days before... Read more