COURSE RATIONALE AND DESCRIPTION

The problem of evil and suffering as it relates to the doctrine of God is both bane and blessing to the Christian. If the traditional Christian view of God is assumed to be true, how can He as the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, and everlasting ruler allow evil both to exist and prosper? If it is affirmed that this is the case then how can he be considered just and the only true object of love and devotion? If a person loves Him then how can He allow evil to touch him? The general lack of answers to these tough questions has caused many to reject the Christian faith. Some use these questions as a refuge to hide from God. They mistakenly believe that since they can ask questions that are difficult to answer then there are no answers and thus they do not have to deal with God.

Difficult questions usually do not have simple answers and this is the case with the problem of evil. The book of Job takes forty two chapters to deal with this problem. Seldom, if ever, does a topic get this much continuous coverage in the Bible. The Christian must be prepared to answer the question when it is raised by others and even when it is raised in his own mind. The answer must satisfy him both intellectually and existentially when he is surrounded by suffering. When he suffers he must be enabled by the answer to still love his God without reservation.

A related question is that of the judgment of believers. How can God not judge a believer that hypocritically claims that he is righteous, but in his heart is filled with malice, hatred, envy, greed, adultery, etc.? He rests his hope in some theological proposition that says something like, "My religion has the correct form, therefore I am right with God." God obviously does not think this way. Election and redemption call for the believer to live a holy life. If one refuses, God chastises him as a father chastises a son. Some who claim to be children of God are not and God brings judgment upon them. Those that are children are given a chance to repent, but the question remains as to the form that the repentance must take. How does a person repent of an evil so great that God has chosen to judge him in this life and not wait for the final weighing of souls?

This course is an exploration of how the books of Job and Lamentations seek to deal with these complex questions. The solutions offered will be evaluated for philosophical soundness and theological completeness.
 

OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course the student who has applied himself should be able to...

• to discuss the problem of evil and unmerited suffering. to do this he should be able to...
• describe the nature and complexity of the problem. Included in this would be an understanding of the origin and nature of Satan, attributes of God and His radical holiness, and The tension that exists in theology between sovereignty and freewill.
• enumerate and critique the various solutions to the problem. The student will become acquainted with the concept of theodicy and the various types of theodicies.
• explain how God's person is the ultimate answer to all the questions raised by the existence of evil.
• discuss the contribution the book of Job makes to the resolution of the problem.

 
• discuss the problem of personal evil and merited suffering as it relates to the believer. To do this he should be able to...
• discuss the radical nature of the sin of covenant breaking.
• discuss the act and form of repentance.
• differentiate between corporate and personal sin.
• explain the role of liturgy in repentance.
• discuss the contribution that the book of Lamentations makes to the resolution of these problems.

AGENDA & ASSIGNMENTS

Monday and Tuesday: The Problem of Evil

1. In this section the nature and complexity of the problem will be introduced. The topics to be discussed are:
2. How do we state the problem?
3. How is the problem dealt with by various religions?
4. How does secular man deal with evil?
5. Where did evil come from?
6. Satan, does he have blue eyes and wear blue jeans?
7. What are the attributes of God and why do they cause us problems?
8. Is paradox a rational way of thinking?
9. How is the problem answered?
10. How do we encounter God's person?

Wednesday- Friday: The Text of Job and Lamentations

The following topics will be dealt with:
 

1. Introduction: The Sovereign Lord of Heaven Allows Satan to Attack His Beloved Servant.
2. Discourses: Job and His Friends Discuss the Problem
3. Interruption: Elihu Spews Forth His Opinion
4. Resolution: The Almighty Questions Job & Gives Job an Answer
5. Vindication: Job is Restored
6. Lamentations: Structuring Your Pain

Assignment #1

The student will prepare a paper discussing the critical questions associated with the book. This is not a term paper, but a collection of material concerning the introductory matters of the book. The student will be graded on the completeness of his answers, his breadth of understanding, and the presentation of the material. The format is may be varied, but it must be appropriate to a college level class. The following topics must be included, but the student is free to introduce other topics as well.

Is the book fiction, historical, or historical fiction?

What was the historical/dramatic setting of the book?

What was the date of composition?

What was the origin of the name Job? Is it an Arabic or Hebrew name? What would it mean in each language?

What is the purpose of the book?

What is the structure of the book?

What are the great themes of the book?

How does the New Testament deal with Job as a person and as a book?

Does the fact that the book is written primarily in poetry necessarily mean that it is not historical?

How is Job portrayed in other literature? Include Christian, Jewish, Islamic, and secular portrayals.

Assignment #2

The student is required to read various types of literature and watch movies that deal with the problem of suffering and evil. During this time students are to discuss what they encountered that is relevant to the course.

Reading assignments are to be from three types of literature. The first type of book to be read is the book that formally deals with the problem as a theological/philosophical problem. Included within this category would be books on systematic theology, but the following works which specifically deal with the topic need to be considered.

G. R. Evans. Augustine on Evil.
C. S. Lewis. The Problem of Pain.
Stephen J. Vicchio, The Voice from the whirlwind: The Problem of Evil and the Modern World.

The second type of work would be the biographical work in which a person who has suffered discusses his suffering.

C. S. Lewis. A Grief Observed.
St. Augustine. The Confessions of St. Augustine.
St. John of the Cross. The Dark Night of the Soul.
Sheldon van Auken. A Severe Mercy.

The third type of book is the novel which not only portrays evil, but is a discussion of the author's views on the subject and is an attempt at communicating those views to the reader so that the his belief system will be changed.

Robert Heinlein. Job: A Divine Comedy.
Brahm Stoker. Dracula.

He will watch 2 movies that deal with human suffering and critique of each one as to its merits. In the critique he should identify the problem as to the type of evil presented, the resolutions presented in the movie, and an analysis of the major scene and one major character. The acceptable movies would include

Schindler's List
The Hiding Place
Alive (Letter box edition if you can find it)
Shadow Lands

Assignment #3

The student will choose a major character in the book and become either that character or a critic of that character. The student will master the different ways that the character can be interpreted and form an opinion as to how to understand that character. The following characters are available to be vilified: Job, God, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, Elihu.

To fulfill this assignment the student will do the following:

Read from 10 commentaries on the passages dealing with the character and make a notebook of his research.

Make a chart summarizing the various ways the character was interpreted.

Write a position paper summarizing the character.

Assignment #4: The final test will be a take home test on Job.

All assignments are due by April 1, 2000

GRADING PROCEDURES

Each project will be treated as being of equal value. The college grade scale will be followed in determining the grade. All assignments are due April 1, 2000.

COURSE PROCEDURES

The daily session will begin with a devotion/lecture on a topic related to the course. Since the main topics of the course are negative and depressing the devotions will emphasize related positive topics.

This will then be followed by a prayer by one of the students or the professor. The prayers should address the problem of evil and suffering and at the same time seek God's presence and the solution that He has for the problem.

TEXTBOOKS

Required Texts

NONE

Optional Texts

Any text dealing with the problem of evil may be considered an optional text. You may speak to the bookstore manager concerning the purchase of any book needed.