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The Problem of Pain

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The Problem of Pain

By: C. S. Lewis
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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About this listen

For centuries Christians have been tormented by one question above all, "If God is good and all-powerful, why does he allow his creatures to suffer pain?"

C.S. Lewis sets out to disentangle this knotty issue, but wisely adds that in the end no intellectual solution can dispense with the necessity for patience and courage.

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This age old argument of arbitrary and visibly random affliction of pain on earth in order to achieve salvation is a cornerstone of atheist argument.

It is however also one of the most crucial routes to understanding faith.
True faith can only be accomplished by Free Will not by miracles and proof or the enforced beliefs of the authoritarian medieval church and the inquisitions.

With Free will comes the choice between good and evil. The world must contain evil in order for there to be choice.
Ergo a world with Evil must involve bad things happening both as a result of man's actions and both by acts of God (tests). Every child of God will be tested in different ways because of the random nature of pain in the world.
God's Judgement will undoubtedly take into account the suffering of innocents as a result of this random world.

Our task as Christians is to acknowledge our own suffering as a clear route to God that those who suffer less and enjoy all worldly goods will not see so easily. Ironically for them the route is less clear and their fight for faith is much harder.
Our other task alongside faith is to help those others who are suffering through good works, to ease their journey to God and to share with them the riches of faith and the light it brings.

We must not confuse earthly pain and suffering as however a punishment from God. God will only judge us on judgement day when the Lord comes again.

Why does a benign God allow suffering.?

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Love his work , wish I’d been introduced to this part of C S Lewis 50 years ago !

Another thought provoking book

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Highly recommended. some dated language and terms but relevant today. Well thought out, heart felt, provoking, humorous and inspirational. I'm delighted that Amazon offers this important book.

The Problem of Pain

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Chapters two and three are my favourites, the way he talks of love is beautiful while also being sad. If that is truly what love is, I doubt many experience such a thing.

Never has the Christian god been explained so well

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This is a great little book and CS Lewis was an exceptional thinker. The Problem of Pain was written eighty years ago and in a particular style that is difficult for readers to engage with today. This audio book brings it to life.
Some of the text is a little dated. However many of the arguments Lewis addresses are precisely the same as those the New Atheists raise today. Which leads you to realise there is nothing new going on there. They should listen to this book.
Simon Vance presents Lewis' words with style and conviction. It is an outstanding performance of a book that is densely argued at times and difficult to read.

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