Freethought & Rationalism Archive

gnosis92 · 03-09-2008, 04:01 PM

Bart Ehrman's latest book is "God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question--Why We Suffer by Bart D. Ehrman"

Could someone who has read it summarize in a couple of sentences Ehrman's arguments/evidence?

I read the review at amazon, and he regards the Bible to give answers that contradict one another. The paragraph review gives the example that suffering is redemptive and suffering is retribution for sin. I'm not sure these answers contradict one another in all cases.

best

mountainman · 03-09-2008, 04:57 PM

One review states: "In the end Ehrman gives up on his Christian faith and fashions a peculiarly utilitarian solution to suffering and evil in the world".

Does that mean Ehrman thinks we are responsible for our own actions?

Is that legal in the states, the northern hemisphere or down under?

Quote:

From Publishers Weekly (or via: amazon.co.uk)

In this sometimes provocative, often pedantic memoir of his own attempts to answer the great theological question about the persistence of evil in the world, Ehrman, a UNC–Chapel Hill religion professor, refuses to accept the standard theological answers. Through close readings of every section of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, he discovers that the Bible offers numerous answers that are often contradictory. The prophets think God sends pain and suffering as a punishment for sin and also that human beings who oppress others create such misery; the writers who tell the Jesus story and the Joseph stories think God works through suffering to achieve redemptive purposes; the writers of Job view pain as God's test; and the writers of Job and Ecclesiastes conclude that we simply cannot know why we suffer.

In the end, frustrated that the Bible offers such a range of opposing answers, Ehrman gives up on his Christian faith and fashions a peculiarly utilitarian solution to suffering and evil in the world: first, make this life as pleasing to ourselves as we can and then make it pleasing to others. Although Ehrman's readings of the biblical texts are instructive, he fails to convince readers that these are indeed God's problems, and he fails to advance the conversation any further than it's already come. (Mar.)

Best wishes,

Pete Brown

Toto · 03-09-2008, 07:54 PM

See this previous thread: Problem of Evil: Bart Ehrman's New Book [MERGED

The Publishers Weekly review seems particularly obtuse.

MarkA · 03-10-2008, 12:01 AM

Is he an Epicurian now perhaps?

A Stable Flux · 03-10-2008, 12:39 AM

The thread Toto referenced has a very insightful interview about the book by Ehrman. Here's the link.
From what I remember he doesn't really provide an argument that the Bible doesn't answer why we suffer. Instead he provides an exposition that surveys the differing and contradicting solutions in books of the Bible, reminding people that the Bible isn't really a unity of ideas but a mixture of unique thoughts. He does although say that all the answers are insufficient to explain suffering, going on to say the problem of evil was one reason why he became an agnostic. To conclude he says he finds some solace in the book Ecclesiastes.

03-09-2008, 04:01 PM	#1
gnosis92 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: usa Posts: 3,103	God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question--Why We Suff Bart Ehrman's latest book is "God's Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question--Why We Suffer by Bart D. Ehrman" Could someone who has read it summarize in a couple of sentences Ehrman's arguments/evidence? I read the review at amazon, and he regards the Bible to give answers that contradict one another. The paragraph review gives the example that suffering is redemptive and suffering is retribution for sin. I'm not sure these answers contradict one another in all cases. best

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03-09-2008, 07:54 PM	#3
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	See this previous thread: Problem of Evil: Bart Ehrman's New Book [MERGED The Publishers Weekly review seems particularly obtuse.

03-10-2008, 12:01 AM	#4
MarkA Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 89	Is he an Epicurian now perhaps?

03-10-2008, 12:39 AM	#5
A Stable Flux Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 158	The thread Toto referenced has a very insightful interview about the book by Ehrman. Here's the link. From what I remember he doesn't really provide an argument that the Bible doesn't answer why we suffer. Instead he provides an exposition that surveys the differing and contradicting solutions in books of the Bible, reminding people that the Bible isn't really a unity of ideas but a mixture of unique thoughts. He does although say that all the answers are insufficient to explain suffering, going on to say the problem of evil was one reason why he became an agnostic. To conclude he says he finds some solace in the book Ecclesiastes.

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