Abstract

This paper revisits the classical theodicies in the context of global suffering of the contemporary world, using it as an opportunity to explore the Problem of Evil. Theodicy, the task of explaining how a benevolent, omnipotent and omniscient God could exist when it confronts the problem of evil and suffering, has been a perennial problem in philosophy and theology. Widespread discussion has occurred of traditional responses to suffering like the Free Will Defense and the Soul Making Theodicy, that suffering may be a product of human freedom, or necessary for spiritual growth. However, different global challenges like war, poverty, inequality and environmental crisis have been posing critical questions on the validity of these explanations. In this paper, the traditional theodicies are examined as not being sufficient to alleviate the unlimited and apparently unjust suffering in the modern world, and new approaches taking responsibility of the human side and the possibility of redemptive suffering are proposed. The paper through a revisit to the Problem of Evil, emphasizes the need to recognize suffering comprehensively and from a deeper perspective, God’s and man’s action in this arena, as reflected current global realities.