God and the Mystery of Human Suffering

This course is recommended for anyone who has reflected on God and suffering.

Explore the approaches to suffering found in the Bible with gifted presenter Fr. Robin Ryan, C. P., Ph.D. You will examine the classical Christian perspectives on God found in the writings of Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, and then explore the insights of significant Jewish and Christian thinkers who have reflected on God and suffering in modern times.

After looking at the Scriptures and the thought of Augustine and Aquinas, you will listen to the reflections of two men whose lives were irrevocably changed by the Holocaust: Elie Wiesel and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Then you will explore the ideas of Jürgen Moltmann, Edward Schillebeeckx, Gustavo Gutiérrez, and Elizabeth Johnson. Finally, Fr. Ryan will offer his own ideas about a theological and spiritual approach to the mystery of suffering.

Every believer grapples with the experience of suffering in his or her life. This series will help you reflect on different perspectives in order to talk about God and suffering in ways that are both faithful to our tradition and responsive to real experience. The material presented in this program has direct implications for your own reflection and for pastoral care to suffering people. It also touches on resources for prayer in the midst of the experience of suffering.

Encounter these powerful reflections and gain valuable insights into your own spiritual life today.