Lewis wrote two books on pain, the problem of pain in 1940 and a. Fully realizing that he might be underestimating the reality of serious pain, he was compelled to intellectually address the issue, for he understood its profound implications toward belief, or disbelief, in god. Considered a classic of christian apologetics, the transcripts of the broadcasts originally appeared in print as three separate pamphlets. Scholarly work continued, including the magnificent english literature in the sixteenth century 1954. Chapter 2 the problem of pain is a book on the philosophical problem of evil by c. The problem of pain is a book on the philosophical problem of evil by c. In truth, by asking for this, we want god to love us less, not more than he does. The promise, made when i am in love and because i am in love, to be true to the beloved as long as i live, commits me to being true even if i cease to be in love.
Lewis beautiful picture of the powerful lion shedding tear after tear. Lewis the problem of pain is another attempt at christian theodicy, the defense of gods goodness in the face of the worlds evil, written by the wellknown pop theologian and author. Lewis, he compares the relationship of god and man to that of a dog owner and his dog. Lewis published the problem of pain on october 18th, 1940. The problem of pain by cs lewis summary, quotes, and. His book the problem of pain 1940 and a grief observed 1961 are helpful guides to working through suffering theologically and emotionally. A promise must be about things that i can do, about actions. An answer to this critical theological problem is found within these pages. And what of the suffering of animals, who neither deserve pain nor can be improved by it. Lewis venture into theodicy 16 may, 2008 let me start by saying it is nearly impossible to paraphrase any. The problem of pain by c s lewis audiobook why humanity. Lewis published the allegory of love in 1936 and out of the silent planet in 1938. Lewis was a worldrenowned scholar and a devout christian. The problem of pain answers the universal question, why would an allloving, allknowing god allow people to experience pain and suffering.
He was a fellow and tutor in english literature at oxford university until 1954, when he was unanimously elected to the chair of medieval and renaissance literature at cambridge university, a position he held until his. Lewis is a good person to turn to, to both feel the hammer at your head and also find some instruction on how to unravel the difficulty of pain. In the book he seeks to reconcile gods power and goodness. The main characters of this christian, non fiction story are.
Clive staples lewis november 29, 1898 november 22, 1963, commonly referred to as c. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain. The problem of pain by cs lewis summary, quotes, and chapter. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 176 pages and is available in paperback format. The problem of pain is a 1940 book on the problem of evil by c.
Antony flew examines his views on free will and evil it was in 1940 that c. Lewis here tackles the strongest objection to god there is. The existence of pain and suffering in this world has beena sufficient argument for many either that god does not exist or that he is either indifferent to the sufferings of humanity or indeed actively hostile. Lewis asserts that pain is a problem because our finite, human minds selfishly believe that painfree lives would prove that god. Lewis published the problem of pain, his first major defence of christianity.
Pain the only real evil 12 if god exists and allows suffering, god must be grotesque. Lewiss the problem of pain 1940 and four series of radio talks on the british broadcasting corporation during world war ii later collected as mere christianity, 1952 brought him wide recognition as a lay expositor of christian beliefs. Lewis sets out to disentangle this knotty issue, but adds that, in the end, no intellectual. Lewis the problem of pain 1940 contents preface i introduction ii divine omnipotence iii divine goodness iv human. Lewis, author of the lion, the witch and the wardrobe, was a tireless academic defender of christianity. Lewis is loved by many for his prodigious works of nonfiction in the subjects of theology and apologetics, as well as his famous fantasy series, the chronicles of narnia. Clive staples lewis 18981963 was one of the intellectual giants of the twentieth century and arguably one of the most influential writers of his day. Lewis questions the pain and suffering that occur everyday and how this contrasts with the notion of a god that is both omnipotent and good. Lewis touchstone edition 1996 of the 1940 book he seeks to provide an intellectual christian response to questions about suffering.
The problem of pain has always been one of the great difficulties facing a devout christian, as lewis was. Lent opens this week and its a reminder of suffering and pilgrimage. Gods eternal remedy to the problem of evil and suffering duration. He was famous for his much beloved fantasy series the chronicles of narnia as well as being a prolific and very popular author in other genres his book the problem of pain 1940, gives a christian response to the challenge of reconciling the.
Miracles the problem of pain the great divorce by lewis, c. This was followed in 1942 by the screwtape letters, in 1943 by the. Published april 1st 2012 by collins publishers first published 1940. Lewis offers answers to these crucial questions and shares his. In the problem of pain, lewis tackles all topics from the deity of christ, mans idea of pain, and the theology of hell. This book is often considered to be his first major. Free download or read online the problem of pain pdf epub book. In the book he seeks to reconcile gods power and goodness with the presence of evil. In the 1940s, lewis was on something of a roll with apologetics. His great run of popular christian books began with the problem of pain 1940. He also wrote a science fiction trilogy, and of course the popular narnia books for children. Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for these desires exists. In 1933, he published his novel the pilgrims regress.
The problem of pain 1940 october 26, 2011 with 45 notes tags. In 1940, at age fortytwo, lewis penned the problem of pain accompanied by a humble, written admission. Lewis by the josh benner blog on november 14, 2012 1. If god is good and allpowerful, why does he allow his creatures to suffer pain. Lewis, adapted from a series of bbc radio talks made between 1941 and 1944, while lewis was at oxford during the second world war. Lewis, in which lewis argues that human pain, animal pain, and hell are not sufficient reasons to reject belief in a good and powerful god.
The issues are much better and more clearly examined in the undisputed lewis classic mere christianity and the far more personal a grief observed, both great books that i highly recommend. I first read the problem of pain when i was an impressionable teenager in search of the meaning of life. A critical essay, some sixty firstquality works of literary history, literary criticism, theology, philosophy, autobiography, biblical studies, sermons, formal and informal essays, a spiritual diary, and short stories, as well as poetry, of particular interest to readers of fantasy and science fiction are lewis. The problem of pain, the first of a series of popular works on christian doctrine, was written in 1940, twenty years before his beloved wife, joy davidman, died of. I would advise anybody who wants some solid answers on the problem of pain or anyone starting to read lewis to stay away from this book. The problem of pain 1940 september 15, 2011 with 44 notes tags. He states in the first chapter that if this was a world without good and evil, then how did we arrive at this problem of pain.
Lewis started his career as a writer with spirits in bondage in 1919. The problem of pain, the first of a series of popular works on christian doctrine, was written in 1940, twenty years before his beloved wife, joy davidman, died of cancer in the third year of their shortlived marriage. The problem of pain demonstrates a more distant, less emotional reaction to humanitys situation, while a grief observed reads like a psalm of lament from within pain itself. In the book lewis considers the problem of suffering from a purely theoretical standpoint. Apr 7, 2016 for centuries people have been tormented by one question above all.
Anyway, i loved the the problem of pain when i first read it. Early in the book the problem of pain, in an analogy which is the epitome of the brilliance and humor of c. Cs lewis 29 th november, 1898 22 nd november, 1963 1, was an author and a professor of literature at cambridge. The first edition of the novel was published in 1940, and was written by c. Lewis institute atlanta continued from previous page. And as ive wrestled with this issue in the past, ive found beauty in the jurgen moltmanns fearless and raw exploration of the open wound of life and also in c. Lewis, in which lewis argues that human pain, animal pain, and hell are not sufficient reasons to reject belief in a. Cs lewis and nt wright by jeff cook in defending the traditional view of hell in the problem of pain 1940, cs lewis wrote of hell, there is no doctrine which i would more. All pages are intact, not marred by any notes, underlining or highlighting. Lewis, in which lewis argues that human pain, animal pain, and hell are not sufficient. With wwii raging, he published the problem of pain in 1940, the screwtape letters in 1942, the abolition of man in 1943, and the great divorce in 1945. Samizdat, february 2016 public domain under canadian law font. In this work, lewis starts off with an empathetic understanding that the problem of pain is a difficult one and not something to write off flippantly.