Description
Life is at once wonderful and appalling, beautiful and horrific. Although we can all give meaning to our lives by trying to live well, is there some given meaning to be discovered? Science cannot answer this question, and philosophical arguments leave the issue open. The monotheistic religions claim that the meaning has been revealed to us, and Christians see this is above all in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Richard Harries considers the Christian claim in the context of an in-depth discussion of the nature of evil and how this is to be reconciled with a loving God. He argues that belief in the resurrection and hope in the face of death is fundamental to faith, and suggests that while there is no final intellectual answer to the problem of evil, we must all, believer and non-believer alike, protest against the world as it is, rather than seeking forms of escape, whether in this life or the next. Contents 1. Life û so astonishing and so appalling 2. Asking the right questions 3. Knowing and unknowing 4. Pursuing the truth 5. Truth in its beauty 6. A living tradition 7. What do we know about Jesus and why does it matter? 8. One religion among many 9. Why did it all begin? 10. The mystery of good and evil. 11. Overcoming evil 12. Hope in the face of death 13. Why suffering? 14. Refusing to be comforted 15. Rebellion or acceptance? 16. Beyond tragedy 17. Towards a true humanism 18. æKeep your mind in hell and do not despair.Æ