Divine Impassibility And The Mystery Of Human Suffering

The question of whether or not God suffers – whether his very deity places him beyond the reach of suffering and evil – has serious implications as to how we can correctly perceive human suffering. Though classical doctrine had long held that God is impassible – that is, that he does not suffer – most twentieth century theologians assert just the opposite, declaring instead that God suffers and in so doing shows true solidarity with the suffering of human beings. Some contemporary theologians, however, have begun to once again argue forcefully in favor of divine impassibility.

James F. Keating and Thomas Joseph White have gathered here a selection of essays that consider how God’s suffering or lack thereof can relate to our redemption from and through human suffering. The contributors – Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox – tread carefully but surely over this thorny ground, defending diverse and often opposing perspectives. Divine Impassibility and the Mystery of Human Suffering is an excellent contribution to the latest stage in this difficult and important theological controversy.