Evil and the God of Love

Widely acknowledged as a masterwork of modern philosophy of religion, this landmark volume directly engages with one of theology's most daunting questions: how to reconcile the realities of human suffering and world evil with the existence of an all-powerful, all-loving God. John Hick structures his thorough inquiry by evaluating historical theodicies, offering a rigorous critique of the Augustinian tradition which views evil as a consequence of humanity's original fall from perfection. In its place, Hick champions an alternative approach rooted in the Irenaean tradition, proposing his famed "soul-making theodicy". He argues that the world was created not as a frictionless paradise, but as a challenging environment designed for human moral growth, spiritual maturity, and character formation. Through freedom, struggle, and overcoming adversity, humans gradually develop authentic virtue and complete their journey toward divine alignment.

It is a essential standard reference in philosophical theology and ethics, offering a brilliantly reasoned and compassionate framework for understanding human suffering and divine purpose.

Ideal for philosophers, theologians, scholars of comparative religion, and readers interested in ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, and the problem of evil.