God’s Problem

It’s one of the oldest faith questions: If there’s an all-powerful and loving God, why do human beings suffer?

In his latest book, religious studies professor Bart D. Ehrman wrestles with that question — and with the implications of the often-contradictory answers he finds. In God’s Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question — Why We Suffer, Ehrman meditates upon how the Bible explains human suffering, why he finds the explanations unconvincing, and why he gave up on being a Christian.

The State Of . . . God. “If there is an all-powerful and loving God in this world, why is there so much excruciating pain and unspeakable suffering.” This is the first sentence of Ehrman’s book as he tries to figure out why we suffer. Why do you think we suffer?