The Problem of Pain

by C.S. Lewis

In The Problem of Pain, Lewis undertakes what has always been one of the difficult and daunting questions facing Christians: If God is all good and all powerful, why do bad things happen? His approach is one that is traditional and offers little surprise to anyone well-read on the issue. He admits: “I have believed myself to be re-stating ancient and orthodox doctrines. If any parts of the book are ‘original,’ in the sense of being novel or unorthodox, they are so against my will and as a result of my ignorance” (10).

Nonetheless, Lewis produces a book that is well worth your time to pick up and read. He addresses, in great philosophical detail, the issues of divine omnipotence and goodness as well as human wickedness and The Fall, before turning to the issue of pain itself, which he look at in two aspects: human pain and animal pain. The chapter on animal pain was something of a surprise to me—I’d never thought about animal pain as an obstacle to faith (the question is posed this way: what of the suffering of animals, who neither deserve pain—i.e., they have sinned—nor can be improved by it—i.e., it is disciplinary correction?).

In all honesty, there were points of this book that were either far above my head or somewhere out in left field, though I would presume the former. And there were parts that were brilliant, and easily made every head-scratching moment worth the while. As all Lewis books, you will find yourself shaking your head in disagreement sometimes. But, in the end, you will find having read it a worthwhile endeavor.

The Editors do not advocate everything taught by the authors of the books we review. Like us, these authors are fallible humans and those who choose to read these books should measure them by the bible, the one true standard.