Randal Rauser
    • About Randal
    • Books
    • Articles
      • Articles (single)
      • Articles (in series)
    • Audio/Video
      • Audio Interviews, Lectures, and Debates
      • Video Interviews and Lectures
      • Powerpoint Slides
    • Blog
      • Current Posts
      • Blog Archives
    • Podcasts
      • The Tentative Apologist
      • 59 Second Apologist
    • Reviews
    Search the site...
    • Home
    • The Tentative Apologist
    • The problem with a god who suffers

    The problem with a god who suffers

    July 5, 2018 / Randal / The Tentative Apologist / No Comments

    The doctrine of divine impassibility was widely assumed by Christian theologians throughout the history of the church. But that consensus was fractured in the twentieth century with the decline of a widely held theological model belatedly known as “classical theism”. With the fracturing of a consensus on the classical theist model, several divine attributes were called into question, among them omniscience, atemporal eternity, and simplicity.

    Arguably, the classical attribute subject to the most criticism has been divine impassibility, the claim that God does not suffer. The objections to impassibility have been many. To my mind, the most compelling objections focus on arguments from incarnation and have the following basic structure:

    (1) Jesus Christ suffered.

    (2) Jesus Christ is a divine person.

    (3) Therefore, a divine person suffered.

    (4) If a divine person suffered then divine impassibility is false.

    (5) Therefore, divine impassibility is false.

    But many other objections have been rather poor and misguided. Among the worst is based on the mistaken assumption that impassibility somehow entails apathy. In other words, if God doesn’t suffer when we suffer then God doesn’t care that we suffer. In still other words, if God doesn’t suffer with us then God doesn’t love us.

    While that bit of reasoning has struck many people as compelling, the fact is that it is deeply flawed. After all, God the Father sent his Son Jesus to live the perfect life and die an atoning death to bring about the healing of creation. If that isn’t indicative of care and love then what is it?

    But how can God love us if he doesn’t share in our suffering? This too is deeply misguided. And by way of rebuttal, I offer a quote from the doctor on The Horn.

    Er, wazzat?

    Allow me to explain. The Horn is a documentary series on Netflix which follows a team of experts headquartered in Zermatt — climbers, paramedics, doctors, and helicopter pilots — as they rescue stranded and injured people hiking in the Alps. At one point, the main doctor on the team describes the importance of separating emotion from one’s work with patients. He says:

    “One must work with a patient completely without emotion. It’s the best for the patient and the best way for positive results.”

    Here’s his point. If his goal is to benefit the patient, then it does precisely no good for the doctor to break down and weep as he witnesses the patient’s egregious injuries. Rather, as a doctor who longs to bring healing to the patient, it is critical for the doctor to set aside his own emotion and labor simply to apply his skills of healing.

    Whether you agree with it or not, the same logic lies behind the doctrine of divine impassibility. God has identified with us and our suffering in Christ. But in his divine nature, God remains like that doctor: he works without the sway of emotions and in that way he brings about the best results for the patient.

    Share
    classical theism, God, impassibility, theology

    Follow This Blog

    Randal’s Books at Amazon.com

    What’s So Confusing About Grace?


    Randal-Rauser_An Atheist and a Christian Walk into a BarAn Atheist and a Christian Walk into a Bar…

    Randal-Rauser_Is-the-Atheist-my-NeighborIs the Atheist My Neighbor?: Rethinking Christian Attitudes toward Atheism

    Randal-Rauser_What-on-earth-do-we-know-about-heavenWhat on Earth Do We Know About Heaven?: 20 Questions and Answers about Life after Death

    Randal-Rauser_The Swedish Atheist, the Scuba Diver and Other Apologetic Rabbit TrailsThe Swedish Atheist, the Scuba Diver and Other Apologetic Rabbit Trails

    Randal-Rauser_God or Godless?: One Atheist. One Christian. Twenty Controversial QuestionsGod or Godless?: One Atheist. One Christian. Twenty Controversial Questions.

    Randal-Rauser_You're Not As Crazy As I Think: Dialogue in a World of Loud Voices and Hardened OpinionsYou’re Not As Crazy As I Think: Dialogue in a World of Loud Voices and Hardened Opinions

    Randal-Rauser_Finding God in The ShackFinding God in The Shack

    Randal-Rauser_Faith Lacking Understanding: Theology 'Through a Glass, Darkly'Faith Lacking Understanding: Theology ‘Through a Glass, Darkly’

    Randal-Rauser_Christian Philosophy A-ZChristian Philosophy A-Z

    Randal-Rauser_Theology in Search of FoundationsTheology in Search of Foundations

    Recent Posts

    • Should Conservatives Protest LGBT Hallmark Movies?
    • How to Respond to Ken Ham in About a Minute
    • Christians and Skeptics Can Change the World Together! Won’t You Join Us?
    • Is Theistic Evolution a Contradiction in Terms? A response to J. Warner Wallace
    • Rethinking Origins: The Evolution of a Young Earth Creationist

    Archives

    Browse Blog Archives by Title >>

    © Randal Rauser - a steady site