"Anatheism" within the framework of theodicy: from theistic thinking to theopaschitic thinking in a pastoral hermeneutics
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Date
2016
Authors
Louw, D. J.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State
Abstract
The Syrian and refugee crises, the violent radicalisation in Europe, and global
xenophobia stir up anew the link between the human quest for meaning and hope
within the realm of human misery and destructive acts of severe evil. The article
focuses on the problem of theodicy and its link to God images. It discusses both
inclusive and exclusive approaches to the theodicy issue, and proposes a paradigm
shift from threat power to intimate, vulnerable power. A diagram is designed in order
to identify different metaphors for God in pastoral caregiving. With reference to a
pastoral approach, lamentation is viewed as an appropriate variant for theodicy. In the
attempt to return to ‘God after God’ (anatheism), lamentation could help reinterpret
the ḥesed of God in terms of our human predicament of ‘undeserved suffering’.
Description
Keywords
Theodicy, Theopaschitic theology, Power of God, Lament, Meaning in suffering, Anatheism
Citation
Louw, D.J. (2016). "Anatheism" within the framework of theodicy: from theistic thinking to theopaschitic thinking in a pastoral hermeneutics. Acta Theologic, 36(1), 85-109.