Where Is the God of Justice?: Biblical Perspectives on Suffering

Despite the title and an introduction that asks "Is God just?" McWilliams (professor at Oklahoma Baptist University and author of several other works on suffering) has purposely not written a theodicy, a defense of God's goodness in the face of the world's apparent evil. Although he does consider some of the more traditional theodicy questions—such as "Is suffering a punishment for sin?"—much of the book discusses Christian responses to various forms of suffering, such as infertility, violence and grief. His focus is not so much on how Christians think about God in relation to suffering, but on the believers' own practical response to their pain. McWilliams summarizes an amazing amount of Christian writing on suffering, but provides very little argument of his own. His chapter on animal suffering is the most striking example. He begins with a child's difficult question: "Will my dog go to heaven?" He summarizes what several authors, such as C.S. Lewis, have said on the subject and all the various facets of the discussion, but never gives his own answer to the question. With its decidedly academic flavor, copious quotations and many semantic discussions, the book is less practical than its author intends. (Jan.)