God's Problem

By: Bart D. Ehrman

Narrated by: L.J. Ganser

In times of questioning and despair, people often quote the Bible to provide answers. Surprisingly, though, the Bible does not have one answer but many ""answers"" that often contradict one another. Consider these competing explanations for suffering put forth by various biblical writers:

• The prophets: suffering is a punishment for sin
• The book of Job, which offers two different answers: suffering is a test, and you will be rewarded later for passing it; and suffering is beyond comprehension, since we are just human beings and God, after all, is God
• Ecclesiastes: suffering is the nature of things, so just accept it
• All apocalyptic texts in both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament: God will eventually make right all that is wrong with the world

For renowned Bible scholar Bart Ehrman, the question of why there is so much suffering in the world is more than a haunting thought. Ehrman's inability to reconcile the claims of faith with the facts of real life led the former pastor of the Princeton Baptist Church to reject Christianity.

In God's Problem, Ehrman discusses his personal anguish upon discovering the Bible's contradictory explanations for suffering and invites all people of faith—or no faith—to confront their deepest questions about how God engages the world and each of us.

©2008 Bart D. Ehrman; (P)2008 HarperCollins Publishers

A Very thought-provoking book

Professor Ehrman has done it again: made the reader/listener think long and hard about deeply-held beliefs and, as in his previous books, thoroughly analyses those beliefs and misconceptions.

If one thinks the "experts" in theology have simple explanations, think again. Not even the authors of the Biblical texts have consistent answers to the question of suffering.

Highly recommended!

Great Perspective

Where does God's Problem rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Great narrating. I think that Bart brings up some valid points and I like his added humor.

What was one of the most memorable moments of God's Problem?

It made me think!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

I'm looking forward to more of his books

I can listen to this 1,000 times and STILL learn!

Mr. Ehrman is great. While I'm a total atheist and appreciate others with my view, I equally appreciate how Bart is not in my face with opinion. Sometimes I want strong, fervent opinion, and sometimes I want strong , compelling and researched facts. That's how this book is written and read; rife with simple facts that only blind faith could deny

I think I'll go search for more of his books now :-)

Revolutionary

This book is so beautifully written! Bart’s personal story and this book is definitely a foundational resource for free thinkers from all walks of life. Excellent work!

Ecclesiastes

Ehrman does it! Thanks to Bart!

I like the way this book is arranged and written. It gives very good insight to the books of the Bible. It's well researched.

Finally, the author's sharing of personal experiences, knowledge, observationd and opinion is exceptionally utilized.