Description:
Gratuitous Suffering and the Problem of Evil: A Comprehensive Introduction is among the first book-length discussions of theistic approaches to the problem of evil. Bryan Frances's lucid analyses of a variety of possible responses to the problem of evil will provide serious students or general readers much material with which to consider this ancient and contemporary concern.
The book offers many useful pedagogical features, including chapter overviews, study questions, summaries, and suggested readings.
Review Quotes:
In a field filled with atheistic rants and rash theistic rejoinders this book is a breath of fresh air. I know of no other book that offers such a clear, entertaining, and levelheaded guide to thinking about the problem of evil. The arguments are clear, Frances's presentation is engaging, and the key issues are handled in a thorough and careful manner. It will be a valuable text for classes in the philosophy of religion, and will reward reading by anyone interested in these issues.
Robert Howell, Southern Methodist University