Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 75 No. 1, 2005.
Original scientific paper
A Literary-Biblical Approach to the Theodicean Problem
Krešimir Šimić
orcid.org/0000-0001-9078-7780
; Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer, Osijek, Croatia
Abstract
The accumulation of suffering through history points to man as homo patiens. As W. Kasper puts it, the suffering man is essentially the co-speaker of today's theology. At the same time, the traditional theodicean discourse is shown to be incommunicable, in some respects even unsustainable. Therefore, following the path set out by the pastoral constitution Gaudium et Spes, and emphasizing the importance of literature and the arts in proclaiming the Christian message, we have taken a look at the theodicean problem in Western literature. We have high-lighted the theodicean problem contained in German literature, treating it in the tradition of Faust (J. W. Goethe i T. Mann), F. M. Dostoyevsky's novel The Brothers Karamazov, and Camus' novel The Plague, as well as taking into consideration our (Croatian) literature from the novel by P. Pavličić Koraljna vrata (The Coral Door), the first post-modern European novel that once again, looks at the theodicean problem. Furthermore, we have also considered the biblical treatise of the theodicean problem, with special reference to the Book of Job and John's Gospel, both of which call us to an active love.
Keywords
theodicy; literature; Faust; Goethe; Mann; Dostoyevsky; Camus; Pavličić; Job; John; love
Hrčak ID:
24682
URI
Publication date:
7.9.2005.
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