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“God’s Problem”: The Bible and Human Suffering An Encore Distinguished Scholar Seminar Featuring Bart D. Ehrman, May 30-31, 2008 Please note: Due to the size of the waiting list from the spring session of “God’s Problem,” initial registration will be limited to those already on the list. Please contact us by phone at (919) 962-1544 or by email at human@unc.edu to be added to the list.
Bart Ehrman One of Carolina’s most prominent scholars returns to Adventures in Ideas with another challenging topic – the problem of suffering as portrayed in the Bible. In this encore seminar, Professor Bart D. Ehrman will analyze what he calls “the varied and contradictory biblical explanations for why an all-powerful God allows us to suffer.” The seminar will explore an array of fascinating questions, including but not limited to the following: If an all-knowing and ostensibly benevolent god is not responsible for war, disease, natural disasters, abuse, pain, and death, who’s to blame? How can a loving god permit the innocent to suffer? What does Scripture say about suffering and what does suffering have to do with divine purposes on Earth? What does human suffering have to do with sin, redemption, and salvation? What does the Bible have to say about the Devil and human suffering? If the God of the Bible is powerless to prevent suffering, how can he be characterized as omnipotent? If, on the other hand, the Biblical God wants people to suffer, how can we characterize him as good? As we will see, sacred texts such as the Book of Job and Ecclesiastes not only offer different answers to such momentous questions, they often stand at odds with one another in their treatment of some of the most penetrating and significant problems of human existence. Bart D. Ehrman is James A. Gray Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies. The author or editor of twenty books, he has published extensively in the fields of New Testament and Early Christianity. Professor Ehrman is also the winner of numerous teaching awards. His new book is God’s Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question – Why We Suffer. Topics Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God: Suffering as Punishment Suffering Infused with Meaning: Redemptive Suffering in the Bible The Last Word Belongs to God: Suffering in the Apocalyptic Tradition The Mysteries of the Universe: Suffering as an Inexplicable Problem Time and Cost 4:30 p.m., Friday, May 30, through 12:00 p.m., Saturday, May 31, 2008. The tuition is $120 ($105 by May 28). The optional dinner on Friday evening is $20. Tuition for teachers is $60 ($52.50 by May 28). 10 contact hours for 1 unit of renewal credit. For information about lodging click here. Co-Sponsored by the General Alumni Association. |
