When suffering contradicts belief: measuring theodical struggling

ABSTRACT: Global meaning systems help people make sense of their experiences, but suffering can violate global meaning and create distress. One type of potential violation is conflict between one’s experience of suffering and one’s deeply-held beliefs about God as loving, powerful, and just. The problem of theodicy—why an all-powerful and all-loving God would allow suffering—has long been an important theological and philosophical concern, but little is known about how theodicy plays out psychologically for religious individuals facing serious life difficulties. To address this issue within a specific religious tradition, Christianity, we drew upon philosophy, Christian theology, and psychology to develop the construct of theodical struggling. Through theological and philosophical input, we generate

SUBMITTER: Park C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10154748 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature