- Summary
- This work explores the theologies of James H. Cone, a black theologian of liberation, and Emil L. Fackenheim, a post-Holocaust Jewish theologian, regarding their conceptions of divine activity and human freedom in the context of sustained and/or radical ethnic suffering, moral evil, and social injustice. William R. Jones, Anthony Pinn, Delores Williams, Dwight Hopkins, Richard Rubenstein, Marc Ellis, Melissa Raphael, and Michael Morgan are brought into conversation with these two primary thinkers in an effort to explore challenges to and opportunities for further development of the thinking of Cone and Fackenheim.The thesis of this dissertation is that the best theological position to deal with suffering, evil, and injustice is humanocentric theism; the ethical corollary is that it is through human freedom, grounded in divine gift, that suffering and evil are to be resisted. Though this stance does not "solve" the philosophical question of evil, it is a response. This response is based on a particular understanding of God and of humanity. By reconceiving of human agency and freedom, and consequently, of divine activity and presence, it is apparent that the responsibility to resist evil and suffering lies with both God and humanity. It is only through resistance to oppression and despair that humanity may find hope and redemption.
- Format
- Book
- Author/Creator
- Buhring, Kurt.
- Published
- [Place of publication not identified] : [publisher not identified], 2003
- Notes
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, 2003.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 289-315).
Photocopy. Ann Arbor, Mich. : UMI Dissertation Services, 2004. 22 cm.
Dissertations and Theses