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  • The Problem of Pain

  • By: C. S. Lewis
  • Narrated by: Simon Vance
  • Length: 3 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (104 ratings)

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The Problem of Pain

By: C. S. Lewis
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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Summary

For centuries Christians have been tormented by one question above all, "If God is good and all-powerful, why does he allow his creatures to suffer pain?"

C.S. Lewis sets out to disentangle this knotty issue, but wisely adds that in the end no intellectual solution can dispense with the necessity for patience and courage.

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©1940 C. S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. (P)2000 Blackstone Audiobooks
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What listeners say about The Problem of Pain

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant, if very packed with concepts and ideas.

Near perfect answer to the questions like: Why does a good God allow evil,pain and suffering.

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Everything

The idea of making an audiobook from the treasury of C S Lewis’ books for the edification of all was already good enough. Not to talk of the excellent delivery

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    4 out of 5 stars

No problem with this book.

This is a great little book and CS Lewis was an exceptional thinker. The Problem of Pain was written eighty years ago and in a particular style that is difficult for readers to engage with today. This audio book brings it to life.
Some of the text is a little dated. However many of the arguments Lewis addresses are precisely the same as those the New Atheists raise today. Which leads you to realise there is nothing new going on there. They should listen to this book.
Simon Vance presents Lewis' words with style and conviction. It is an outstanding performance of a book that is densely argued at times and difficult to read.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting refletions, but not my fav Lewis

It's not the best Lewis book but it brings up very interesting considerations (even though I don't agree with everything). But it can get a little bit confusing in some parte, especially for being an audiobook where you can't really go back to try and make sense of the paragraphs.

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Excellent

Exquisitely layed out, explained and visualised. C.S.Lewis has made what usually is a hard subject to discuss in context and meaning with rational, theological and physical examples and yet he does this bringing such a great balance and humble context that anyone can be brought to a more level headed framework and foundation of future thought and perspective that would be usefull in conversation, debate and writing.

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The Problem of Pain

Highly recommended. some dated language and terms but relevant today. Well thought out, heart felt, provoking, humorous and inspirational. I'm delighted that Amazon offers this important book.

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Another thought provoking book

Love his work , wish I’d been introduced to this part of C S Lewis 50 years ago !

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How can God be good if He allows pain and suffering?

Very good. It is a lot to take in.
At times it was like trying to drink from a fire hose. I imagine it is best read over and over so as to absorb more each time.

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Possibly Lewis's best non-fiction book

The Problem of Pain might just be C.S. Lewis's best non-fiction book. It certainly deserves to rank with Mere Christianity and Surprised by Joy. Very suitable for anyone approaching Lewis's apologetics for the first time. Simon Vance narrates well, though my teeth ground at his repeated mispronunciation of the poet Cowper's name (it should be 'Cooper').

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A Beautiful Life Lesson

First of all I would like to say that the narrator can be everything when absorbing an audiobook, and to these ears Simon Vance is one of the finest readers I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. His performance along with this incredible work joins together to create an unforgettable experience.

To say this is a stark lesson is an understatement. CS has a delicate and gentle way of reminding us that we are heathens by natural behaviour and actually, a lot of hard self work and analysis are needed to rise above our Earthly desires and attain the spiritual assention that the realm desires of us.

Reaching for God is a sometimes overwhelming ideal, but that's what we are here for. Living harmoniously with nature and the animals and overcoming our humanity.

We need Fatherly scholars like this on the modern times, as we descend into material consumption and shallow minded obsessions there seems no one to check us and remind us that we are not owed anything, and in fact we are the ones in debt. Spiritual debt.

Thank you CS. This is one of the best books I have ever read.

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