

#1277
Mentioned in 18 episodes
The Problem of Pain
Book • 1940
In 'The Problem of Pain', C.S.
Lewis addresses the age-old question of how a good and all-powerful God can permit pain and suffering.
Lewis argues that human suffering is a consequence of the existence of evil and free will, and that God uses suffering as a tool to draw us nearer to Him. He categorizes pain as both physical and emotional, serving as a warning signal that alerts us to potential harm and compels us to make necessary changes.
Lewis also discusses the Fall of Man and how it led to chaos and disaster, emphasizing that God's goodness is not negated by suffering but rather evidenced through His merciful intervention.
The book concludes by reassuring that God's wisdom is infinitely superior to ours and that pain eventually leads us back to a loving relationship with our Creator.
Lewis addresses the age-old question of how a good and all-powerful God can permit pain and suffering.
Lewis argues that human suffering is a consequence of the existence of evil and free will, and that God uses suffering as a tool to draw us nearer to Him. He categorizes pain as both physical and emotional, serving as a warning signal that alerts us to potential harm and compels us to make necessary changes.
Lewis also discusses the Fall of Man and how it led to chaos and disaster, emphasizing that God's goodness is not negated by suffering but rather evidenced through His merciful intervention.
The book concludes by reassuring that God's wisdom is infinitely superior to ours and that pain eventually leads us back to a loving relationship with our Creator.
Mentioned by




























Mentioned in 18 episodes
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as a book written by C.S. Lewis.

John Dickson

94 snips
147. On Hell
Mentioned by 

as an example of an author who masterfully combined rational apologetics with imaginative storytelling.


Justin Brierley

48 snips
CNLP 713 | The Decline of the New Atheism: Justin Brierley on The Openness of Thinkers Like Jordan Peterson and How to Have Conversations With Spiritually Open People
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when discussing the theme of suffering and meaning in spiritual and religious texts.


Matthew Syed

22 snips
68. Bliss in Suffering
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when he reads words about joy from it.


John Ortberg

17 snips
8. Social Media is Stealing Your Joy | John Ortberg & Chuck Bergstrom
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for its evocative description of the numinous.

Joseph Lee

15 snips
Sacred Symptoms: How the Numinous Heals
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as one of the two most seminal works around pain and suffering.

Ruth Jackson

14 snips
#08 C.S. Lewis on the problem of pain
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and ![undefined]()

when discussing the problem of pain and suffering, and how faith can be maintained in the face of adversity.


Mark Phillips

Eric Margrave

11 snips
CS Lewis’s Problem of Pain, with Eric Margrave
Mentioned by 

in the discussion of God's will and human choice.


John Eldredge

E820 | John Responds to Your Questions
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when discussing the topic of suffering and healing.

Caitlin West

23 - The Anointing of the Sick
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as a book where the author explores the nature of love and vulnerability.

Michael Ward

Bonus Episode: C.S. Lewis, God, and Tears (feat. Michael Ward)
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while discussing the concept of pruning and God's work in our lives, referencing Lewis's perspective on pain and suffering.


John Ortberg

20. Pruning! | John Ortberg
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as a book C.S. Lewis wrote about the mystery of suffering.

Fr. Mike Schmitz

Day 206: Healing the Sick (2025)
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while discussing C.S. Lewis's letters and his views on cats.

Timothy Paul Jones

How True Crime Reveals the Truth of God, with J. Warner Wallace
Mentioned by ![undefined]()

as another of C.S. Lewis's well-known books on Christian apologetics.

Erik Rostad

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
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as a book discussing morality and its connection to belief in God.

Paul Vanderklay

Jordan Peterson's Bible Archetypes Meets Scott Adam's Pandeistic Affirmation Magic
Mentioned by 

in the context of discussing animal suffering and theodicy.


Gavin Ortlund

Alex O'Connor on Animal Suffering: Christian Response
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when discussing the problem of pain and faith.

John Dickson

152. God Laments
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as the writer who states the problem of pain is not that good people suffer, but that some people do not.

Ron Squire

Why God Let Me Fall off A Cliff—Purpose in The Pain | Ron Squire E0033
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in relation to his book 'The Problem of Pain,' which addresses the problem of animal suffering.

Stephen Meredith

Disease and the Problem of Evil | Prof. Stephen Meredith
Mentioned by 

in connection to the Socratic Club and Lewis becoming a well-known apologist.


Simon Horobin

C.S. Lewis's Oxford w/ Dr. Simon Horobin