Making Sense Out of Suffering

  • Year 1986
  • Type Book
  • Genre philosophical theology
  • Tradition Catholic
  • Original language English

For For readers wrestling with suffering, their own or others', who want an honest Christian answer; not for those wanting a technical treatment of the logical problem of evil.

Should I read this?

For the general reader
5 of 5 essential
For the researcher
3 of 5 worth your time
Difficulty
2 of 5 moderate

His best-known book on why God allows suffering, moving from philosophy to the suffering of Christ.

How it proceeds
  • Philosophic 4 of 5
  • Scriptural 3 of 5
  • Experiential 4 of 5
  • Sociological 1 of 5
  • Historical 1 of 5

Independent intensities, 0–5 — what the work is made of, not how good it is.

First published by Servant in 1986, this book takes up the question of why God allows suffering. Kreeft approaches the problem first as a philosopher, testing the answers offered by thinkers and traditions, and then turns to the Christian answer, which he finds not in an argument but in the person of Christ, who suffers with and for us. It remains one of his most widely read books and was reissued by Ignatius Press in 2026.

Catalog IDW.HZW1AP.4

Edition details and descriptions on this page were compiled with the aid of AI research tools. Readers are encouraged to verify specifics (publisher, translator, edition year) against the originating source before purchase or citation.