A Theodical Invitation

While analytic philosophy has led the charge in answering the problem of evil (i.e., POE), postmodern theology and movements like radical orthodoxy incite a response to POE from a postmodern perspective. With skepticism toward purely metaphysical answers to evil, this essay relies on the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and James K.A. Smith in order to offer a social, ecclesial, and non-rational response to the POE; furthermore, continental philosophy, postmodern theology, and social theory play a significant role in this paper. Supporting the conclusion that the Church is a heuristic, embodied answer to the POE, three contentions form the backbone of this argument: (1) the earthly body of Christ (i.e., the Church) lives in cruciform, (2) embodied theories (possibly) explain God’s relation to evil, and (3) Church liturgies act against evil. This approach seeks to develop a balanced fusion of social action, non-rational knowledge, and theoretical arguments in response to the POE.