Description

Dr. Felix Podimattam is one of the best-known moral theologians in India & outside. Besides his full time job as a professor, he finds time to write books at an amazing rate. He has authored 136 books.
Besides his Master’s degree in Political Science from Mysore, he holds a Licentiate in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, & subsequently a Doctorate in Moral Theology from the Alphonsian Academy, Rome. ‘His post-doctoral studies were pursued in Washington, DC, USA. At present he is professor of Moral Theology at St. Francis Theological College, Kottayam, Kerala, India.

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
chapter one
THE CHALLENGE OF SUFFERING
1. Physical Sufferings
2. Psychological Sufferings
3. Social Sufferings
4. Moral and Religious Sufferings
chapter two
WHY WOULD A GOOD GOD ALLOW SUFFERING?
1. In the Realm of Mystery
2. Answer from Scripture
3. Answer from the Magisterium
4. Answer from Tradition
4.1. Augustine on Evil and Suffering
4.2. Irenaeus on Evil and Suffering
4.3. Aquinas on Evil and Suffering
4.4. Saint Therese of Lisieux on Evil and Suffering.
5. Answer from Theological Reason
5.1. Wrong Answer
5.2. True Meaning of theGoodnessof God
5.3. God Tries Us out of Love forUs
5.4. The Need for Natural Laws
5.5. Pain as an Integral Part of Our Experience
5.6. SufferingComes with the Freedom to Choose
5.7. Suffering Can Alert Us
1)SomethingIsWrongwith the World
2) Somethingls Wrongwith God’s Creatures
3) Something Is Wrongwith Me
5.8. Suffering as t he School of Obedience and Other Virtues
5.9. Suffering as the School of Self-Surrender
5.10. The Agony, Then the Ecstasy
5.11. God’s Suffering
5.12. Other Reasons
5.13. Lessons from the Tsunami Tragedy
6. Answer from the Religions
6.1. Answer from Hinduism60
6.3. Answer from Islam
7. Answer from Philosophers
7.1. Leibniz on the Problem of Evil68
7.2. Other Philosophical Explanations
8. Animal Pain
chapter three
SUFFERING IN THE LIVES OF SAINTS AND GREAT PEOPLE
1-Sufferingin the Lifeof Saints
1.1. St. Francis and Suffering
1.2. St. Peter Damian and Suffering
1.3. St. Teresa of Avila and Suffering
1.4. St. John of the Cross and Suffering
1.5. St. Bernadette and Suffering
1.6. St.JohnBosco and Suffering
1.7.St. Therese of Lisieux and Suffering
1.8. St. Alphonsa Muttathupadath and Suffering
1.9. St. Padre Pio and Suffering
2.Suffering in the Life of Eminent Public Figures
2.1, Pope John Paul II and Suffering
2.2. Nelson Mandela and Suffering
2.3. Jacqueline Kennedy and Suffering
2.4. Sonia Gandhi and Suffering
2.5. Bill Clinton and Suffering
2.6. Dostoevsky and Suffering
2J’ StePhen Hawking and Suffering
3.Sufferingin the Life of Business Leaders
4. Sufferingin the Life of Film Stars
5. Sufferingin the Life of Some Ordinary People
6′ Suffering in My Life
chapter four
HOW TO ACCEPT SUFFERING
Moral Res * • Acceptance of Suffering as Part of Life
2. The Secular Attitude toward Suffering
3. Who or What Causes Suffering?
4. We Have a Greater Capacity for Pain than for Pleasure
6′ 5. We Can Reduce Suffering..’
FIFTH G Sufferingand Happiness Can Go Together
7. Blessed Are Those Who Mourn.
abortion
8. Need for a Previous Mind-Set
9. In Comparison Our Suffering Is Not Great
10. Use Suffering Positively
11. You Are Not Alone
12. Atheists Do Not Fare Better than Believers
chapter five
HOWTO FACE SUFFERING
1. How Can We Prepare for Suffering?
2. How to Confront Suffering?
3. Tips for Occasions When Suffering Befall Us
4. Joy in Times of Failure
5. Helping Others When We Need Help
6. Learn to Look Forward
7. Good Out of Evil
8. Content by Comparison
9. Creative Suffering
10. What Is Significant Is the Person’s Attitude Toward His Suffering.
11. A Spirituality of Cheerfulness
12. Suffering and Prayer
13. Total Surrender to God
14. The Solution in Practice is Jesus Christ
chapter six
OTHER PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF SUFFERING
1. God and the Problem of Evil
2. Ordinary Crosses of Everyday Life
3. Asceticism of Family Life
4. What Do We Tell Our Children?
5. Inspiring Anecdotes and Parables about Suffering
6. Tips for Helping Victims of Deprivation.
7. Theology of Rest and Leisure
CONCLUSION.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
ENDNOTES
INDEX