Abstract
The problem of evil is both intriguing and confounding: intriguing because it is so basic to the human condition; confounding because there seems to be no solution to it. As I opened this book's pages, I was somewhat skeptical of the publishers claim that it would provide new insights. Is it possible to say anything new about such a perennial and ancient problem? Perhaps not, but the chapters in this book contain some interesting summaries and insights on the current discussions. Barbara Omolade's article "Faith Confronts Evil" deals with the evil of slavery, especially American slavery. She quotes Orlando Patterson who observed that "slavery in the United States was harsher than other slave systems" (p. 284) because it provided fewer privileges and opportunities for manumission. Robert Stanley's "God, Evil, and the Thought of Simone Weil" is also noteworthy. Weil was a Jew devoted to aspects of Christianity (Catholicism) who refused baptism to remain identified with those outside the church. One of Weil's novel thoughts was that the Greeks were better forerunners of Christ's coming than were the Old Testament prophets.