ST. Augustine’s Free Will Theodicy and The African Question of Suffering: Towards a Dialoogue Theodicy

Abstract

The dissertation examines the problem of suffering among African Christians who in establishing their faith in Christian God, has never known why they would continue to suffer. The problem is that suffering causes a lot of anxiety to African Christians. When Christianity teaches that God is all-powerful, all knowing and supremely good, this would mean that He should eliminate pain. However, since suffering still exists, this sometimes resultsinto a lapse of faith where Christians resort into consulting witchdoctors in search of asolution for suffering. By engaging into dialogue between St. Augustine’s free will theodicy and African problem of suffering,Augustine’s theodicy provides us with important points that can enhance deeper understanding for African Christians in the problem of evil, hence answer to Africans questions to suffering. Augustine shows that suffering is necessary and that both righteous and wicked suffer alike. Also, Augustine also by offering an assurance of God’s presence is suffering, affirms the belief in omnipotent, good, and all loving God.The dissertation is, therefore,a contribution to thetheology of understanding the problem of suffering which is a pertinent issue in the society.