My research aims to explore the understandings of ordained and lay Ministers within the Church of England as to the reasons for suffering and evil in the world. The plan is to use a grounded theory methodology to examine their views on why there is so much suffering when there is an omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent God in the world.
While completing studies at Durham, I read John Hick’s ‘Evil and the God of Love’ and spent my dissertation reflecting on how research on The Problem of Evil had developed over the following fifty years. I was delighted to be accepted into John Hick’s old university department to further my studies.
I am using approaches within the field of Practical Theology to explore the lived experiences of Ministers within the Church of England and thereby develop an understanding of the range of ‘theological pathways of belief’ given the existence of God and the presence of suffering in the world. Although the project lies within the discipline of Practical Theology, it also draws on recent research on The Problem of Evil in the field of Philosophy of Religion where ‘philosophical pathways’ have been explored as solutions to The Problem. The use of Practical Theology techniques in a Philosophy of Religion context has not been used before to address this issue. The aim is to contribute to the Church’s thinking on responding to suffering and evil.