Theodicy & Suffering – Sulayman Van Ael

Why does God allow suffering? In this enlightening lecture, Dr Wim Sulayman Van Ael delves into the complex topic of suffering, transcending religious boundaries to explore universal themes of human responsibility and response. With a focus on Islamic teachings, he addresses the three distinct roles people play amidst suffering – those who cause it, those who endure it, and those who witness it. Dr Van Ael emphasises the importance of introspection, proactive efforts to alleviate suffering, reflection towards our collective roles and responsibilities and the significance of education in shaping a generation empathetic to the world's challenges. This lecture was delivered on 20 January 2024,  along with two others,  as part of our Tea Over Books event​: "Sovereignty & the Divine".  00:00 Introduction 01:14 Perspectives on Suffering 03:16 Dangers of Blaming God 07:54 The Injustice Argument 11:05 Introspection & Collective Responsibility 13:35 God's Divine Decree 16:46 Humans as Caretakers 18:09 Survivors Guilt & Taking Action 18:54 Shaping the Next Generation --- Donate Today: https://cambridgemuslimcollege.ac.uk/... Our Impact: https://cambridgemuslimcollege.ac.uk/... --- Subscribe to our Mailing List: https://bit.ly/2Q9dAF2 Subscribe on YouTube: http://youtube.com/cambridgemuslimcol... Follow on Facebook   / cambridgemuslimcollege   Follow on Twitter:   / cmc_cambridge   Follow on Instagram:   / cambridgemuslimcollege   ©Cambridge Muslim College