God and Evil: Four Views

This edited volume presents a structured dialogue among four prominent philosophers defending distinct approaches to the problem of evil within analytic philosophy of religion. Chad Meister assembles contributions from William Hasker, David Bentley Hart, William Dembski, and Nicholas Wolterstorff, each articulating a different theoretical framework for reconciling divine goodness with the existence of evil and suffering.

The volume employs a dialogical methodology characteristic of contemporary analytic philosophy, where each contributor presents their position followed by critical responses from the others. This format illuminates both the strengths and vulnerabilities of each approach while demonstrating the current state of debate within Christian philosophical theology. The four positions span traditional and innovative responses: Hasker defends an open theist account emphasizing genuine divine-human interaction, Hart articulates a classical theistic position rooted in patristic theology, Dembski proposes a novel account linking natural evil to the Fall through retroactive causation, and Wolterstorff develops a pastoral-philosophical approach emphasizing divine suffering and solidarity.

The work engages directly with the logical and evidential formulations of the problem of evil advanced by philosophers such as J.L. Mackie and William Rowe. Each contributor addresses both the free will defense tradition stemming from Alvin Plantinga and recent developments in skeptical theism. The volume demonstrates how Christian philosophers have moved beyond merely defensive strategies to construct positive theological accounts of evil's place within divine providence.

Meister's editorial framework situates these discussions within the broader trajectory of analytic philosophy of religion since the 1960s, showing how the conversation has evolved from purely logical concerns to incorporate existential, pastoral, and theological dimensions. The inclusion of diverse methodological approaches—from Hasker's strict analytical argumentation to Hart's historical-theological synthesis—reflects the field's increasing sophistication and willingness to engage multiple intellectual traditions.

The volume's significance lies in its demonstration that the problem of evil remains philosophically productive rather than settled. By presenting these positions in direct dialogue, the work reveals both the continuing vitality of theistic responses to evil and the persistent challenges such responses face. The format allows readers to assess the relative merits of competing Christian philosophical frameworks while understanding why thoughtful philosophers continue to disagree about fundamental issues regarding divine action, human freedom, and the nature of evil itself.