Suffering, by Dorothee Soelle

Rosie Perera

Recommended in my Pastoral Care course:

Soelle, Dorothee. Suffering (Fortress Press, 1975)

Table of Contents:

Introduction: THE TWO QUESTIONS		1
1.	A Critique of Christian Masochism	9
	A Marriage	10
	Dimensions of Affliction	13
	Unconditional Submission	17
	Theological Sadism	22
	The Sacrifice of Isaac	28
2.	A CRITIQUE OF POST-CHRISTIAN APATHY	33
	“Prisoners Deserve at Least an SPCA”	33
	The Apathy of Society	36
	The Christians' Apathetic God	41
	Political Apathy—In Regard to Vietnam	45
	Change Hate into Strength	49
3.	SUFFERING AND LANGUAGE	61
	From the Life of a Worker	62
	Mute Suffering	68
	Phases of Suffering	70
	The Mute and the Speaking God	75
	Gethsemane	78
4.	THE TRUTH IN ACCEPTANCE	87
	"And There was Light"	88
	Mysticism's Theology of Suffering	93
	Tranquility and Love of the Cross	99
	The Affirmative in Christianity	103
	Job is Stronger than God	109
5.	SUFFERING AND LEARNING	121
	A Folksong from Chile	121
	The Bitter Christ	127
	"I and the Father are One"	134
	Suffering and Atheism	141
	The Cross	145
6.	THE RELIGION OF SLAVES	151
	Simone Weil, toujours Antigone	151
	Blessed are Those Who Suffer	158
	The Paradox	162
	"There is No Alien Sorrow"	171
	Once Again: Ivan and Alyosha	174