Page 163 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 4

Wandering in Darkness:

Narrative and the Problem

of Suffering.

E. Stump (2010). New York: Oxford University Press.

Recommendation by Eric Johnson

Suffering is a major feature of human life, which many form of the stories. The narratives she uses to consider
atheists have argued proves that a good God does not their implications for suffering include the stories of Job
exist, or least raises serious questions about the possi- (of course), Samson (self-caused suffering due to perso-
bility of such a God. The topic is of special importance nal sin), Abraham (and the frustration of the desires of
for therapists, and this book may be the most important his heart, including God’s command to sacrifice Isaac),
sustained treatment of suffering by an orthodox Chris- and Mary of Bethany, whose brother Lazarus died, even
tian ever written. Eleonore Stump is a notable Christian though she and her sister Martha had previously sent
philosopher who teaches at St. Louis University, and has an impassioned plea to their friend Jesus to come and
specialized in medieval philosophy, particularly the work heal him. I was so moved the first time I read it—and
of Thomas Aquinas. Wandering in Darkness is her ma- her philosophical prose so surprisingly accessible!—that
gnum opus, a brilliant synthesis of four significant sets I organized a book reading group of interested Christi-
of lectures she has given over recent decades, which ex- an counselors and laypersons this past summer, and all
pands upon Thomas Aquinas’ understanding of the divi- the participants shared my enthusiasm and gratitude for
ne purpose in allowing human suffering. the book. By the end of our time together we concluded
that we had experienced closer union with God and each
One cannot summarize adequately such a massive book other as we came to a deeper appreciation of what God
(481 pages, and 154 pages of endnotes) in a short space, was desiring with reference to our own personal suffe-
but some of its most important contributions are 1) its ring. While I disagreed with a few of her theological as-
reliance upon biblical narratives to make many points of sumptions and exegetical conclusions, this book is easily
argument; 2) her understanding of sin as “willed loneli- one of the most important books I have ever read, and I
ness;” 3) the model of love as consisting of two desires— think it will come to be recognized as a classic of Christi-
for the other’s flourishing and for union with the other— an psychology, as well as Christian philosophy.
and an explanation that union with the other consists of
shared attention with the other and a sense of mutual
closeness, which in turn includes sharing of thoughts and
feelings, a desire to be with the other, some degree of psy-
chological harmony and integration; 4) a thorough treat-
ment of the book’s central Thomistic argument that God
allows humansuffering todraw humansfreely intounion
with himself—which is the essence of human flourishing;
5) her augmentation of Aquinas’ argument by addres-
sing the problem of the suffering of the thwarted desires Eric Johnson, U.S.A.,
of our hearts; and 6) her solution that humans can take Ph.D., is Professor of
those desires seriously, while “refolding” or surrendering Pastoral Care at Southern
them into their union with God. Baptist Theological Semi-
Her readings of the four biblical narratives that lie at the nary and the director
heart of the book are masterful examples of wise, plausib- of the Society for
le, literary interpretations that take seriously the received Christian Psychology.

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