This volume approaches questions concerning the status and meaning of suffering in Christian life and Christian theology through the lens of a variety of theological disciplines - biblical, historical, practical, political and systematic theology. Scholars from this range of fields concentrate on a number of questions: Is love intrinsically linked with suffering? Are suffering and loss on some level fundamentally good? How is - and how should - suffering and diminishment be viewed in the Christian tradition?Featuring leading voices that include Linn Tonstad, Bernard McGinn, Anna Rowlands, John Swinton and Paul Murray, this volume brings together essays touching on concrete issues such as cancer, mental health, and the experience of refugees, and discusses broad themes including vulnerability, kenosis and tragedy. In correlating these themes with the examination of texts ranging from Paul's letters to works of the Cappadocians, Thomas Aquinas, John of the Cross and Mother Teresa, Suffering and the Christian Life offers fresh and accessible academic approaches to a question of vital personal, existential significance.

IntroductionKaren Kilby (Durham University, UK) and Rachel Davies (Australian Catholic University, Australia)Chapter 1The Seductions of Kenosis, Karen Kilby (Durham University, UK)Chapter 2Suffering, Sin and Death in Paul, Dorothea H. Bertschmann (The College of the Resurrection, UK)Chapter 3Giving the Self through Death: A Crucified Christ as Gift in Galatians, Logan Williams (Durham University, UK)Chapter 4A Good Aim Yields Good Pain: Beneficial Pain in the Ethics of Gregory of Nyssa, Siiri Toiviainen Rø (University of Helsinki, Finland Chapter 5Gregory of Nazianzus on the Role of Satan in Human Suffering, Gabrielle Thomas (University of Durham, UK)Chapter 6Suffering, Dereliction, and Affliction in Christian Mysticism, Bernard McGinn (University of Chicago, USA)Chapter 7Protest Theism, Aquinas and Suffering, Rik Van Nieuwenhove (Durham University, UK)Chapter 8Suffering and the Desire for God in John of the Cross, Edward Howells (University of Roehampton, UK)Chapter 9Stop Kissing Me: Reading Mother Teresa with Bonaventure's Help, Rachel Davies (Australian Catholic University, Australia)Chapter 10'There is still a lot of pollution in there': Undoing Violent Ideologies, Undoing the Self, Heather M. DuBois (University of Notre Dame, USA)Chapter 11Reading Simone Weil In East London: Destitution, Decreation and the History of Force, Anna Rowlands (Durham University, UK)Chapter 12Reflections on Suffering and Bipolar Disorder: Three Forms of Suffering, John Swinton (University of Aberdeen, UK)Chapter 13Should I Love My Cancer?, Andrew Graystone (Durham University, UK)Chapter 14Depressive Suffering as Tragic Suffering: Theological Insights and Trajectories, Jessica Coblentz (St Mary's College of California, USA)Chapter 15On Vulnerability, Linn Tonstad (Yale University, USA)Chapter 16Living Sacrifice: Is there a Non-pathological Way of Living Suffering as Sacrifice?, Paul D. Murray (Durham University, UK)BibliographyIndex