Biomedical Ethics 2. (The Mystey of Suffering)

Dr. Felix Podimattam is one of the best-known moral theologians in India & outside. Besides his full time job as a professor, he finds time to -write books at an amazing rate. He has authored 136 books. Besides his Master's degree in Political Science from Mysore, he holds a Licentiate in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, & subsequently a Doctorate in Moral Theology from the Alphonsian Academy, Rome. His post-doctoral studies were pursued in Washington, DC, USA. At present he is professor of Moral Theology at St. Francis Theological College, CONTENTS INTRODUCTION. chapter one THE CHALLENGE OF SUFFERING 1. Physical Sufferings 2. Psychological Sufferings 3. Social Sufferings 4. Moral and Religious Sufferings chapter two WHY WOULD A GOOD GOD ALLOW SUFFERING? 1. In the Realm of Mystery 2. Answer from Scripture 3. Answer from the Magisterium 4. Answer from Tradition 4.1. Augustine on Evil and Suffering 4.2. Irenaeus on Evil and Suffering 4.3. Aquinas on Evil and Suffering 4.4. Saint Therese of Lisieux on Evil and Suffering 5. Answer from Theological Reason 5.1. Wrong Answer 5.2. True Meaning of theGoodnessof God 5.3. God Tries Us out of Love forUs 5.4. The Need for Natural Laws 5.5. Pain as an Integral Part of Our Experience 5.6. SufferingComes with the Freedom to Choose 5.7. Suffering Can Alert Us 1)SomethingIsWrongwith the World 2) Somethingls Wrongwith God's Creatures 3) Something Is Wrongwith Me 5.8. Suffering as t he School of Obedience and Other Virtues 5.9. Suffering as the School of Self-Surrender 5.10. The Agony, Then the Ecstasy 5.11. God's Suffering 5.12. Other Reasons 5.13. Lessons from the Tsunami Tragedy 6. Answer from the Religions 6.1. Answer from Hinduism60 6.3. Answer from Islam 7. Answer from Philosophers 7.1. Leibniz on the Problem of Evil68 7.2. Other Philosophical Explanations 8. Animal Pain chapter three SUFFERING IN THE LIVES OF SAINTS AND GREAT PEOPLE l.SufferingintheLifeof Saints 1.1. St. Francis and Suffering 1.2. St. Peter Damian and Suffering 1.3. St. Teresa of Avila and Suffering. 1.4. St. John of the Cross and Suffering 1.5. St. Bernadette and Suffering 1.6. St. John Bosco and Suffering 1.7.St. Therese of Lisieux and Suffering 1.8. St. Alphonsa Muttathupadath and Suffering 1.9. St. Padre Pio and Suffering 2. Suffering in the Life of Eminent Public Figures 2.1, Pope John Paul II and Suffering 2.2. Nelson Mandela and Suffering 2.3. Jacqueline Kennedy and Suffering 2.4. Sonia Gandhi and Suffering 2.5. Bill Clinton and Suffering 2.6. Dostoevsky and Suffering 2J' StePhen Hawking and Suffering 3. Sufferingin the Life of Business Leaders 4. Sufferingin the Life of Film Stars 5. Sufferingin the Life of Some Ordinary People 6' Suffering in My Life chapter four HOW TO ACCEPT SUFFERING Acceptance of Suffering as Part of Life 2. The Secular Attitude toward Suffering 3. Who or What Causes Suffering? 4. We Have a Greater Capacity for Pain than for Pleasure 5. We Can Reduce Suffering 6.Sufferingand Happiness Can Go Together 7. Blessed Are Those Who Mourn 8. Need for a Previous Mind-Set 9. In Comparison Our Suffering Is Not Great 10. Use Suffering Positively. 11. You Are Not Alone 12. Atheists Do Not Fare Better than Believers chapter five HOWTO FACE SUFFERING 1. How Can We Prepare for Suffering? 2. How to Confront Suffering? 3. Tips for Occasions When Suffering Befall Us 4. Joy in Times of Failure 5. Helping Others When We Need Help 6. Learn to Look Forward 7. Good Out of Evil 8. Content by Comparison 9. Creative Suffering 10. What Is Significant Is the Person's Attitude Toward His Suffering. 309 11. A Spirituality of Cheerfulness 12. Suffering and Prayer 13. Total Surrender to God 14. The Solution in Practice is Jesus Christ chapter six OTHER PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF SUFFERING 1. God and the Problem of Evil 2. Ordinary Crosses of Everyday Life 3. Asceticism of Family Life 4. What Do We Tell Our Children? 5. Inspiring Anecdotes and Parables about Suffering 6. Tips for Helping Victims of Deprivation 7. Theology of Rest and Leisure CONCLUSION BIBLIOGRAPHY ENDNOTES INDEX