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Thomas Merton—Evil and Why We Suffer: From Purified Soul Theodicy to Zen

Paperback |English |153263899X | 9781532638992

Thomas Merton—Evil and Why We Suffer: From Purified Soul Theodicy to Zen

Paperback |English |153263899X | 9781532638992
Overview

Thomas Merton is one of the most important spiritual voices of the last century. He has never been more relevant as new generations look to him for guidance in addressing some of life's biggest questions: how can we find God, how should we engage with other faiths, and how can we oppose violence and injustice? Looking carefully, one can find, tucked away in Merton's prodigious writings, his response to another timeless question: Why do we suffer? Why does an all-powerful and all loving God permit evil and suffering? By carefully examining all of Merton's work, we find that he repeatedly confronted this question throughout most of his adult life. Intriguingly, Merton's approach to this question changed dramatically a few years before he died in 1968. An examination of all aspects of his life yields evidence that Merton's immersion in Zen during this time contributed most to that change. ""This is an intelligent study of Merton's thinking on a question that exempts no thoughtful person of faith: how to reconcile the God of love and mercy with the hard fact of unjust and senseless human suffering. David Orberson deftly charts the influence of Zen on Merton's life and theology in ways that are persuasive and often provocative, in the best sense, stirring new questions in the reader. A welcome contribution to a neglected aspect of Merton studies."" -- Christopher Pramuk, University Chair, Regis University, Denver, Colorado ""To the frequently-posed question whether there is anything truly new to be said about Thomas Merton's work a half-century after his death, David Orberson's Thomas Merton: Evil and Why We Suffer provides a resoundingly affirmative response. In this clearly organized and lucidly developed discussion, Orberson examines Merton's ongoing engagement with the problem of theodicy, the tension between traditional belief in an all-powerful, all-good God and the reality of evil and human suffering, and boldly proposes the importance of Merton's immersion in Zen in the final years of his life as having a profound influence on Merton's evolving response to this crucial issue. This is a challenging and rewarding presentation of a significant but previously little-studied aspect of Merton's spiritual and theological vision."" --Patrick F. O'Connell, Editor, The Merton Seasonal ""In Thomas Merton: Evil and Why We Suffer, David Orberson carefully traces and delineates Merton's writings on evil across his entire literary career, tracing developments in his thought against the background of the major theological approaches to evil and suffering. As Merton deeply pondered the immense evils of his own day, so Orberson provides us with similar tools to help us make sense of the evil and suffering in our world today."" --Paul M. Pearson, Director, Thomas Merton Center, Bellarmine University David E. Orberson earned a Master of Theological Studies from Saint Meinrad School of Theology and a PhD from the University of Louisville's Comparative Humanities program. He has taught theology part time at Bellarmine University in Louisville since 2007 and has been working in the insurance and risk management industry for nearly three decades.
ISBN: 153263899X
ISBN13: 9781532638992
Author: David E. Orberson
Publisher: Cascade Books
Format: Paperback
PublicationDate: 2018-06-18
Language: English
PageCount: 142
Dimensions: 6.0 x 0.36 x 9.0 inches
Weight: 9.12 ounces

Thomas Merton is one of the most important spiritual voices of the last century. He has never been more relevant as new generations look to him for guidance in addressing some of life's biggest questions: how can we find God, how should we engage with other faiths, and how can we oppose violence and injustice? Looking carefully, one can find, tucked away in Merton's prodigious writings, his response to another timeless question: Why do we suffer? Why does an all-powerful and all loving God permit evil and suffering? By carefully examining all of Merton's work, we find that he repeatedly confronted this question throughout most of his adult life. Intriguingly, Merton's approach to this question changed dramatically a few years before he died in 1968. An examination of all aspects of his life yields evidence that Merton's immersion in Zen during this time contributed most to that change. ""This is an intelligent study of Merton's thinking on a question that exempts no thoughtful person of faith: how to reconcile the God of love and mercy with the hard fact of unjust and senseless human suffering. David Orberson deftly charts the influence of Zen on Merton's life and theology in ways that are persuasive and often provocative, in the best sense, stirring new questions in the reader. A welcome contribution to a neglected aspect of Merton studies."" -- Christopher Pramuk, University Chair, Regis University, Denver, Colorado ""To the frequently-posed question whether there is anything truly new to be said about Thomas Merton's work a half-century after his death, David Orberson's Thomas Merton: Evil and Why We Suffer provides a resoundingly affirmative response. In this clearly organized and lucidly developed discussion, Orberson examines Merton's ongoing engagement with the problem of theodicy, the tension between traditional belief in an all-powerful, all-good God and the reality of evil and human suffering, and boldly proposes the importance of Merton's immersion in Zen in the final years of his life as having a profound influence on Merton's evolving response to this crucial issue. This is a challenging and rewarding presentation of a significant but previously little-studied aspect of Merton's spiritual and theological vision."" --Patrick F. O'Connell, Editor, The Merton Seasonal ""In Thomas Merton: Evil and Why We Suffer, David Orberson carefully traces and delineates Merton's writings on evil across his entire literary career, tracing developments in his thought against the background of the major theological approaches to evil and suffering. As Merton deeply pondered the immense evils of his own day, so Orberson provides us with similar tools to help us make sense of the evil and suffering in our world today."" --Paul M. Pearson, Director, Thomas Merton Center, Bellarmine University David E. Orberson earned a Master of Theological Studies from Saint Meinrad School of Theology and a PhD from the University of Louisville's Comparative Humanities program. He has taught theology part time at Bellarmine University in Louisville since 2007 and has been working in the insurance and risk management industry for nearly three decades.

David E. Orberson earned a Master of Theological Studies from Saint Meinrad School of Theology and a PhD from the University of Louisville's Comparative Humanities program. He has taught theology part time at Bellarmine University in Louisville since 2007 and has been working in the insurance and risk management industry for nearly three decades.

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The following guidelines apply to books:

  • New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
  • Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
  • Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.

Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.

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  • Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
  • Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
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Delivery Times

The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.

Estimated delivery times:

  • Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
  • Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days

Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.  

Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times. 

Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.). 

If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.

You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.

Additional non-returnable items:

  • Gift cards
  • Downloadable software products
  • Some health and personal care items

To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)

  • Book with obvious signs of use
  • CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
  • Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
  • Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery

Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.

Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.

If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:

  • Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
  • Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
  • Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.


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We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.

If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.

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Overview

Thomas Merton is one of the most important spiritual voices of the last century. He has never been more relevant as new generations look to him for guidance in addressing some of life's biggest questions: how can we find God, how should we engage with other faiths, and how can we oppose violence and injustice? Looking carefully, one can find, tucked away in Merton's prodigious writings, his response to another timeless question: Why do we suffer? Why does an all-powerful and all loving God permit evil and suffering? By carefully examining all of Merton's work, we find that he repeatedly confronted this question throughout most of his adult life. Intriguingly, Merton's approach to this question changed dramatically a few years before he died in 1968. An examination of all aspects of his life yields evidence that Merton's immersion in Zen during this time contributed most to that change. ""This is an intelligent study of Merton's thinking on a question that exempts no thoughtful person of faith: how to reconcile the God of love and mercy with the hard fact of unjust and senseless human suffering. David Orberson deftly charts the influence of Zen on Merton's life and theology in ways that are persuasive and often provocative, in the best sense, stirring new questions in the reader. A welcome contribution to a neglected aspect of Merton studies."" -- Christopher Pramuk, University Chair, Regis University, Denver, Colorado ""To the frequently-posed question whether there is anything truly new to be said about Thomas Merton's work a half-century after his death, David Orberson's Thomas Merton: Evil and Why We Suffer provides a resoundingly affirmative response. In this clearly organized and lucidly developed discussion, Orberson examines Merton's ongoing engagement with the problem of theodicy, the tension between traditional belief in an all-powerful, all-good God and the reality of evil and human suffering, and boldly proposes the importance of Merton's immersion in Zen in the final years of his life as having a profound influence on Merton's evolving response to this crucial issue. This is a challenging and rewarding presentation of a significant but previously little-studied aspect of Merton's spiritual and theological vision."" --Patrick F. O'Connell, Editor, The Merton Seasonal ""In Thomas Merton: Evil and Why We Suffer, David Orberson carefully traces and delineates Merton's writings on evil across his entire literary career, tracing developments in his thought against the background of the major theological approaches to evil and suffering. As Merton deeply pondered the immense evils of his own day, so Orberson provides us with similar tools to help us make sense of the evil and suffering in our world today."" --Paul M. Pearson, Director, Thomas Merton Center, Bellarmine University David E. Orberson earned a Master of Theological Studies from Saint Meinrad School of Theology and a PhD from the University of Louisville's Comparative Humanities program. He has taught theology part time at Bellarmine University in Louisville since 2007 and has been working in the insurance and risk management industry for nearly three decades.
ISBN: 153263899X
ISBN13: 9781532638992
Author: David E. Orberson
Publisher: Cascade Books
Format: Paperback
PublicationDate: 2018-06-18
Language: English
PageCount: 142
Dimensions: 6.0 x 0.36 x 9.0 inches
Weight: 9.12 ounces

Thomas Merton is one of the most important spiritual voices of the last century. He has never been more relevant as new generations look to him for guidance in addressing some of life's biggest questions: how can we find God, how should we engage with other faiths, and how can we oppose violence and injustice? Looking carefully, one can find, tucked away in Merton's prodigious writings, his response to another timeless question: Why do we suffer? Why does an all-powerful and all loving God permit evil and suffering? By carefully examining all of Merton's work, we find that he repeatedly confronted this question throughout most of his adult life. Intriguingly, Merton's approach to this question changed dramatically a few years before he died in 1968. An examination of all aspects of his life yields evidence that Merton's immersion in Zen during this time contributed most to that change. ""This is an intelligent study of Merton's thinking on a question that exempts no thoughtful person of faith: how to reconcile the God of love and mercy with the hard fact of unjust and senseless human suffering. David Orberson deftly charts the influence of Zen on Merton's life and theology in ways that are persuasive and often provocative, in the best sense, stirring new questions in the reader. A welcome contribution to a neglected aspect of Merton studies."" -- Christopher Pramuk, University Chair, Regis University, Denver, Colorado ""To the frequently-posed question whether there is anything truly new to be said about Thomas Merton's work a half-century after his death, David Orberson's Thomas Merton: Evil and Why We Suffer provides a resoundingly affirmative response. In this clearly organized and lucidly developed discussion, Orberson examines Merton's ongoing engagement with the problem of theodicy, the tension between traditional belief in an all-powerful, all-good God and the reality of evil and human suffering, and boldly proposes the importance of Merton's immersion in Zen in the final years of his life as having a profound influence on Merton's evolving response to this crucial issue. This is a challenging and rewarding presentation of a significant but previously little-studied aspect of Merton's spiritual and theological vision."" --Patrick F. O'Connell, Editor, The Merton Seasonal ""In Thomas Merton: Evil and Why We Suffer, David Orberson carefully traces and delineates Merton's writings on evil across his entire literary career, tracing developments in his thought against the background of the major theological approaches to evil and suffering. As Merton deeply pondered the immense evils of his own day, so Orberson provides us with similar tools to help us make sense of the evil and suffering in our world today."" --Paul M. Pearson, Director, Thomas Merton Center, Bellarmine University David E. Orberson earned a Master of Theological Studies from Saint Meinrad School of Theology and a PhD from the University of Louisville's Comparative Humanities program. He has taught theology part time at Bellarmine University in Louisville since 2007 and has been working in the insurance and risk management industry for nearly three decades.

David E. Orberson earned a Master of Theological Studies from Saint Meinrad School of Theology and a PhD from the University of Louisville's Comparative Humanities program. He has taught theology part time at Bellarmine University in Louisville since 2007 and has been working in the insurance and risk management industry for nearly three decades.

Books - New and Used

The following guidelines apply to books:

  • New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
  • Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
  • Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.

Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.

Shipping Fees

  • Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
  • Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
  • No additional fees and charges.

Delivery Times

The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.

Estimated delivery times:

  • Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
  • Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days

Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.  

Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times. 

Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.). 

If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.

You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.

To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.

Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.

Additional non-returnable items:

  • Gift cards
  • Downloadable software products
  • Some health and personal care items

To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)

  • Book with obvious signs of use
  • CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
  • Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
  • Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery

Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.

Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.

If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:

  • Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
  • Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
  • Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.


Shipping Cost


We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.

If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.

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