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Theology of Suffering & Hope

Arts & Professional Studies, Bible & Theology, Counselling

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Course Description

This course reflects theologically on questions about suffering and hope by engaging with how Scripture and theology acknowledge human suffering, and looks at hope from biblical, theological, anthropological and relational perspectives. It also considers the God who stands with humans at the level of their despair, yet still offers hope. The course is relevant both to those who suffer and to those who, in a range of vocational contexts, stand in solidarity with those who suffer.

About this course

  • Course Title
  • Theology of Suffering & Hope
  • Course Code
  • 921.615 / 921.715
  • School
  • Arts & Professional Studies, Bible & Theology, Counselling
  • Level
  • 6 / 7 NZQA
  • Credits
  • 15
  • Year
  • 2; Year 2; Year 3
  • Teaching Period
  • Semester 2
  • Location Pin Streamline Icon: https://streamlinehq.com Location of Delivery
  • On-campus; Auckland; Christchurch; Auckland; Christchurch
  • Category
  • Theology
  • Prerequisite
  • No pre-requisites
  • Key Topics covered
  • Hope and suffering and the theological enterprise


    The God of suffering and hope


    Theology of hope of life with God in the new creation (Signposts of hope)


    Models of understanding a good God in the face of suffering (Typologies of Theodicy)


    Practical theodicy


    Pulling it all together, living a life full of grace, faith, hope and love
  • Delivery Mode
  • Intensive blocks of teaching, with required reading and/or assignments; prior to and following the teaching session, plus a group process workshop held weekly over the course of the semester (12 weeks).
  • Teaching Staff

  • Rev. Dr John Fox
    Dr Greg Liston
    Sam Forde

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Sed Leo erat, sodales sed mattis in, pulvinar vitae Leo. Sed sollicitudin sapien et aliquam varius. Vivamus mattiscidunt sapien. Proin quis lectus ligula. Fusce euismod pretiumtus. Pellentesque rutrum, dui ut rutrum ullamcorper, eros velit.

Sed Leo erat, sodales sed mattis in, pulvinar vitae Leo. Sed sollicitudin sapien et aliquam varius. Vivamus mattiscidunt sapien. Proin quis lectus ligula. Fusce euismod pretiumtus. Pellentesque rutrum, dui ut rutrum ullamcorper, eros velit.

Sed Leo erat, sodales sed mattis in, pulvinar vitae Leo. Sed sollicitudin sapien et aliquam varius. Vivamus mattiscidunt sapien. Proin quis lectus ligula. Fusce euismod pretiumtus. Pellentesque rutrum, dui ut rutrum ullamcorper, eros velit.