Bart Ehrman is one of the most prolific and well respected authors and scholars on Biblical studies today. God's Problem is a deeply personal look at the struggle that Ehrman (and each true seeker of truth) faces when examining their beliefs:

* If God is All Powerful

* If God is All Loving

* Why is there suffering?

Ehrman then examines many of the Biblical attempts to answer this age old question - through the Book of Job, Ecclesiastes, Jeremiah and the prophets, the Gospels, the Epistles, apocolyptic literature ranging from Daniel to Revelation, and even extends it to Dostoyevsky. The challenges, contradictions and intellectual wangling come to life in his writing.

Ehrman's personal wrestling with these same issues and with a Biblical knowledge that was honed over decades of study leads him to an agnostic worldview.He is clear and consise in his argument for it, and provides the reader with much to ponder.And while the challenges to faith are real and powerful, the book presents a position that is non-dogmatic.Understanding that the book is a reflection of Ehrman's personal struggles with the topic (and he doesn't hide this perspective at all) leaves the reader open to maintain, adapt or adopt any belief system on the topic.

A good book, one that will make you think, and think critically.The philosophy and scholarship is as sound as any on Biblical exegesis and history, and the personal aspects make it extremely appraochable for the scholar and layman alike.

Ehrman's book was well written, lucid, comprehensive & thoroughly convincing; an excellent study. Now, after reading it, I'm an agnostic. Dang.

Whether or not one agrees with professor Ehrman's views, this book is most thought-provoking. Non Christians always ask, "Why does God allow suffering?" while Christians generally gloss over the issues and come up with an Adam-and-Eve answer or something equally unsubstantial. Whether you are a believer or unbeliever, this book will provide you with plenty of food for thought. If you are a Christian, you will see the questions commonly raised believers. It is a most useful book on all accounts.

A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said, 'I don't believe that God exists.''Why do you say that?' asked the customer.
'Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children?
If God existed, there would be no suffering and no pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things.' The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument.

The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard.He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barbershop again and he said to the barber,'You know what? Barbers do not exist.''How can you say that?' asked the surprised barber. `I am here, and I am a barber. And I just worked on you!' 'No!' the customer exclaimed. 'Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.' 'Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people do not come to me.'

'Exactly!' affirmed the customer. 'That's the point!God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help.That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world.'

Outstanding study of issue of suffering in human life.Author provokes readers into facing the flaws in traditional answers to the question of "why suffering" and bravely states his own conclusions.You don't have to agree with the author to appreciate his integrity and sharp intellect.