ST216: Systematic Theology — Evil, Suffering, Idolatry, and Repentance

This episode explores the origin and nature of evil, defining it not as a created entity but as a privation of the good that manifests through human idolatry and disordered desire. The text moves from the intellectual challenges of moral and natural suffering toward a cruciform response, suggesting that while academic theodicies have limits, the biblical practice of lament provides a faithful way to protest brokenness. Central to the source is the "architecture of temptation," which posits that sin arises when we love secondary things as ultimates, a condition that can only be remedied through metanoia, or a radical reorientation of the heart. Ultimately, the work serves as a guide for spiritual recovery, advocating for confession and liturgical practices—such as fasting and generosity—to dismantle idols and foster a life of communal resistance against evil.This podcast was created with the assistance of AI tools.