The problem of Pain - C. S. Lewis

This episode looks at C. S. Lewis’s 1940 work, The Problem of Pain, which explores the theological dilemma of how a benevolent, omnipotent God allows human and animal suffering. Lewis argues that pain is not a contradiction of divine love but a "megaphone" used by God to rouse a spiritually deaf world and dismantle human self-sufficiency. The text outlines how pain serves as a remedial tool for sanctification, pushing fallen creatures toward a necessary surrender of self-will and ultimate joy in Heaven. Modern evangelical leaders and theologians utilize these arguments to provide a biblical framework for suffering, often pairing Lewis’s intellectual defense with his later personal reflections on grief. By framing life as a divine work of art, the sources suggest that temporary trials are purposeful strokes used by the Creator to conform believers to the likeness of Christ. Ultimately, the collection highlights the enduring relevance of Lewis’s theodicy in contemporary apologetics, pastoral care, and seminary education.