Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

The aim of this study is to explore questions regarding the concept of suffering and the relationship between a suffering world and a suffering God. The theology of Dorothee Soelle and Jürgen Moltmann are presented and then analysed through the feminist-theological lens of Rita Nakashima Brock and Rebecca Ann Parker. The feminist-theological perspective is used to highlight the theological strengths and weaknesses of Soelle and Moltmann. The issues of suffering can be found all through human history and across all religious views or life stances. Soelle and Moltmann show that to create a sustainable theology regarding suffering there needs to be an awareness of what image of God is presented. The conclusion of the study is that both Soelle and Moltmann use the term “apathy” throughout the theology that has been presented. The concept is regarded as a hindrance to forming and maintaining relationships and being able to sympathise with the suffering party. This hinderance is present both in the relationships between humans and between God and humanity. The focus of Soelle and Moltmann lies in the interpretation of God the Father and how the Father relates to the suffering of humanity. The importance of how the suffering of the Son is regarded is presented through the feminist theology of Brock and Parker. According to Brock and Parker, the church needs to examine how the suffering of Jesus is presented. If the suffering of Jesus is presented as an example of how suffering should be endured then the concept of Jesus willingly suffering might put pressure on the suffering individual to stay in the context that causes suffering.