People of late antiquity were subjected to the universal and perennial human woes - injustice, affliction, adversity and pain - that cause suffering. The experience of suffering is subjective. There are however, common sources of and expressions of suffering in humans. The fourth century was a period of significant cultural and social changes which drew responses from pagans that not only reflected traditional knowledge but also engaged with new sets of ideas. This thesis examines the problem of evil and suffering as experienced by pagans of the fourth century of the Common Era. Having received imperial sanction from the emperor Constantine after his conversion in 312, Christianity was gaining momentum in both membership and strength. The Graeco-Roman world had become one where Christianity, it seemed to some, had effectively surpassed pagan state cult Against this backdrop of religious change, pagans had taken on a self-consciousness that engendered a rethinking of many traditional ways of coping with and explaining the evils of the world and the suffering that could result from them. Some rules and conditions had changed, so how and where could pagans seek explanation for, protection from or alleviation of their suffering? The study addresses this question by posing and responding to further questions. Firstly, how did pagans understand the presence of evil and suffering in the world? Secondly, from what sources, natural or supernatural, could they draw hope in the face of evil and suffering? And thirdly, what degree of autonomy could pagans claim in approaching the problem? Religion and philosophy might be perceived by pagans to contain the answers to why there was evil and suffering in the world. The addition of science and the occult to religion and philosophy offered further ways through which pagans might seek to deal with the problem. By drawing primarily on extant literary evidence from the period as well as selected material evidence (predominantly pagan, but including some Christian), the research will trace the evolution of ideas regarding evil and suffering that pagan thinkers were bringing to the contemporary debate. / Thesis (M.A.) - University of Adelaide, School of Humanities, 2008

Thesis (Th. M.)--Trinity International University, 2000. / Abstract. This is an electronic reproduction of TREN, #006-1209. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 141-144).

Thesis (M.A.)--Miami University, Dept. of History, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 39-42).

Thesis (Th. M.)--Trinity International University, 2000. / Abstract. This is an electronic reproduction of TREN, #006-1209. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 141-144).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--York University, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 260-274).

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This research conducted according to the phenomenological method investigated the Pauline concept of suffering. It traces the historical development in Paul's thinking on suffering. The two lines of Paul's suffering are his personal suffering - his struggle with the thorn in the flesh; and his suffering through persecution for Christ's sake. It is through his personal suffering that Paul endears himself to his readers. 2 Cor.12:1-10 reveals the function of the thorn - it brings vindication. Paul's personal suffering merges with his suffering for Christ, and the note of joy, hope, glory and vindication is emphasized. Just as Paul shares in Christ's suffering, he will share in the victory and glory too. Paul sees his suffering in the light of Christ's suffering and the suffering of his readers in the light of his suffering. / Religious Studies and Arabic / M.A. (Religious Studies)

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität Tübingen. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 198-214).

This research conducted according to the phenomenological method investigated the Pauline concept of suffering. It traces the historical development in Paul's thinking on suffering. The two lines of Paul's suffering are his personal suffering - his struggle with the thorn in the flesh; and his suffering through persecution for Christ's sake. It is through his personal suffering that Paul endears himself to his readers. 2 Cor.12:1-10 reveals the function of the thorn - it brings vindication. Paul's personal suffering merges with his suffering for Christ, and the note of joy, hope, glory and vindication is emphasized. Just as Paul shares in Christ's suffering, he will share in the victory and glory too. Paul sees his suffering in the light of Christ's suffering and the suffering of his readers in the light of his suffering. / Religious Studies and Arabic / M.A. (Religious Studies)

BAKGRUND: Att uppleva existentiellt lidande är en naturlig del av att vara människa. Att lindra lidande ingår i sjuksköterskors ansvarsområde. En god kommunikationsförmåga krävs för att skapa ett samtal som lindrar lidandet. SYFTE: Att belysa sjuksköterskors erfarenheter av att möta patienter med existentiellt lidande. METOD: Litteraturbaserad studie grundad på fjorton kvalitativa vetenskapliga artiklar. RESULTAT: Ur analysen av datamaterialet framkom tre kategorier såsom: Strävan mot lindring, hinder för ett adekvat professionellt yrkesutövande och professionell och personlig påverkan med nio underkategorier. KONKLUSION: När sjuksköterskor får utbildning och kunskap i hur existentiellt lidande kan hanteras blir de betydligt bättre på att tillgodose patienters behov av detta. Avsaknad av tydliga regelverk, som betonar vikten av att se patienters existentiella lidande, gör att den delen av omvårdnaden hamnar i skymundan. / BACKGROUND: To experience the existential suffering is a natural part of being human. To relieve suffering is part of nurses' responsibility. It requires good communication skills to create an encounter to alleviate the suffering. OBJECTIVE: To elucidate nurses' experiences of meeting patients with existential suffering. METHOD: Literature-based study, based on fourteen qualitative research articles. RESULTS: Three categories emerged from the analysis: Striving towards alleviation, barriers to adequate practicing professional and professional and personal impact with nine subcategories. CONCLUSION: When nurses are educated and get the knowledge about how existential suffering can be managed, they become much better at meeting the needs of patients. Lack of a distinct regulatory framework which emphasizes the importance of recognizing patients' existential suffering, puts that part of caring in the background.