The Problem of Pain - C.S. Lewis - A Short Summary & Review

 The Problem of Pain - C.S. Lewis - A Short Summary & Review

By: a.d. elliott | Take the Back Roads - Art and Other Odd Adventures

A Rite of Fancy Book Recommendation and Review

Why does God allow us to be hurt?

A short summary:

The Problem of Pain by C. S. Lewis tackles one of the oldest and most difficult questions in theology: why does a good and omnipotent God allow suffering? Lewis approaches the problem not sentimentally, but philosophically, examining pain through the lenses of reason, moral law, human freedom, and Christian belief.

Rather than minimizing suffering, Lewis insists on facing it directly. He argues that pain, while never good in itself, plays a complex role in a world shaped by free will and moral consequence. The book seeks understanding, not comfort, offering a framework for thought rather than easy consolation.

My favorite quote from the book:

"Try to exclude the possibility of suffering which the order of nature and the existence of free wills involve, and you find that you have excluded life itself."

- C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

Questions to ponder while reading:

Do you suffer?

Are you as kind as you think you are?

My review:

The Problem of Pain is a rigorous philosophical examination of suffering that resists both despair and platitude. Lewis writes with precision and intellectual humility, acknowledging the limits of reason while still pressing hard questions about justice, love, and divine purpose.

The book offers a thorough and carefully structured argument, moving deliberately through topics such as human freedom, moral evil, animal suffering, and the nature of heaven. Lewis does not claim to solve suffering, but he does illuminate it—challenging readers to think more deeply about pain rather than turning away from it.

This is unmistakably another C. S. Lewis classic: demanding yet accessible, honest without being cynical, and rooted in the conviction that faith can withstand scrutiny. The Problem of Pain is best read slowly, especially by those willing to engage suffering with both intellect and humility.

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About the Author
a.d. elliott is a wanderer, photographer, and storyteller traveling through life

She shares her journeys at Take the Back Roads, explores new reads at Rite of Fancy, and highlights U.S. military biographies at Everyday Patriot.

You can also browse her online photography gallery at shop.takethebackroads.com.

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