First Advisor
Gertz, Andrew
Second Advisor
Buhrman, William
Department
Theology
Degree
Master of Arts (MA)
Date of Award
5-2017
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to encourage a more contemporary understanding of the traditional Christian approach to suffering — the belief that we can experience great goodness and enrich our lives as a result of taking up our cross as Jesus did. This concept of "redemptive suffering" seems to be losing its viability in contemporary life. Instead, advancing support for the Assisted Suicide movement reflects a growing sense that suffering is a "problem" that can be "solved" even if it means taking one's own life. The author contends that a more contemporary understanding of Jesus' suffering — one that can be related to one's own experience of suffering - is necessary so we can more confidently face the hardships of life, and in doing so reap unexpected benefits for ourselves and others.
LCSH subject
Suffering--Religious aspects--Christianity
Document Type
Thesis
Format
Medium
manuscript
Proquest Document ID
10264308
Recommended Citation
DeBrecht, Linda George, "Taking up one's cross with hope: a Christian approach to suffering" (2017). Theses. 24.
https://commons.stmarytx.edu/theses/24
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Included in
Ethics in Religion Commons, Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons