Creation Untamed: The Bible, God, and Natural Disasters (Theological Explorations for the Church Catholic)

Do you struggle with why storms and natural disasters occur in this world if God is in charge? Fretheim writes one of the best and most compelling and readable explanations I have found.He shows that God set up the creation in a certain way, with certain rules, and certain freedoms given to His creatures, that in some situations, He cannot stop what is going to happen without violating the rules of His own creation.Therefore, when bad things happen, God is not to blame.I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking to understand why bad things happen in this world.

Terence does a great job communicating the intricacies of the creation narrative and identifies how we as humans play a part in that creation. Terence also shows how creation (water, wind, tree, etc...) also play a part in the creation narrative. This book helps to show that although natural disasters happen, and God 'allows' them to happen, He does not always cause them to happen.If you are wondering how to talk to people about natural disaster and the Christian response, this book would be a great resource for you.

This work from Fretheim is a very well written insight into the way in which God is at work in our world. Fretheim's critical and comprehensive approach to the scriptures offer a protection for conceiving of a God who works in, under, and through the agents of continuing creation. I particularly am thankful for the clear language of this work. Creation Untamed is a balance of scholarly inquiry and the every day language of the Christian life.

This book answers a lot of questions that many people are asking, especially with the Japan Earthquake this morning. Though Terence E. Fretheim aligns himself more with process theology, he is easily one of my favorite theologians and Old Testament scholars. This is a must read for everyone genuinely seeking answers to questions. Reformed believers beware...this is not a book for those who adhere to doctrinal views derived from Greek Philosophy (Augustinian, Calvinist, etc.).

This book by Fretheim deals with theological questions that often arise in religious circles, such as, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" "Is God punishing us?" Frethiem deals with these mysteries in a scholarly and insightful manner from the perspective of his studies of the Old Testament and its theology. From a perspective of contemporary theology based on scholarly biblical criticism Fretheim gives new insight into ancient questions.

If you want to get some of your presuppositions challenged and are secure in your relationship with God feel free to read on.

The idea that God has chosen to create a world in which disasters naturally happen is useful. However I cannot accept that God has created a world in which he, himself, is surprised by what actually happens. This is not, therefore, a book that I would lend to everyone.

Really good. Opens the discussion of the topic of suffering and how to respond to difficult and unexpected events that we all face in our lives. Another book that I am glad I have in my own library collection.

Stimulating and fascinating biblical exegesis