Ep. #149 – Does God Suffer? w/ Fr. Thomas Weinandy
Summary
Why did 20th century theologians argue that God must suffer? Why do many traditional theologians think that God does not suffer? How should we understand divine impassibility in light of the Incarnation? What does it mean that God is “not really related” to creatures? Fr. Thomas Weinandy joins us to discuss these questions and more.
Guest Bio
Fr. Thomas G. Weinandy entered the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin in 1966 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1972. He earned a Doctorate in Historical Theology at King’s College, University of London, in 1975. Father Weinandy’s major fields of specialty are History of Christology, especially Patristic, Medieval and Contemporary, History of Trinitarian Theology, History of Soteriology, and Philosophical Notions of God.
His books include Does God Change? The Word’s Becoming in the Incarnation, which has been translated into Romanian; In the Likeness of Sinful Flesh: An Essay on the Humanity of Christ; The Father’s Spirit of Sonship: Reconceiving the Trinity; Does God Suffer, which has been translated into Polish. Father Weinandy has published scholarly articles in such journals as The Thomist, New Blackfriars, Communio, First Things, Pro Ecclesia, Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture, and the International Journal of Systematic Theology.
Topics
- How did you get interested in studying theology?
- Why didn’t you want to write the book Does God Suffer?
- What are the main arguments for divine passibility?
- How do you argue for God’s impassability?
- What does it mean when Aquinas says God is “not really related” to creatures?
- How should we understand impassibility in light of the Incarnation?
Resources
Does God Suffer? by Fr. Thomas Weinandy
Does God Change? by Fr. Thomas Weinandy
Jesus Becoming Jesus by Fr. Thomas Weinandy
Jesus Becoming Jesus (Volume 2) by Fr. Thomas Weinandy
Related Episodes
Ep. #117 – A Biblical Case for Divine Simplicity w/ Dr. Steven Duby
Ep. #116 – The One Creator God w/ Fr. Michael Dodds O.P.
Ep. #68 – Divine Immutability w/ Fr. Dodds
Ep. #67 – Simplicity & Incarnation w/ Dr. Tim Pawl
