WHAT CHRISTIANS GET WRONG ABOUT SUFFERING | ALANZO PAUL

Join Zoe and Jasper for an incredibly powerful conversation with Alanzo Paul, theologian, apologist, and director of Reboot at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, as they explore his journey from hard drugs addiction and near death to discovering Jesus, and how the Christian worldview uniquely addresses the deepest questions of evil, suffering, and meaning in life. This episode dives deep into the problem of evil and suffering, exploring both the intellectual and emotional dimensions of one of life's hardest questions. Alanzo unpacks why Christianity radically outclasses other worldviews in light of suffering, the power of a scarred God who knows our pain, and how the resurrection offers hope that death won't have the final word. 00:00 Introduction and Welcome to The Way UK 00:42 Alanzo's Doctorate: Horrendous Evil and Meaning in Life 02:43 Growing Up in Canada: A Nominally Catholic Home 03:52 Divorce, Drugs, and Darkness: A Descent into Addiction 08:24 The Attack That Changed Everything: Three Days of Sobriety 10:29 An Invitation to Church: Encountering Jesus Through Stories 13:56 The Smoldering Wick: Discovering God's Love for the Broken 15:48 Seventeen Years Later: Life After Salvation 17:34 From Emotional to Intellectual: Discovering Apologetics 20:10 Personal Loss: Losing His Brother to Cancer 22:07 Christianity's Unique Response: A Scarred God 25:19 Where Is God in Suffering? The Emotional Problem of Evil 31:22 God Incarnate: Jesus Knows What Suffering Feels Like 35:45 The Resurrection: Why Death Doesn't Have the Final Word 37:43 Trusting God in the Storm: A Normal Response to Abnormal Situations 41:34 When You Can't Trace His Hand, Trust His Heart 43:56 The Intellectual Problem: Gratuitous Evil and God's Purposes 46:42 Worldview Resources: The Fall, Free Will, and Fallen Angels 51:02 Why Did Jesus Suffer So Much? The Cost of Atonement 55:38 Who Is God Paying? Understanding Atonement Theories 1:00:38 Find Alanzo: OCCA, Reboot, and Youth Apologetics 1:02:38 Final Word: Redwood Trees and Community in Suffering Follow Alanzo on Instagram and TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/alanzopaul/?hl=en Learn more about the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics: https://www.theocca.org Join the Reboot Youth Apologetics Conference on November 21st at City Gates Church in Ilford, London: https://www.rebootquestions.com/ FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thewayuk/ FOLLOW US ON TIK TOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewayuk/ Want to know more? Find a church that has things happening for young people. Visit https://achurchnearyou.com/youth/ [In partnership with CofE Digital Projects]