Taking the reality of pain and transience seriously - designing a theology that is close to life in response to the speechlessness in the face of suffering. How can God allow this? How can one believe in a good God in light of the reality of a world marked by disasters, suffering, and failure? Modern philosophy and theology often find it inappropriate, even cynical towards the victims, to attempt to answer this question. Werner Thiede presents a counter-thesis in this book. In a novel and engaged overall design, he reveals how the so-called problem of theodicy can and must be answered from the center of the Christian faith when one takes the reality of pain and transience seriously. Those who are pastorally close to the misfortunes of people will find here a theology that is relevant to life in response to speechlessness.