Dinesh D’Souza who is known as an Indian American conservative political commentator, apologist and author who was formerly the President of The King’s College in New York City has done it again here with his new book “Godforsaken: Bad Things Happen. Is there a God who cares? Yes. Here’s proof”. In this book D’Souza responds with a resounding “Yes” to the question can an omniscient all powerful God be good if evil still happens. The author having a long history and track record debating atheists believes that this question is at the roots of atheism’s disbelief.

I found this book intellectually stimulating as I went from one chapter to the next. He would open each chapter with a review of the atheist’s opponent’s strongest arguments and then he would systematically tackle each of them head on with rigorous scholarship providing a comprehensive evangelical response. He would refute the arguments of the likes of Nietzsche and Hawkins while commenting and providing the key thoughts of other Christian thinkers who have spoken on the topic.

The author had three audiences in mind when writing this book. First was to answer the atheist argument that evil and suffering in the world somehow contradict the idea of a God who is both omnipotent and good and secondly to convince both unbelievers and believers that there is reason and purpose for evil and suffering. Then thirdly to address those Christians who are suffering. Reading the book I found insightful his thoughts on Darwin and other atheists and why many become atheist due to the problem of evil.

One of the basic premises he gives in the beginning of the book is the concept that it would be impossible to have an existing perfect creation without the capacity for evil that would also love God. D’Souza says it is illogical like God created a three sided square. Henceforth it would longer be square is the same way love would no longer be love if evil were not imminently present. Overall, I found Godforsaken to be a great page turner and well written with a mix of science and reason. I believe D’Souza offers up a fresh study of theodicy and brings some up to date material to the table for discussion. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to delve in to a volume that gives a sound explanation of evil and suffering.

Disclaimer: In exchange for this review, I received a free copy of Godforsaken from Tyndale House Publishers through the Tyndale Blog Network. ( )