God Can't

How to Believe in God and Love After Tragedy, Abuse, and Other Evils

By: Thomas Jay Oord

Narrated by: Thomas Jay Oord

Hurting people ask heart-felt questions about God and suffering. The usual answers fail. They don't support the truth God loves everyone all the time. God Can't gives a believable answer to why a good and powerful doesn't prevent evil.

Author Thomas Jay Oord says God’s love is inherently uncontrolling. God loves everyone and everything, so God can't control anyone or anything. This means God cannot prevent evil single-handedly. God can’t stop evildoers, whether human, animal, organism, or inanimate objects and forces.

God Can't was written in understandable language. Thomas Jay Oord's status as a world-renowned theologian brings credibility to the book’s radical ideas. He explains these ideas through true stories, illustrations, and scripture.

God Can't is for those who want answers to tragedy, abuse, and other evils that make sense!

©2019 Thomas Jay Oord (P)2019 Thomas Jay Oord

Critic reviews

"To find your understanding of life and your love for God renewed, read this book." (Dr. Karen Strand Winslow, Ph.D., Professor of Bible, Azusa Pacific University)

“Victims of trauma sometimes hear theological responses that imply their suffering is somehow “God’s will." Oord gives us a clear and compelling alternative in this profoundly insightful and admirably concrete and accessible book.” (Dr. Anna Case-Winters, Professor of Theology at McCormick Theological Seminary)

“I know of no book that speaks to suffering with the depth of theological sophistication and psychological sensitivity as God Can’t. I recommend it to my students, parishioners, and therapy clients.” (Dr. Brad D. Strawn, Professor of Psychology and Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary)

paradigm game-changer!

having been both a former Catholic, ex atheist, now just a loving Christian, this book has helped tremendously! my trauma I experienced with the Evangelical community was deep-seated and destructive. cult-like almost. I have been through extensive counseling that still had not seemed to get at the root of the problem, but this book finally addressed all the dirty issues I faced and dealt with.
It will change your views of God, but I promise you, it will change them for your and God's betterment!

Healing for sexual abuse survivor

I had heard several podcasts with Thomas Jay Oord sharing about his book God Can't and it brought me a lot of peace when thinking about my own abuse and where was God. I turned to atheism from the pain but have slowly turned back towards the idea of a God. This book has helped bring me back, I have hope again. The pain is still there from the abuse but I am deeply comforted. I sent a copy of this book to my mom even.

Great truths that will make trusting God possible.

There are so many lies that the church has taught us about God’s character that makes it not really possible to trust God or to want to be close to Him. This book is awesome at resolving so many of those issues so we can live a life in the arms of a truly loving God. Thank you Thomas Jay Oord!

A book that changes everything we thought we knew about God

If you are seeking to understand one of the most perplexing theological questions...this book is essential listening. Masterfully written and narrated ...Oord is able to make a compelling case for why God can’t do anything alone to intervene in the evils of the world.

At last, I understand the Lord’s Prayer !

Nothing less, but nothing more.
As I was listening to the authors very convincing talk, I none the less kept repeating the question, “than how are you supposed to pray to God?”. To a “God who can’t.” (I have been praying this prayer every day the past number of years, sometimes multiple times a day, and the recent years in Greek. I am a Christian of 58 years. ) What the author is saying makes real sense. Listening to the very last word, and repeating the Lord’s Prayer, I suddenly realized, this is the prayer that the real loving Jesus (God) taught us to pray, and this is the perfect prayer, nothing more but nothing less.
Your insight is profound, and life changing Dr. Oord. I can’t thank you enough! (John K.)

Thought Provoking

An excellent read that expands the discussion on the nature of God and suffering. The thoughts and ideas set forth in this book deserve consideration alongside the others that propose a reconciliation between a loving God and a suffering world. I have struggled with this question for over ten years and am always interested to find something like this that takes an honest approach to answering the question. Now that I have the basic premise, I'll be reading his other books to gain a bit more depth and explanation. My mind is not made up, but this has definitely given me a new perspective.

Clear explanation of a relational theology

I liked the accessibility of this book for the general population. I think he provides food for thought to the hurting as his purpose states. I am a student of theology and appreciate his example of putting a heady subject in pastoral terms. Readers certainly do not have to agree with all he says. If he presents a logical case that is understandable. Chew on it!

Embracing the Mystery

Thank you for helping me to see God more lovingly and compassionately. As a pastor of many who have grieved immensely, I have agonized over much of my own faith. This helps. Vince Flippo

Answering big questions about faith and God’s love

I first heard of your books on the Peacing it Altogether Podcast. This book is incredibly helpful to faith pushers on all paths of our journey. I have passed this book along to many others asking big questions about God, God’s love, and God’s “control.”

Well reasoned

It was well reasoned, simple to understand and makes a lot of sense. I think that Christianity would benefit from incorporating this idea into the religion. I listened on 1.3 speed because he talked a little slow for me.