Nevolje s odsutnim Bogom

The book Troubles with an Absent God (Le Dieu absent, 1980) by Swiss theologian and priest François Varone is one of the most provocative and profound theological-psychological works of the late 20th century. In it, the author grapples with the widespread feeling that God has become invisible, distant, or entirely absent in the modern world. Varone argues that the real troubles regarding God stem not from His non-existence, but from the mistaken and childish notions people harbor about Him. God is often expected to be an "omnipotent miracle-worker" or a magical protector who solves human problems and prevents suffering. When this does not happen, disappointment sets in, along with the feeling that God has abandoned the world. The author examines how Christian faith must mature and move beyond the image of a God who stifles human freedom, replacing it with the God of Jesus—a God who respects the laws of the created world and human autonomy. Written in a clear, lucid, and accessible style, this theological essay offers great comfort and guidance to anyone experiencing a crisis of faith or doubt. Varone leads the reader to the conclusion that God’s "absence" is not an act of abandonment, but rather a call for humanity to take full responsibility for its own life and the world in which it lives.