Abstract / DOI
God’s Crisis: The Corona Pandemic as a Theologic Provocation. What does the outbreak of the corona pandemic have to do with God? Can God help in a crisis such as this? In Albert Camus’ novel The Plague we encounter the interpretation that the pandemic is a scourge of God that calls people to repent. Dr. Rieux, the protagonist, criticizes this interpretation and sees the practical fight against the pandemic as the only appropriate answer. A different strategy is encountered in Philip Roth’s novel Nemesis. Here the outbreak of polio provokes the accusation against God as a «great criminal». In conversation with these literary testimonies, the present article presents a range of interpretations that brings together theology of creation, eschatology and christology. If the world and its evolution owe itself to the creative act of a good and almighty God, then this God will also be able to eschatologically complete his creation, which is pervaded by illness and suffering. This hope has a christological foundation, because the death-conquering power of God was already revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.