The issue of evil is one of the basic issues in theological systems, especially in the philosophy of religion, which has been discussed as a violation of certain attributes and doubt in the principle of belief in God. The defenders of divine justice have defended and explained the solution to the problem of evil in various ways, and it can be said that most of these defenses have been put forward in a theoretical form in the position of justifying evil and suffering. Such an approach in facing the problem of evil, especially the responses that invite sufferers to be patient and submit to evils and promise them rewards in the afterlife, may have bad effects and expose people to social harm. and invite them to silence. Silence and non-protest will result in a person's indifference to their concrete conditions and a lack of solidarity and empathy in facing the suffering.
Investigating the advantages and disadvantages of protest theodicy is the main goal of this research, which deals more with the thought system and thoughts of Johann Baptist Metz. In addition to explaining the advantages, the current research shows the basic shortcomings of Mets's point of view in this field.
Under the influence of Bloch and his emphasis on the power of suffering in challenging the present and the future, as well as under the influence of Walter Benjamin and his emphasis on the importance of stories and memories, Mets made a detailed discussion about suffering and the issue of divine mystery. And also followed by the criticism of the theodicies common in the Christian tradition. Her purpose of talking about the Holocaust cases was because she wanted to question God's secret like Job and present a stimulating, new and modern definition of Christianity. According to her belief, the God who shows herself after this question and appears to us, will appear as a judge to free and save the suffering and victims of injustice. He made serious criticisms on traditional theoretical theodicies; Because he believed that these theodicies have a duty in line with consumerist and bourgeois Christianity. Theoretical theodicy leads to the peace of mind of the religious people about the existence of evil in this world, which will not be good for the Christian society in any way.
It is true that Mets has witnessed the injustices of the Holocaust and Auschwitz and is deeply affected by it, which shows its influence in his protest approach; But he does not consider such objections to mean overcoming doubt and weakening of faith. From this point of view, the purpose of the theodicy of Mats's protest is a believing protest, which despite the fact that the narrative of the suffering is set as a criterion, still prayer and trust in God does not lose its validity. Therefore, it can be claimed that the direction and path of his theodicy is not towards atheism. However, since there is a long distance between the objection and its result, the answerability of theodicy to the objection on the issue of evil is questioned. In addition, it does not present a true image of God's benevolence, power and justice.
The point that we found out in this research is that the aforementioned theorists, especially Mets, did not pay attention to the fact that the invitation to protest is the concept of action in which the hope of changing and improving the state of society lies, and according to him Perhaps, after that, the suffering people will even take over the power of the society, this claim refers to social hope, which is the source of social movements, and it shows itself in various forms, such as strikes and protests. Such hope is commendable; But the example emphasized by them (Ayoub's case) is a protest that only has a theological aspect, and from such a protest, the hope of change and revolution of the society will not be concluded; Because in changing their society, people must join hands to make a transformation happen. Keeping this point in mind, the contradiction we claimed in Mets' view is resolved; Because the middle ground is not the same in both introductions, but the problem of Mets's point of view still remains; Because he suffered from the protest that has a theological aspect and maybe God will show his face after it and cause peace of man, but Mets wanted to conclude from this issue, the change and transformation of the society.
Looking at Metz's thoughts and his maneuver about the Holocaust and bringing it into the discussion of Satan and protest, the reader realizes that he was looking for Zionist exploitation of this event.