Jean-Pierre Jossua

Professor of Dogmatics, Le Saulchoir, Dominican School of Theology

Pierre Bayle ou l’obsession du mal

In his series of lectures, Jossua answers the question, ‘Who was Pierre Bayle, the Huguenot philosopher whose Dictionnaire historique et critique influenced Leibniz, Hume, Kierkegaard, and Melville?’ He uses Bayle’s writing on the theological problem of evil to trace the intersection of this question with Bayle’s own life. Jossua then turns to his more scholarly writings, bringing to light several strains of ‘Baylian’ argumentation. In the end, he resolves to leave the question of Bayle’s personal convictions unanswered.

Biography

Jean-Pierre Jossua was born on 24 September 1930 in Boulogne-Billancourt, France. A member of the Dominican Order, he spent his career writing, teaching, and researching. After studying medicine, Jossua converted to Catholicism in 1953 and completed his doctoral studies at Le Saulchoir, becoming Professor of Dogmatics. He was Co-Director of the journal Concilium from 1970 to 1996 and Director of the journal La vie spirituelle from 1988 to 1996. Appointed Professor at Centre Sèvres in 1995, his last position was teaching literature in Barcelona.

According to his biographer, P. Charles Chauvin, Jossua’s adult life can be divided in two stages: twenty years of teaching and twenty years of writing. His works are all, in some way, concerned with the mystery, complexity, and gift of faith. With great sensitivity, Jossua writes not only for Christians wrestling with profound questions, but also for those asking questions of personal experience. His works include Condition of the Witness (1985), Lafoi de jour en jour (1988), La foi en 1uestions (1989), and Seul avec Dieu: l’aventure mystique (1996).

Published/Archival Resources

Published as Pierre Bayle ou l’obsession du mal.