Lamprecht, Niekie2016-11-252016-11-252016-10-31Lamprecht, N., 2016, ‘Die noodsaak om lyding, pyn, dood en boosheid tot betekenis te bring’, Verbum et Ecclesia 37(1), a1611. http://dx.DOI.org/ 10.4102/ve.v37i1.1611.1609-9982 (print)2074-7705 (online)10.4102/ve.v37i1.1611http://hdl.handle.net/2263/58280TO MAKE SENSE OF SUFFERING WAS ALWAYS PART AND PARCEL OF BEING HUMAN. Although the inadequacy of theodicies to provide meaningful theoretical frameworks resulted in a focus on practical responses, in this article a case has been made for the necessity to create theoretical meaning frameworks to make sense of suffering. Brain research pointed to the brain’s fundamental need for creating and maintaining meaning frameworks in the development of purposeful responses to suffering. INTRADISCIPLINARY AND/OR INERDISCIPLINARY IMPLICATIONS : Brain research and the contextualisation thereof in psychology is challenging the notion that the only adequate response to suffering is a practical response. The brain’s fundamental need for meaningful frameworks is challenging systematic and practical theology to develop theoretical frameworks to guide, motivate and evaluate the adequacy of a practical response.Afrikaans© 2016. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.SufferingHumanBrainPsychologyTheoretical meaning frameworkCreating meaning frameworksMaintaining meaning frameworkTheology articles SDG-01SDG-01: No povertyTheology articles SDG-03SDG-03: Good health and well-beingTheology articles SDG-10SDG-10: Reduced inequalitiesTheology articles SDG-16SDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutionsArticle