When Harold Kushner's three-year-old son was diagnosed with a degenerative disease and that he would only live until his early teens, he was faced with one of life's most difficult questions: Why, God? Years later, Rabbi Kushner wrote this straightforward, elegant contemplation of the doubts and fears that arise when tragedy strikes. Kushner shares his wisdom as a rabbi, a parent, a reader, and a human being. Often imitated but never superseded, When Bad Things Happen to Good People is a classic that offers clear thinking and consolation in times of sorrow. Since its original publication in 1981,When Bad Things Happen to Good People has brought solace and hope to millions of readers and its author has become a nationally known spiritual leader.
Rarely does a book come along that tackles a perennially difficult human issue with such clarity and intelligence. Harold Kushner, a Jewish rabbi facing his own child's fatal illness, deftly guides us through the inadequacies of the traditional answers to the problem of evil, then provides a uniquely practical and compassionate answer that has appealed to millions of readers across all religious creeds. Remarkable for its intensely relevant real-life examples and its fluid prose, this book cannot go unread by anyone who has ever been troubled by the question, "Why me?"
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
a healing message:
This book has helped me overcome the hurdles of hating God and hating myself. Rabbi Kushner offers the profoundly comforting insight that God may not be all-powerful, may not be able to prevent tragedy, and is neither punishing us nor abandoning us by allowing it. The rabbi postulates that God gave humanity free will and will not take back that gift in order to intervene in human evil. God set in motion a world of natural laws that operate apart from God's will. To some this might be a frightening message,... more info
Great insight into a problem:
After reading this book I found my relationship with GOD better! Written simply and using his experience and that from the bible the author opened my eyes! No longer do I see GOD as the creator of pain and misery, but as the source of strength and courage to face the challenges that life presents to us!
Inspiring:
Another great book by Rabbi KUSHNER. Readable and a solace of comfort for all beliefs
Kushner's View of God is Wrong:
Kushner argues that God is too weak to stop the bad things of life. He writes, "If God can't make my sickness go away, what good is He? Who needs Him? God does not want you to be sick or crippled. He didn't make you have this problem, and He doesn't want you to go on having it, but He can't make it go away. That is something which is too hard even for God." That's not logical. How can the God be too weak to change the physical world that He created? Jesus heals the blind and crippled, changed... more info
