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Rob Levinson's avatar

Just read this and a belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours. I once heard you faith dilemma summed up this way.

If there is a God who is unaware of human suffering then God is ignorant

If God is aware of human suffering and can do nothing then God is impotent

If God is aware of human suffering, capable of doing something about it, but chooses not to, then God is malevolent.

I struggle with these questions as well and like you, have not good answers. The best I have read on the topic in a non sectarian way is Rabbi Kushener's When Bad Things Happen to Good People. No definitive conclusions but very thoughtful.

Best,

Rob

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Russell Smith's avatar

Wonderful. I have never seen it in its entirety and now I will rectify this injustice to the Universe.

This is a terrific line and insight:

"I said that there is injustice in the fact that every person on that stage—the conductor, the soloists, all of the instrumentalists in the orchestra, every voice in the chorus—every single one of them is better at what they are doing in that moment than I am in anything I do, and most of them are terribly undercompensated for their work."

To be that good -- that amazing in the true sense of that word -- in one aspect of life. What an accomplishment.

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Bryan McGrath's avatar

Thank you, Jeff. It means a lot! Happy Christmas.

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Jeff Richards's avatar

Merry Christmas, Bryan, and a very happy New Year. I’ve enjoyed reading your posts on the morning train to Boston. Regards, Jeff 🫡

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