Sign Up Now
Get instant access to over 1 million+ study documents
OR
Already registered? click here to login
By creating your account, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and student honor code.
¶ … Bad Things Happen to Good People
When Bad Things Happen to Good People
Life's journey is not a bed of roses and for most people is anything but smooth sailing. In fact, it can be argued that life is full of challenges, which must be faced in order for an individual to develop and grow spiritually. Indeed, this is precisely what the Paschal mystery suggests. Unfortunately, very few people are able to understand and accept life's negative experiences in the context suggested not just by the Paschal mystery but other religious doctrines such as Buddhism or the Hindu Law of Karma. Therefore, most people who experience suffering develop doubts over the very existence of a good and powerful God. This is precisely the issue that Harold Kushner tackles in his book When Bad Things Happen to Good People.
The Rabbi propounds a realistic theory to explain why good people are sometimes made to suffer by suggesting, "God does not cause our misfortunes. Some are caused by bad luck. Some are caused by bad people, and others are simply an inevitable consequence of our being human and being mortal, living in a world of inflexible natural laws." (p. 134) Thus, the Rabbi suggests that the experience of suffering should be reconciled with human nature and "the randomness in the universe." (p. 46) By propounding such a theory, the Rabbi, in effect, advises his readers to accept the fact that the laws of nature do not distinguish between good people and bad: "A bullet has no conscience; neither does a malignant tumor or an automobile gone out of control." (p.58) Besides learning to accept the world and life for what it is, the Rabbi also suggests that it is important to continue having Faith in an all-mighty God by remembering that God neither causes nor prevents tragedies, but does help by inspiring people to help (P. 140). The Rabbi's book has caused a great deal of controversy since it suggests that God is not perfect and cannot intervene in human affairs. Though many people find such a belief objectionable, the fact remains that the Rabbi has nevertheless written a book of philosophical and theological value, which helps many a sufferer resolve a loss of faith and gain the strength to carry on living.
Works Cited
Kushner, Rabbi H. "When Bad Things Happen to Good People." New York: Schocken
Books, 1981.
Good Country People by Flannery O'Connor is a story that illustrates how deceptive appearances can be and what errors are made when people hide behind their own cliched perceptions instead of thinking clearly about situations. The main plot of the story involving Hulga illustrates this theme. As well as this, O'Connor offers many other references to the theme via the other characters, the events and symbols in the work. An
" In it, he showed a poor boy and a rich boy (the Prince), who exchanged places and found that they each preferred to live in the life to which they had been born. Still, each learned from the other's life and the outcome was not what the Sunday School books had all written. The rich Prince "lived only a few years," but he lived them worthily. In conclusion, Mark Twain
Both have in their own way gone against the norm. When Babli, embittered by the men in her life, and after losing hope of ever having the man she loves decides to have a baby alone, she breaks her fathers will. For in a traditional Hindu family the girl accepts the match set up by the father, but here, we read how she chooses her mate, loses him and
Bad Experience With a Priest: comparison of the Catholicism aspects in Scott's Ivanhoe and Twain's a Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court In reading Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, one cannot deny that the blame for the collapse of Hank's new civilization falls on the Church. Throughout the novel, Twain paints a negative image of the Church and its priests. This negative image can also be found
Most American people are not actually doing this, however. Instead, it is mostly the corporations and large companies that are found throughout America. They work their way into other countries as well, and then they 'Americanize' them. While some countries tolerate this, and there are developing countries that are grateful for what America has done for them, most countries do not want others coming in and trying to change
Projecting higher expectations: A "bad boss" has not developed positive dynamics with all his/her subordinates. Four key principles, on the other hand, identify practices a "good boss" implements: Be clear up front Get to know the individuals Beware of labeling Monitor ongoing evaluations In the article, "How to spot the boss from hell Classic signs of a Mr. Nasty," Oliver Finegold's (2005) notes that a current study "details the 10 signs of a bad boss -