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JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY: NO HOLDS BARRED – SESSION 6

JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY: NO HOLDS BARRED – SESSION 6. If Suffering is Inherent in the Human Condition What is the Point of God? . “Administrative Matters”. Dialogue from 9:00 to 9:50 Break from 9:50 to 10:00 Dialogue from 10:00 to 10:30 Questions and Answers from 10:30 to 10:45.

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JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY: NO HOLDS BARRED – SESSION 6

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  1. JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY:NO HOLDS BARRED – SESSION 6 If Suffering is Inherent in the Human Condition What is the Point of God?

  2. “Administrative Matters” • Dialogue from 9:00 to 9:50 • Break from 9:50 to 10:00 • Dialogue from 10:00 to 10:30 • Questions and Answers from 10:30 to 10:45

  3. How to Find the Slides for Each Week • Go to fau.edu. On the bar on the left side, click on “Lifelong Learning.” • Click on “LLS Jupiter Home” • Put your cursor over “Classes” and then click on “Winter Schedule” • Click on the tab for “Courses” and scroll down to Thursdays for “O’Brien and Shapiro” • Click on “O’Brien and Shapiro” and scroll down to the link for the Slides in either PowerPoint or PDF • Click on the link for the Slides and download them

  4. Vietnam Revisited: War’s Challenges After 47 Years SILVERSEA CRUISES ABOARD THE SILVER WINDSAILING FROM HONG KONG TO SINGAPOREMARCH 10 to 19, 2015 CAMBODIA LAND PACKAGEMARCH 19 to 23, 2015CALL FIVE STAR TRAVEL 800-243-3066

  5. How We Will Proceed • What is “suffering”? • Buddhist understanding of suffering • Does God permit, cause, or share in our suffering (or some combination) ? • Some traditional “job descriptions” for God • Talmud’s approach to suffering • Christian suffering – the Suffering of Jesus • The Book of Job

  6. “The Impossible” • Based on a true story from the tsunami of 2004 • Set at a resort in Thailand • Minutes 12:25 to 17:15

  7. Suffering • Threatens our sense of meaning in our lives • Seems to be part of the human condition • Persons in relationships (spouses, friends, relatives) are particularly vulnerable to suffering

  8. What is “Suffering” ? • Suffering is “Pain Plus” • Pain can be Physical, Psychological, Emotional, or Spiritual or a combination • Suffering involves one or more kinds of pain and in addition is: • Imposed involuntarily on the sufferer • No end to the suffering in the foreseeable future • Nothing the sufferer can do to make the suffering end

  9. Causes of Suffering • “Bad things” that happen a. Natural Disasters (Flood, Hurricane, Tsunami) b. Accidents/Illnesses that change our lives c. Deaths and (even worse) untimely deaths d. Other events outside our control • Evil – suffering intentionally inflicted by a. Individuals b. Society or institutions (holocaust, apartheid, slavery, racism, sexism)

  10. The Buddha’s Four Noble Truths • Life means suffering • Suffering is caused by attachment – the “craving” of pleasure, power and immortality, and by delusions about change, independence and the individual soul/self • The cessation of suffering is attainable. Suffering ends when craving and delusions end and we recognize everything is impermanent and changing, and that there is no soul/essence/self

  11. The Fourth Noble Truth • There is a path to the cessation of suffering. We can reach enlightenment (nirvana; bodhi) by following the Buddha’s Middle Way (“The Eightfold Path”) The “Noble Truths” are not dogmas; they are observations from Buddha’s experience

  12. Buddhism and Suffering • Suffering arises from trying to avoid (or oppose) the reality that everything constantly changes • Suffering arises from the delusion that each human has an individual “essence” or “soul” or a “self.” • Each human is merely an amalgam of constantly changing parts – an aggregate of matter, sensations, perceptions, thoughts and consciousness • We live under the illusion of “I” as a reality • “I” is a conventional way (a mere word) we use to describe the constantly changing aggregates that comprise each of us

  13. Why Do We Suffer? • We all say: “Why did this happen to me?” • Is suffering a punishment for Sin? • Tension: there are consequences from our actions • Because “stuff” happens? Is it random? • Part of “God’s Plan” for us or for others?

  14. Does God have a “Plan”?Does God Cause/Permit Suffering? • Our answers generally depend on what we think God “is” and the “qualities” and attributes we give to God • There are a number of different (and sometimes conflicting) ways God has been (and is) understood

  15. “Job Descriptions for God” • Created the universe out of nothing (Prime Mover) • Gave order into the universe (7 days; Genesis 1) • “Runs” the universe and controls all that happens • The “Higher Power” that directs our lives • Causes the calamities that punish bad (and good) people • Gives us good things (“blessings”) • Is a connecting force between/among all that is • Is a Force urging us to do good and love others • Sustains all reality in being (“Ground of Being”) • Knows all, keeps score and rewards/punishes

  16. Does God Permit/Cause Suffering? • Assumptions (based on the “job descriptions”) • God is all powerful • God is all knowing • God is all loving • God is all good • Question: How can a God who is good or loving permit or (worse yet) cause suffering for humans? • How should we understand these assumptions? Are they correct?

  17. Are these Assumptions About God Valid? • All of these qualities (knowledge, power, love, goodness) are human traits. Is it correct to give human qualities to God along with an infinity sign? • What would we mean by an “all knowing” God? • Does God “know the future” before it occurs? • If so, what does this do to human choice/free will? • Suppose God doesn’t know the future – does this make “God” any less “God”?

  18. Is God “all powerful” ? • What does it mean to say God is “all powerful”? • Is God’s power coercive so that God can impose God’s will on us and on all creation so that God causes and controls events? OR • Is God’s power the power of inspiration and persuasion generated by our perception that we are loved by God and can exercise our own free will?

  19. God the All-Powerful: Whatever the Holy One Does Is All For Good The sages said in the name of R. Meir, and other sages taught it in the name of R. Akiva: A man should accustom himself to say, "Whatever the Holy One does is all for good.“ Once, while R. Akiva was traveling, he came to a certain town where he looked for lodgings, but none was given him. So, saying, "Whatever the Holy One does is for good," he went to spend the night in the open field. With him, he had an ass, a cock, and a lamp.

  20. Whatever the Holy One Does Is All For Good – 2 A lion came and ate the ass, a cat came and ate the cock, and a gust of wind came up and blew out the lamp. Again he said; "Whatever the Holy One does is all for good." The same night, soldiers came and carried off the inhabitants of the town. Then R. Akiva said to his companions, "Did I not tell you that 'whatever the Holy One does is all for good'?"

  21. “God is All-Loving” Means What? • Would a loving God let bad things happen to us? • Is God’s love “tough love” from time to time? • Does God want us to live into our fullness as human beings “in God’s image” (whatever that means) ? • Does God always redeem us and give us second chances (“Mulligans”) so that we are not controlled by our own history? • When we suffer, does God suffers along with us?

  22. “God is All Good” Means What? • Is everything that is “created” (whatever “created” means) good – as it says in Genesis 1? • Is whatever happens “good” and for the best, but we just don’t know it (yet)? • God “wants” the best for us in everything?

  23. One Person’s Take on “God’s Will” http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/22/opinion/prager-our-suffering-gods-will/

  24. “Magical Thinking”(sometimes called “Superstition”) • Experiment with “lucky” golf balls • 35% higher rate of sinking putts • Impact of a lucky charm • Higher performance on word and memory games • Group recited psalms in Tzfat during 2nd intifada • Reduced anxiety, greater sense of control of life • Seeing “Fateful” turning points on one’s life • A sense of “Destiny” helps develop a coherent narrative of one’s life

  25. More Magical Thinking • Belief that “Everything happens for a reason” • Reduces sense of randomness and chaos in life • Think that objects carry “essences” of prior owners • Buying the pen of a famous author • Giving consciousness to inanimate objects • Yelling at the TV or one’s computer • We seem “hard wired” to seek causes for all events • “Magical thinking” adds structure and meaning to a chaotic and absurd universe; it reduces existential angst of our finitude and lack of ultimate purpose

  26. “God Shares Our Suffering” • Jewish Tradition • Some Biblical passages attribute emotion to God • Maimonides: emotion would imply “change” in God • Luria: human life is to repair the world and reinvigorate God’s connection to our reality • God’s suffering is a metaphor • In Christianity, Jesus’ Crucifixion is seen as Jesus of Nazareth (as both a human and as God incarnate) suffering death just as other humans do, and enduring extreme bodily and psychological suffering

  27. The Crucifix and the Cross CRUCIFIX Cross with body of Jesus Usually shown as suffering with visible nails, crown of thorns, “INRI” above Roman Catholic Symbol Required at RC Altar Orthodox Churches use small second crossbeam at feet CROSS Does not contain body of Jesus Can sometimes be stylized Primarily Protestant Symbol Empty Cross is a symbol of the Resurrection

  28. “Explaining” Jesus’ Suffering • Initial reaction by Jesus’ Followers to the Crucifixion would have been shock and dismay; Gospels say they all ran away • Over the next 70 years, because of the Jesus Followers’ belief in the Resurrection (i.e. Jesus’ continued presence), they developed theories to “explain” or to give meaning to the Crucifixion • Just as we do, the Jesus Followers used sources (images and metaphors) that were familiar to them and to their audience to develop this meaning

  29. Four Ways of “Explaining” Jesus’ Suffering • Analogy to Temple Atonement Sacrifice • “Getting Right with God” through animal sacrifice • Jesus as “Scapegoat” described in Lev. 16 [Yom Kippur] • Forsaken by God; redeemed in the end (Psalm 22) • 6 verses used by Mark and Matthew to describe Passion • “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? (v.1) • They stare and gloat over me; they divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots (vv.17-18 = Mark 15.24)

  30. 3. The Suffering Servant (Isaiah 52 and 53) Mark 10.45: “For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” My servant shall be exalted and lifted up. (52.13) He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering. (53.3) Surely he has borne our infirmities. (53.4) But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. (53.5)

  31. 4. The Passover Lamb of God Passover sacrifice of lambs (Ex. 12.21) “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1.29) John fixes hour of Jesus’ death as when lambs were being slaughtered at the Temple for Passover • John’s Gospel does not have a Last Supper (Passover Seder)

  32. Christian “Redemption” Theories • Often a “Theological Stew” • Augustine (c.400) – Redeem us from Original Sin and our personal sins • Anselm (1100) – Satisfy God’s “Honor” and Justice • 1600’s – Penal Substitution – God had to have Jesus killed in order to forgive us for our sins • Paul: Christ died “for” us has multiple meanings: For = because of our sins (shared humanity with Romans) For = to take away our sins For = act of solidarity with our suffering; reconciliation

  33. Suffering Itself is seen as a “Good” by Some Christians • Idea that because Jesus’ suffering has meaning and was “redemptive,” suffering itself is good • To be endured (welcomed) for sake of one’s afterlife • One should want to “Take up one’s cross” • NOT SHARED BY SOME/MANY CHRISTIANS • Suffering is an unfortunate byproduct of life • Sometimes, living by a Christian Ethic puts one “at odds” with the values of the world

  34. The Book of Job

  35. The Book of Job • Suffering is a “Mystery” – part of every life that can’t be fully understood • Job is a righteous person, yet he suffers • Suffering is NOT a punishment for sin • Job demands that God be just and fair, and is told by God: “What do you know about anything?” “Who are you to say what God HAS to be?” • Conclusion: we can’t know the reasons for human suffering, but we are told in the story that God says Job’s friends were wrong about the reasons

  36. The Story of the Two Rabbis R. Eleazar ben Pedat fell ill, and R. Yohanan came to visit him. When R. Yohanan saw that R. Eleazar was lying in a dark room, he bared his arm and light radiated from it. Then he noticed that R. Eleazar was weeping. So he asked, “Why are you weeping? Is it because you did not study enough Torah? Surely we have learned: “The one who does much and the one who does little have the same merit, and provided that their hearts are directed to

  37. Two Rabbis – 2 Heaven. Is it perhaps because of your meager livelihood? Not everybody has the privilege of enjoying two tables: one of Torah and one of wealth. Is it perhaps because of your lack of children? Here is the bone of my tenth son!” R. Eleazar replied, “I am weeping on account of this beauty of yours, which will in the end waste away in the earth.” R. Yohanan: “On that account, you surely have good reason to weep.” And they both wept.

  38. Two Rabbis – 3 Presently, R. Yohanan asked him, “Are your sufferings cherished by you?” R. Eleazar replied, “Neither they nor the reward for them.” R. Yohanan: “Give me your hand.” R. Eleazar gave him his hand, and R. Yohanan raised him up out of bed.

  39. Judaism’s Approaches To Suffering • Suffering has no inherent value or meaning • Suffering is NOT redemptive • Exodus: People were redeemed FROM slavery; they were not redeemed BY slavery • Suffering is NOT required by or desired by God • Our response to suffering is what is important • Cry out to God for help (Exodus, Judges) • What can we learn from this suffering? • Did our own actions contribute to the suffering?

  40. Responding to Suffering of Others • Alleviation -- central to Jewish and Christian ethics • “Tragedy should not lead us to point our finger but to open our hand” • If we “understood” suffering, we would not be troubled by it and moved to assist those suffering • Wrong to “justify” the suffering of others to them • Is to be “shared” by our presence and empathy • Suffering is NOT the “Will of God” – we can’t know God’s Will or “Plan” (at least not looking forward) • God is present in all creation (panentheism); God is not remote from us; God shares our suffering.

  41. A Religious Man A religious man is a person who holds God and man in one thought at one time, at all times, who suffers harm done to others, whose greatest passion is compassion, whose greatest strength is love and defiance of despair. Abraham Joshua Heschel

  42. Walker, there is no road; the road is made by walking.

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