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When bad things happen to good people. Analyzing evil in the Book of Job Robert Sutherland – Calgary, AB. The example of Job:. Job is described as a blessed man by God. Satan challenges God what a believer would do if he wasn’t as blessed. So God tests Job and takes it all away….
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When bad things happen to good people Analyzing evil in the Book of Job Robert Sutherland – Calgary, AB
The example of Job: • Job is described as a blessed man by God. • Satan challenges God what a believer would do if he wasn’t as blessed. • So God tests Job and takes it all away…. • Satan wants Job to “break” to prove people love God only for what they can get from him. • Job continues to ask “why”, but God is silent. • Raises the question of the right to know and when we should know it. • Job decides to not condemn God prematurely so that he can be justified or vindicated (Job 40:8)
Issues raised from the Book of Job • Satan challenges God of his authority to judge • Satan challenges God that God has erred in creating humankind. • Satan challenges God that humans are incapable of selfless love
The issues of “rights” raised in Job • Rights can never be given up, taken away, deferred or overridden WITHOUT human nature itself being harmed or destroyed. • Eg: The right to life….Causes much debate when deciding punishment. Capital Punishment, abortion – these are all inflammatory because they affect the “right to life”
So now what is the “right” in the book of Job • The right to know the “truth”…. • but what are people’s right to know WHEN one will know the truth?
Three interpretations why evil exists: • Augustine – Evil as punishment • Irenaeus – Evil to develop character • Hegel – Evil as a necessary means to the higher good of selfless love.
Montag as a modern day Job • The test is never ending. Will Job continue to demand answers for evil in the world when he is well off? • The question Bradbury is putting to the reader….Will we continue to demand answers when we are well off?
New Reading for Montag • Now it’s your turn to find something memorable/meaningful to read to Montag; don’t think just “plot” or “action”, but literature with deeper messages. • /www.modernlibrary.com/top-100/100-best-novels/. Or other on-line lists for some books that have “stood the test of time”. • Everyone will sign up for a selection to defend as part of Montag’s library.
Montag’s Library: • Make a poster with the book cover, date published, author • Include : • A brief plot summary • Themes/message in the book • A descriptive passage from the book. • Why would this be a good choice for Montag?