1. The Problem of Evil
The Sacred Quest, ch. 7

2. Why is this a problem? Theodicy: belief in divine justice
Religions see a tension between ordinary experience (how things seem) and sacred reality (how experience should be transformed according to sacred reality)
What is the Buddhist belief in how experience should be transformed according to sacred reality?
Jewish belief?

3. Holocaust Older Jewish responses
Suffering is punishment for disobedience (Deuteronomy)
Suffering is mysterious (Job)
Suffering has greater meaning for the whole people (Isaiah’s suffering servant)
Why don’t these work in the case of the Holocaust?

4. Emil Fackenheim
New (614th) commandment: Jews must not grant Hitler a posthumous victory
Survive as Jews
Jews and Israel have a right to exist, not be martyrs
Religious and secular Jews must be united
Keep memory of victims alive
Must “tell the tale”, because it is holy
Do not despair of the world
Tikkun olam: repair the world
Do not despair of the God of Israel
Religious Jew: continue to wrestle with God, like Jacob
Secular Jew: do not deny God b/c of Auschwitz

5. Classic responses Evil and Karma Consolation of promise
There is justice in a future life, if not now
Consolation of promise
Evil will be overcome in the future (example: a day of judgment)
Appeal to sovereignty
God’s ways are higher, people can’t always understand, but God is in control.
Example: Job
Dualism
There are good and evil powers, who wage war in universe

6. Evaluation Is it logical? Is it coherent?
Does it present a consistent view of God/the sacred?
Is it coherent?
Does it fit what we know about human experience?
Is it psychologically satisfying?
How does it affect the emotions? (Kushner)
Would you say this to someone who is suffering?
What are the moral consequences?
What actions does it suggest people do? Does this fit with the religion?