When Bad Things Happen to Good People: 20th Anniversary Edition, with a New Preface by the Author: Amazon.de: Harold S. Kushner: Englische Bücher

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Rarely does a book come along that tackles a perennially difficult human issue with such clarity and intelligence. Harold Kushner, a Jewish rabbi facing his own child's fatal illness, deftly guides us through the inadequacies of the traditional answers to the problem of evil, then provides a uniquely practical and compassionate answer that has appealed to millions of readers across all religious creeds. Remarkable for its intensely relevant real-life examples and its fluid prose, this book cannot go unread by anyone who has ever been troubled by the question, "Why me?" -- Dieser Text bezieht sich auf eine vergriffene oder nicht verf�gbare Ausgabe dieses Titels.

From Publishers Weekly

When Bad Things Happen to Good People by Harold S. Kushner. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this book features Rabbi Kushner's perspective on how people can better deal with evil that enters their lives.

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2 von 2 Kunden fanden die folgende Rezension hilfreich:

2.0 von 5 Sternen A half-way solution that may ultimately be harmful, 25. Oktober 1999

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Rezension bezieht sich auf: When Bad Things Happen to Good People (Taschenbuch)

This book deals with the question of how evil and God can coexist--a question that is sometimes referred to as "the theodicy problem." The basic question goes: If God is all good and all-powerful, how can evil exist? One common answer is that evil doesn't really exist, but only appears to exist because we limited humans have inadequate information about, and can't take the long view of, God's plans; we only see part of the picture. I think this is a weak solution, which one can believe only by seriously twisting one's mind; it is pollyannaism, writ large and projected onto the entire universe. I believe that such a position is psychologically destructive, because it forces one to abdicate moral judgement and to deny and repress one's immediate moral responses to such obvious evils as the beating and sexual abuse of children and the torture or mass murder of innocents. The author, Rabbi Kushner, deserves credit for not adopting this very easy and mind-distorting "solution" to the theodicy problem.

Instead, Kushner posits that evil exists because God, while good, is not all-powerful. Kushner says that God wants the good, and assists in its achievement, but He is unable to be fully effective because His power is limited. This view has a certain plausibility to it and is logically consistent. It also may be reassuring to those who want to believe in a good God, but without twisting their mind into denying the existence of evil. By offering this honest solution to the theodicy problem, I believe Kushner will provide a way for some people to avoid the mind-distorting and psychologically damaging attempt to deny the existence evil.

Still, I think Kushner's solution is a cop out. I believe it is attractive to people only to the extent that they are unable or unwilling to seriously contemplate the possibility that there either (a) is no God or (b) is a God but He is so weak as to be insignificant to human life. I believe that an honest examination of world history--which really has been an endless sea of blood and pain from time immemorial--demonstrates that if there is any divine force for good at play, it is close to impotent. That is, I just don't think Kushner's view stands up to the facts of existence and history, which has consisted of endless waves of mass murder and vast suffering. I think the more honest solution to the theodicy problem is that God--as anything remotely resembling the traditional conception of a just force that intervenes in human life--simply does not exist.

Even if Kushner's view is wrong, might it still be beneficial? That is, might Kushner's view be a supportive and reassuring fiction? Perhaps it will serve this function for some, as the many positive customer comments below seem to suggest. But I believe the more important result is that it deflects attention from the real issues, and keeps people from digging deeper or seeking more adequate, honest solutions to their problems.

Evil is of two types: that arising from the natural world (natural disasters, disease, wild animals, etc.), and that inflicted by humans. For those concerned with suffering caused by the natural world, I think the best response is to recognize that such "evil" arises from an indifferent physical world, and that we can work to prevent or ameliorate such suffering in the future by striving to better understand the natural laws that govern the world, and to apply what knowledge we already have.

As for those who are concerned about evil caused by human beings, both in the world at large and in their own lives, a more helpful and honest author is Alice Miller. Her books, all sold through amazon, include Drama of the Gifted Child, For Your Own Good, Banished Knowledge, Breaking Down the Walls of Silence, and The Untouched Key. I believe that Miller's work provides a fairly complete understanding of the origins of evil inflicted by humans--everything from child abuse to mass murder.

Someone faced by a personal crisis, who feels they need the support of a more-or-less traditional religious faith, might gain from reading Rabbi Kushner's book. It's a fast, easy read, and may give one the boost one's looking for. But for those who are willing to devote the time and effort required to grapple with serious ideas, I believe Miller's unflinchingly honest books will prove more satisfying and useful.

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1 von 1 Kunden fanden die folgende Rezension hilfreich:

5.0 von 5 Sternen When bad things happen to good people., 25. M�rz 2000

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Frank Beresheim (Saugerties, N.Y.) - Alle meine Rezensionen ansehen

Rezension bezieht sich auf: When Bad Things Happen to Good People (Taschenbuch)

This book has changed my view on life! I am much more content, and have learned more about acceptance. I am a Chemical Dependency Counselor, and I have been able to share this wisdom with my clients. I have really benefitted from reading this book. I plan to read other books by Rabbi Harold Kushner, as I feel it can only help me and others more.

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5.0 von 5 Sternen This Book Created a Turning Point in My Life, 23. Januar 2000

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Barbara Stanbro "Love kitties and cooking" (Hillsboro, OR, USA) - Alle meine Rezensionen ansehen
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Rezension bezieht sich auf: When Bad Things Happen to Good People (Taschenbuch)

I read When Bad Things Happen to Good People following the death of my infant daughter. As I struggled to make sense of what had happened, Rabbi Kushner's book became the singularly most important element in helping me to come to peace with my experience. Kushner reminds us that the one thing we can still do for our dead loved one is to ensure that they will remembered in a positive way by others. We do this through our own personal growth from the experience, and by continuing to live purposeful and meaningful lives. This book changed my life. I have read all of Rabbi Kushner's books and have found his philosophy to be among the most insightful and spiritually enlightening of our time. If you have found yourself shaken to the very foundation of your being by a loss or other significant event in your life, this book will provide you with food for thought as you attempt to create new meaning in your life.

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5.0 von 5 Sternen must read for all affected by grief and those around them
This is a very comforting book. I read soon after our beloved angel-daughter was diagnosed with a fatal disease and it did offer some feeling of peacefulness till the end... Lesen Sie weiter...

Ver�ffentlicht am 26. November 2004 von M. Partyka

5.0 von 5 Sternen Deserves six stars!
Everyone at some time in their life is overwhelmed emotionally by a loss or other crisis. This book is essential reading for that time. Lesen Sie weiter...

Ver�ffentlicht am 4. Juli 2000 von Patricia Lavins

3.0 von 5 Sternen spiritual book that really answers what it promises to answe
Even though, as we live our lives, we try to do our best, we try to be good people, to do as much we know and as best we know how. Lesen Sie weiter...