Customer Rating: 
Summary: One of my all time favorite books...
Comment: I have bought this book several times and continue to give it to friends... it is a book that everyone should read.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Problematic
Comment: The book is context-rich and easy to read but still problematic. Copious amount of ink has been spilled tackling the Failed Prayer problem then along comes Harold Kushner's book and PRESTO!!! problem solved. I found this book a bit hard to swallow.
Mankind has been grappling with theological topic called "The problem of evil" for a very long time. This issue was first discussed by the Greek philosopher Epicurus (371-270 BC). Since then, many philosophers and theologians have wrestled with the problem, causing some - such as the French philosopher Jean Paul Sartre (1905-1980) - to state that God does not exist. The defaces of God's goodness and omnipotence in view of this problem is called Theodicies - also stretch back to the beginnings of Christianity. St Augustine (354-430) put the problem most concisely: "Either God cannot abolish evil, or he will not; if he cannot then he is not all-powerful; if he will not then he is not all good."
I find it strange that whenever we pray for something and whatever we prayed for comes through God gets the credit. After a nation's heart-felt, sincere prayers none of the trapped Coalminers or kids that were kidnapped, raped and killed never makes it back home yet we never see it as failed prayers. God heard our pleas and said ...NO
It is quite common for God to ignore prayers. And that seems odd, because the Bible is clear about how prayer is supposed to work. In Mark 11:24 Jesus promises: "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
In John chapter 14, verses 12 through 14, Jesus tells us just how easy prayer can be: "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.
In Matthew 18:19 Jesus says it again: Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Given these verses, and given the fact that Harold Kushner was a faithful believer, doesn't it seem like Harold Kushner's prayers should have worked?
The lost of a loved one is very hard to take. When we are grief-stricken we all need consoling, but theologically speaking Mr. Kushner fell a little short. The truth is, we have no way to know what God is thinking, and his actions at times can be quite mysterious. I am not trying to bash the Author but theologically speaking I think I make a good point when I point out that being Jewish, the good Rabbi does not accept the divinity of Jesus. Could that have been part of the problem?
Customer Rating:
Summary: a healing message
Comment: This book has helped me overcome the hurdles of hating God and hating myself. Rabbi Kushner offers the profoundly comforting insight that God may not be all-powerful, may not be able to prevent tragedy, and is neither punishing us nor abandoning us by allowing it. The rabbi postulates that God gave humanity free will and will not take back that gift in order to intervene in human evil. God set in motion a world of natural laws that operate apart from God's will. To some this might be a frightening message, but since I was at home with the notion that life is not fair and there is no justice, this theory frees me from the enormous burden of blaming either God or myself for the terrible tragedies that have come into my life and the lives of those closest to me. Rabbi Kushner reaffirms my belief that while suffering is terrible, it is possible to take a curse and turn it into a blessing by using what we learn about loss in order to alleviate the suffering of others. In that respect, this is a very life-affirming book.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great insight into a problem
Comment: After reading this book I found my relationship with GOD better! Written simply and using his experience and that from the bible the author opened my eyes! No longer do I see GOD as the creator of pain and misery, but as the source of strength and courage to face the challenges that life presents to us!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Inspiring
Comment: Another great book by Rabbi KUSHNER. Readable and a solace of comfort for all beliefs
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