Analysis Of When Bad Things Happen To Good People

Harold S. Kushner was groundbreaking in a topic many authors shy away from, “When Bad Things Happen to Good People.” The author takes a critical look at human suffering and without prejudice or bias provides a valid argument on the topic of suffering and why afflictions to good people persist. The book takes a critical look at religion and extensively clears prejudgments adherents have about God. The author develops the storyline of the book on a personal experience where he lost his son, Aaron, from an incurable genetic disease. The fact that the book is autographical makes it very influential to its readers.

The author takes a distinct standpoint from what many people conventionally hold on; for example, he rules out the tendency of people always saying it is God’s plan to suffer, or that everything happens for good. He refutes such sentiments by postulating that God does not necessarily plan for every happening in people’s lives, but that some events happen in life for no reason at all. The author notes that this stance on issues is very essential as it prevents people from denial, as it commonly happens. He argues that there is more peace at accepting things that have happened than blame a third party for the same; this way a quicker path to healing is established. He states that passing the culpability to God increases agony in the victim.

The author discusses the loss of his beloved son objectively; he does not take the book as a platform for expressing his anger and emotion; instead, he uses his experience as an example so people have a better understanding of why suffering happens to good people. Kushner also criticizes the way people comfort each other, terming it as more detrimental sometimes. He postulates that instea...

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...r to control the future. He states that previous challenges and difficulties people go through should serve as lessons through which people can control future events. He states that people should always stay vigilant so that events do not fetch them obliviously. He discourages the attitude of people saying oblivious and hoping that God will control everything. They should instead use what they have gone through to prepare for the future. He contravenes the dogmatic way of life whereby people obliviously associate events with God.

All in all, this is a spectacular book that addresses two substantially variable issues simultaneously and in a valid and logical manner; the topic of God’s existence and the pain and suffering imminent in the world. The author presents the two diverse aspects of cosmology head to head in a valid manner making it valid and understandable.