When bad things When bad things happen to good happen to good

peoplepeople

Analyzing evil in the Book of Analyzing evil in the Book of JobJob

Robert Sutherland – Calgary, Robert Sutherland – Calgary, ABAB

The example of Job:The example of Job: Job is described as a blessed man by God.Job is described as a blessed man by God. Satan challenges God what a believer would Satan challenges God what a believer would

do if he wasn’t as blessed.do if he wasn’t as blessed. So God tests Job and takes it all away….So God tests Job and takes it all away…. Satan wants Job to “break” to prove people Satan wants Job to “break” to prove people

love God only for what they can get from him.love God only for what they can get from him. Job continues to ask “why”, but God is silent.Job continues to ask “why”, but God is silent. Raises the question of the right to know and Raises the question of the right to know and

when we should know it.when we should know it. Job decides to not condemn God prematurely Job decides to not condemn God prematurely

so that he can be justified or vindicated (Job so that he can be justified or vindicated (Job 40:8)40:8)

Issues raised from the Issues raised from the Book of Book of JobJob

Satan challenges God of his Satan challenges God of his authority to judge authority to judge

Satan challenges God that God Satan challenges God that God has erred in creating humankind. has erred in creating humankind.

Satan challenges God that Satan challenges God that humans are incapable of selfless humans are incapable of selfless lovelove

The issues of “rights” The issues of “rights” raised in Jobraised in Job

Rights can never be given up, Rights can never be given up, taken away, deferred or taken away, deferred or overridden WITHOUT human overridden WITHOUT human nature itself being nature itself being harmedharmed or or destroyeddestroyed..

Eg: The right to life….Causes much Eg: The right to life….Causes much debate when deciding punishment. debate when deciding punishment. Capital Punishment, abortion – Capital Punishment, abortion – these are all inflammatory because these are all inflammatory because they affect the “right to life”they affect the “right to life”

So now what is the “right” So now what is the “right” in the book of in the book of JobJob

The right to know the “truth”….The right to know the “truth”…. but what are people’s right to but what are people’s right to

know WHEN one will know the know WHEN one will know the truth? truth?

Three interpretations Three interpretations why evil exists:why evil exists:

Augustine – Evil as punishmentAugustine – Evil as punishment Irenaeus – Evil to develop Irenaeus – Evil to develop

charactercharacter Hegel – Evil as a necessary Hegel – Evil as a necessary

means to the higher good of means to the higher good of selfless love.selfless love.

Montag as a modern day JobMontag as a modern day Job

The test is never ending. Will The test is never ending. Will Job continue to demand answers Job continue to demand answers for evil in the world when he is for evil in the world when he is well off? well off?

The question Bradbury is putting The question Bradbury is putting to the reader….Will to the reader….Will wewe continue continue to demand answers when we are to demand answers when we are well off?well off?

New Reading for MontagNew Reading for Montag Now it’s your turn to find something Now it’s your turn to find something memorable/meaningfulmemorable/meaningful to read to to read to Montag; don’t think just “plot” or Montag; don’t think just “plot” or “action”, but literature with deeper “action”, but literature with deeper messages.messages.

/www.modernlibrary.com/top-100/100-best-novels/. Or other on-line lists for some books . Or other on-line lists for some books that have “stood the test of time”.that have “stood the test of time”.

Everyone will sign up for a selection to Everyone will sign up for a selection to defend as part of Montag’s library.defend as part of Montag’s library.

Montag’s Library:Montag’s Library:

Make a poster with the book cover, Make a poster with the book cover, date published, authordate published, author

Include : Include :

1.1.A brief plot summary A brief plot summary

2.2.Themes/message in the bookThemes/message in the book

3.3.A descriptive passage from the book.A descriptive passage from the book.

4.4.Why would this be a good choice for Why would this be a good choice for Montag? Montag?