Q&A: How to Cope with the Frustration of Evil in the World
How to Cope with the Frustration of Evil in the World
Question
Hello Rabbi,
It is well known that your rational view is that the world generally proceeds according to the laws of nature.
In your book No Man Rules the Spirit you wrote that this somewhat answers the question of why the righteous suffer, since in truth it is the laws that govern the world, and there is not really a just accounting in this world; as a result, the righteous person suffers, etc. (The Talmud in Kiddushin: “There is no reward for a commandment in this world.”)
You wrote that there is also the matter of free choice, which has to coexist together with the laws of nature. And apparently there is no better option.
However, you also wrote that it is still difficult to understand why rare interventions in severe cases cannot happen—for example, a tsunami.
My question is this:
We constantly see around us injustice, completely unnecessary suffering caused to genuinely good people, and the question is: how do you deal with this emotionally?!
A.
What do I tell myself about God?
What justification is there for so much suffering among good and upright people? How can it be that from a Creator who commands us to be good, and punishes those who abuse orphans and the weak, so much evil comes out?!
How do I go on, without an answer to this question, loving One whom I feel has thrown us to the dogs?!
B.
How is it possible not to tremble in fear of life?!
From terror attacks, from accidents, from diseases, from earthquakes, and a million other things that can overturn everything on us in a second—the fragility of life is so extreme, so how can one live calmly?! ?!
At least for those who believe that “every bullet has an address,” this question is not difficult, because whatever will be will be for the best.
But for someone who thinks that an earthquake does not distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, life is very frightening because of how fragile it is???
Thank you very much.
Answer
The question of how to deal with something emotionally should be directed to a psychologist. I have nothing to say about that.
A. I explained the justification for people’s suffering there in detail. I did not understand the question. It is a necessary consequence of the laws of nature, and the Holy One, blessed be He, has nothing to do about it.
B. As stated, this is a question for a psychologist. But I did not understand the comparisons you are making. Even if you are sure that the Holy One, blessed be He, controls what happens here, you still do not know whether you are righteous or not, and what will happen to you. So what difference does it make? In practice, no one can be certain against natural disasters and human harm, even if he holds the position that everything comes from the Holy One, blessed be He. And by the way, “every bullet has an address” is not equivalent to “everything is for the best.”
Thank you very much.
Yes, but those who believe in individual providence tell themselves: if I need to die, I will die; that is how God made a specific decision, and besides that, everything is for the best.
And according to my approach, I can die simply because of bad luck.
Without anyone having thought that it was necessary or just.