It is indeed evidence against theism, but not strong (as in overwhelming) evidence. It can be countered by opposing evidence/interpretations. But to deny the gravity of the event, and the power of the question "Where was God?" would be burying one's head in the sand.
The OT prophets could explain the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian captivity by citing the infidelity of Israel to the Mosaic Covenant, by the pervasive idol worship in the period of the dual monarchy, and the persecution of the prophets... but, where was the guilt of 20th Century Jews? Indeed, it was their very faithfulness to the Covenant that brought this disaster down upon their heads.
I admit to having no answer to this most painful of questions. My only response is to punt to the Book of Job, and insist that when the just man suffers, we cannot (in this life) understand why. What counts is our response to such suffering. We can either despair, or we can soldier on and work with our last breath for a more just world. Our model must be St. Paul, who eventually realized that it was never too late to repent, never too late to bring about the Kingdom, never too late to acknowledge that the Incarnation is the cornerstone which the builders rejected.
3 comments:
It is indeed evidence against theism, but not strong (as in overwhelming) evidence. It can be countered by opposing evidence/interpretations. But to deny the gravity of the event, and the power of the question "Where was God?" would be burying one's head in the sand.
The OT prophets could explain the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian captivity by citing the infidelity of Israel to the Mosaic Covenant, by the pervasive idol worship in the period of the dual monarchy, and the persecution of the prophets... but, where was the guilt of 20th Century Jews? Indeed, it was their very faithfulness to the Covenant that brought this disaster down upon their heads.
I admit to having no answer to this most painful of questions. My only response is to punt to the Book of Job, and insist that when the just man suffers, we cannot (in this life) understand why. What counts is our response to such suffering. We can either despair, or we can soldier on and work with our last breath for a more just world. Our model must be St. Paul, who eventually realized that it was never too late to repent, never too late to bring about the Kingdom, never too late to acknowledge that the Incarnation is the cornerstone which the builders rejected.
The linked article is not (no longer?) on the website.
The link is working again.
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