tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23499413.post7362152028858633259..comments2023-10-24T00:40:27.831-07:00Comments on Friar Yid: The Blasphemy of TheodicyFriar Yid (not Shlita)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10311439778319103094noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23499413.post-59250241360844742152008-05-25T08:36:00.000-07:002008-05-25T08:36:00.000-07:00It is a commonplace of Jewish theodicy that sins a...It is a commonplace of Jewish theodicy that sins are punished and/or atoned for by means of illnesses. We even pray that this <EM>not</EM> happen on Yom Kippur after every <EM>Amidah</EM>:<BR/><BR/><EM>u-mah she-chata'ti l'fanecha marek b'rachamecha ha-rabim, aval lo al y'dei yissurim va-chola'im ra'im.</EM><BR/><BR/>"And as for what I have sinned before You, may You cleanse in Your great mercy, but not through troubles or grave illnesses."<BR/><BR/>So I don't think it's surprising that a traditional perspective still seeks to understand sicknesses via this kind of theodicy. It's still crass and despicable and gross and wrong and, as you say, a good reason not to believe in a god who would inflict this kind of suffering on people. But it does make sense of why it might be a reasonable explanation in some people's minds—especially vis-à -vis politicians, whose "sins" have the potential to be visible and notorious when perceived by (a) the media or (b) their political opponents.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23499413.post-26445625287871382192008-05-25T02:30:00.000-07:002008-05-25T02:30:00.000-07:00I'm terribly upset with myself for being so unclea...I'm terribly upset with myself for being so unclear. I definitely don't agree with simplistic reward/punishment accounting. I'm a CPA's daughter and I consider G-d's accouting system for the next world, not this one.<BR/><BR/>I mentioned:<BR/>"Chazal, our Sages, say that the righteous are punished in this world, so the next will be all rewards."<BR/><BR/>This is a very common belief in Jewish Philosophy. It's the classic rationale and brought up to show a later reward.<BR/><BR/>For this to make any sense, one must believe that there is a "Next World."<BR/><BR/>None of this is my original theory. It's just late that night, when I saw the announcement about Ted K, that's how my mind associated.<BR/><BR/>I'm really sorry for upsetting you.Batyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11246929075812590204noreply@blogger.com