Two books on suffering. Which is better? Peter Kreeft vs Rabbi Kushner

[Lepanto]

amazon.com/Making-Sense-Suffering-Peter-Kreeft/dp/0892832193/ref=sr_1_1/002-6204779-1740013?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173203773&sr=1-1

vs…

amazon.com/When-Things-Happen-Good-People/dp/0380603926/ref=sr_1_1/002-6204779-1740013?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173203900&sr=1-1

 

[Joe_Kelley]

The Kreeft book is great.

 

[Lion_of_Narnia]

Kreeft’s, win, show, and place. I bought that book from a library used-discard section–made me into a Kreeft fan overnight

 

[aimee]

I like them both

 

[Lion_of_Narnia]

I like them both

But what is better?

Rabbi Kushner’s is certainly heart-rendering–all of our prayers should go out to him and his family. But his theology is of a “Humanist Judaism” bent that essentially leads one away from Person-of God who works in history–and his “interpretation” of Job (the basis of the book) is bad–Kushner read his own prefferd meaning into what the text manifestly does not support, a fact Kreeft points out.

 

[Al_Masetti]

Wait. What about C.S. Lewis?

What about Job?

Therese of Lisieux?

or Viktor Frankl

or Pieper & Pieper?

[There’s lots of books about suffering.]

 

[Joe_Kelley]

For a Jewish view see Why_Harold_Kushner_Is_Wrong

Harold Kushner’s approach to suffering is profoundly un-Jewish and provides no solace to those in pain

I find this a reliable, Orthodox Jewish site.

 

[jpeach]

Very helpful. Thanks! I’m studying the Book of Job and I’m reading P. Kreeft’s Book on 3 Philosophy’s and since I saw the book, “When Good things happen…” referred to I wanted to get an idea what its viewpoint was.