J.B. was Archibald...
Illustration
J.B. was Archibald MacLeish's prizewinning play based on the biblical story of Job. In the drama, Nickles advances some arguments to understand the problem of suffering in the world. He argues that it is nigh impossible to reconcile the idea of God with the realities of evil and injustice in the world. Humankind is stuck with the observation, he insists, that "If God is God, he is not good. If God is good, he is not God." That is to suggest, that if God is God, how can God tolerate and allow pain and suffering in the world? On the other hand, if God is good, God certainly has not shown enough strength to do what God could do to alleviate the troubles of the world. Other people go beyond this kind of argument by suggesting that the notion of a personal God does not fit the current scene. Others do not even bother to fit any notion about God as appropriate to modern life. From all of the recent polls one would surmise that the number of the unconcerned is growing smaller.
However, even the most fervent among the faithful of God are faced with the problem of deciphering how God does do this balancing act between the good and the evil of the world, between judgment and blessing and justice and injustice.
--Huxhold
However, even the most fervent among the faithful of God are faced with the problem of deciphering how God does do this balancing act between the good and the evil of the world, between judgment and blessing and justice and injustice.
--Huxhold
