Quote:
Originally Posted by PaloAltoCougar
I find it more amusing than troubling, a mortal author's attempt at explaining why bad things happen to us. I don't regard it as doctrine, although it's useful when defending an occasional trip to the tables. I assume it goes without saying I do not believe in the literal truth of the book.
One of my favorite parts is when the friends/home teachers visit Job and take turns at trying to figure out why Job got on God's craplist.
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I said "odd", not "troubling".
I always assumed that the story of Job was a highly-embellished legend meant to teach a principle that was eventually recorded as scripture. A legend which may have originated with some poor man who seemed to suffer greatly and yet bear his burdens with dignity and humility. And in the telling and retelling of the story, the more bizarre elements were added to spice things up and make it more powerful.