Hi, I'm new to the group.  I'm interested in starting a dialogue about the one the most intriguing and inflammatory source documents in western religion: The Book of Job.  Present in both the the Torah and the Old Testament of the Bible, it is holds a major position in the main texts of the most prominent religions our part of the world.  But surprisingly little attention has been given to this very provocative story.

Job presents the story of a perfectly just man who is punished relentlessly as a test by God.  Job laments and wonders for what he could be punished and how to find justice in a world ruled by a God who apparently dispenses punishment on the good and evil alike.  In the end, Job is redeemed, God restores his health and all his possessions to him.  But not without a scolding about not questioning the wisdom and judgement of the one who created the universe!  (this is clearly a bare bones summary of an involved story -- there are more fleshed out summaries on wikipedia and youtube and a multiple translations of the whole text here).

This book raises some really serious questions about the nature of god.  Indeed one commentator has called the Book of Job "Putting God on Trial".   One central question comes pervades the book: what do we mean when we say god....? Are we referring to

1) a sentient being that is always good and sometimes appears to bring misfortune on us for the greater good or

2) a sentient being who will bless us or curse us according to his whim and how good we have been many burnt offerings we have made

3) the way the universe is, which we would like to believe is ordered, purposeful and ultimately good. (but may not be)

I think most people come to Job with a foregone conclusion about what is meant when god is referred to (which is likely the connotation that was intended by the author).  However,  I think it brings a lot more meaning to the chapter, which is all about the mystery of god’s actions and the difficulty of keeping faith in god through extraordinary hardship, if one entertains multiple possibilities of what can be meant by ‘god’.

I'm just starting my research into the rich text.... which will come to a culmination is a concert I'm putting on here at St. Peter's church here in New York with music inspired by  the story of Job.

I would love to hear everyone's thoughts!!