When Bad Things Happen To Good People (widescreen)

Dr. Harold Kushner speaks at Ovens Hall, Charlotte, NC in 1985 on the topic of his best selling book, "When Bad Things Happen To Good People." I have reformatted the original aspect ratio to 16:9 widescreen. I can't say I agree 100% with his perspective, yet it's an inspiring talk he gives nonetheless, with a quite profound ending about love and giving which resonates very well with me.

[@DanCasale-oe7pp]

Possibly the most amazing thing ive ever heard.

[@jessgibbs885]

Read this book in jail when I was at rock bottom.. highly recommend. I don’t read because I can’t focus.. I focused on this. I was touched 🙏🏻

[@all1soul]

I so glad this video serves you well. What I took away from this is that God has a greater plan than we can possibly fathom and everything happens for the good, even though we may not like the outcome. Count your blessings and remember to give thanks for them daily. There's a lot to be said for surrender and humility and even for giving thanks for the unwanted knowing that God always has our best interests at heart. Be well.

[@tacofriday2165]

This makes A LOT of things make sense

[@spiritosa0123]

“Im sorry and then keep your mouth shut”. Bless you for this wisdom.

[@barbarachipman9436]

blaming the victim just adds insult to injury

[@fletcherguttman4174]

Harold Kushner passed 3 days ago. May his memory be a blessing.

[@all1soul]

Thank you for sharing this. Clearly he's with God and his son now.

[@matthewsilva5015]

May his memory be eternal!😢

[@SniperLogic]

If I had not found this book in the 1980s, my children would not have a father today.

[@kwidi4ever]

Dr Harold Kushner is one of best intellects of our time. His insights are so innovative and he has great sense of humor.

[@michaelmezheritsky8318]

This is one of the most brilliant human beings I have ever listened.

[@all1soul]

Glad you like him. If you like the Rabbi, you're going to love Marianne Williamson and Wayne Dyer and Caroline Myss.

[@rosethornil]

I love Rabbi Kuschner. Not a fan of the prosperity gospel which is what MW and WD are. They lack the practical compassion that Rabbi Kuschner shares.

[@Beavers1986]

This man will be missed and pray for the Jewish people ❤

[@all1soul]

Indeed! What's more let us pray for all people. We need to all become enlightened pretty darn quick if we're not going to destroy ourselves and our world. Love is the answer. The problem matters not.

[@chrisv7297]

Absolutely extraordinary. A very sincere example of a truly humble man who cared-enough to take the precious time, to reach out to his brothers and sisters with love. Mr. Kushner deserves all my respect. I wish I knew this man as a child. My mental and emotional existence would have been far more blessed. Thank you Mr. Harold Kushner for caring-enough. Hope you are doing well wherever you are. You have enormous amounts of courage, strength and God given intelligence my friend. A true warrior, just like your beloved son Aaron👍

[@nycphillie]

I am in a rehab facility watching this video. I fractured my leg via a simple fall in the home. I am filled with rage. I once had a one year stay in rehab. Here I am again. In pain and depressed. I bought the book years ago when my brother died suddenly. I hope I can pull out of this nose dive.

[@all1soul]

Blessings to you. Stay positive and get well soon. Everything is a blessing, I suggest doing our best to find what's good about this situation (and if you think "Nothing" then think about what could be good about this? and focus on all that's good about it. Count your blessings, Peace be with you. I appreciate your comment and wish you well.

[@Aelisce]

God bless whoever published this video. Such a consolation

[@all1soul]

Thank you, I appreciate that blessing.

[@Inaxces]

@@all1soul Blessings, blind advice you will be okay, she will be okay and guess what...dating is not "I'll get you back" then the next pearl you get will be just an arm peace and not a life influencer. I know that's not the type of leader you are.

[@FreeJulianAssange23]

I needed this after four years of social isolation.

[@lisabolles8215]

You speak Graceful words my Jewish Brother. Truth is the words you speak. You gave me Strength & Prosperity. I understand now because of your words.

[@americagomez-de-las-barcen6521]

I read his book when it was new and a huge hit. It changed the way I understood life and God and everything that "happens". Now, about 40 years later, I am in need again of putting life, the things that happen to us and our loved ones, back into perspective. I am so grateful for God's intervention, solidarity and support still alive in the words of Rabbi Kushner. Thank you for keeping this video still available and easy to find.

[@marthabacker8539]

Thank you for sharing this, over 30 years later, and having read the book long ago, it's important thoughts on G-d, friendships, and what to say to someone going through a hard time. Easing the pain of others.

[@all1soul]

Indeed, this is why posted it. I seek to be a conduit for God's peace, love, joy and unity in this world. Thank you for your comment. I appreciate it. Especially now when I;m seeking comfort in my own life.

[@111Phoenix777]

What an amazing speech. I heard about this book back in the early 90s, but wasn't ready for it. Now after watching this speech, it's going to the top of my reading list. What an amazing philosophy of life, and way of looking at things.

[@amusliminusa]

Joe The book is way better. Is it not?

[@111Phoenix777]

@@amusliminusa To be honest, I think Harold Kushner is a much better speaker than he is a writer. The book is very good, but this speech is so powerful, I actually prefer it to the book.

[@exus2sky]

That mentality of comforting ones self with God does not give us more than we can handle, this is what most black people must tell themselves to get through the daily. Food for thought.

[@all1soul]

Word!

[@louiegallucci532]

One of the best book I ever read my GOD bless him

[@louiegallucci532]

I have a 24 year old son with serious autism I ask my self this every day why him why us . If he is a good GOD why does he do this what did ever do I sometimes fell what did I do for GOD to do this to him I pray . I meet I am a sinner but am not a killer. I worked in jail for 20 years I saw mean why GOD what did I do wrong

[@logo2653]

Life is a school for everyone, we learn a lesson day after day. And when we collect science and experiments. We turn into a ruling to separate the good and the bad. And the bottom one analyzes things with reason, not with emotion. The fact that the world was created with science and principles of logic, not sale and normalization. Experience is a way to analyze negative and positive situations. Finally, God loves his servant like a beloved child with his parents

[@all1soul]

As I see things God loves ALL of us, for we are all His children. Know that you are loved and that you are love in essence. Be well.

[@lucasbumba8376]

I have spoken on this topic using a very simple and great illustration of what had happened to me on my college live without money, days without food eating garlic with water all day long.talking with my colleagues about, he said unto me; if you it can't happened to you whom do you want it happen too? I realized and I understood the feeling about it praise God.

[@andreilynch83]

I think this changed my life. Like that was amazing.

[@all1soul]

You have no idea how happy it makes me to know this. I so want to make a positive difference for others. Bless you and thank you for your comment.

[@cantalibre4708]

Very powerful stuff! Logical true words I understand. I am going to read your book, Dr Kushner. Bless you sir.

[@deborah217]

This book saved me

[@garrettdyess1110]

D Bachand The best complement for a video possible.

[@SniperLogic]

D Bachand me too.

[@jessgibbs885]

This book saved me too, 2008 in a jail cell. 🙏🏻 the only book I ever read and actually understood for every word.

[@DD-hy1nl]

I found this video for a reason..

[@makaylahollywood3677]

Brilliant talk.

[@all1soul]

Thanks for your comments. It led me to revisit this video and then I found this one. I highly recommend it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3KzpJSZjtqhj8k

[@kimrivers5382]

My favorite Rabbi of all time.

[@DebyCedars]

I came across a song that sounded like it was written by someone stuck up. I was in a Church. A protestant Christian Church....What The Lord Has Done in Me was the title of the song. I was disturbed by this philosophy that I never forgot it. I was poor, disabled from the Army, and even though I could see well....I knew I was no better than the blind. I keep that song in my playlist....Not because I believe in it....but because I really know that Bad things happen to Good People. ............I found out about your book by a mental health care worker who was running a CBT Therapy group for depression and anxiety. She recommended it to a blind woman who was not blind from birth.....but became blind because she could not get an MRI in time to have the brain tumor removed without blindness. Now years later I find this on youtube......I am so interested in this. I know Master Co would chalk it up to Karma.....I don't believe in that either....Although I am open minded.

[@all1soul]

Thank you for sharing your story. Personally, I've stared giving thanks for all the seemingly challenging things in my life as well as fr the joyful things and I've found that gratitude is the secret to a joy filled life. Just being grateful for what I have and not complaining about what I don't, or no longer have makes all the difference in the world. Blessings to you on your life's journey! Peace, joy and love to you.

[@lynkrauss7519]

Thank you for writing the book, it did help me reading your book, I thought I was the only one, I was encourage by your story...

[@all1soul]

I'm glad you enjoyed the book and the video. I didn't write it though. I'm not Dr. Kushner. I'm Seth.

[@shyaaammeneen63]

Fantastic

[@shoppersdream]

Beautiful! Thanks

[@janetsmith9380]

yes i read this and received this information from the book of JOB too. i love how god asked job to pray for those dumb people so they could be forgiven.

[@carinapersson8476]

Thank you 🙏♥️♥️♥️

[@all1soul]

You are very welcome.

[@andresiwan7925]

Wise words.

[@saurabhsharma-ws6zx]

Insightful.

[@jenamirgholi6004]

human beings are Gods language. hk. Couldnt have said it any better myself

[@attilathejung4801]

The real kicker is why do good things happen to bad people. If we just didn't personalize the universe and saw it as random and mechanistic we'd be less miserable.

[@all1soul]

Respectfully, I disagree. I"m guessing you're someone very young, so I'll give you a break, for you know not what you say. What serves us best is when we surrender all over to God's will in our lives and accept any outcome as being part of God's will. I suggest giving thanks to God for even the things you consider to be difficulties or unwanted events, because in the big picture you will find them to be blessings. Trust me, I've been to hell and back and, I can see now in retrospect that most times, I created that hell for myself. I wish you well, brother. I pray you will will take heed of my words and use this wisdom for your betterment, instead of ignoring them to your detriment. God bless you, my brother. Peace be with you.

[@benaffleckisanokayactor]

​@@all1soul _"What serves us best is when we surrender all over to God's will in our lives and accept any outcome as being part of God's will"_ That's literally the opposite of what the Rabbi says

[@basantsingh353]

Wonderful originality of enlightened thinking. This way of thinking should reach all people speaking all languages of the world. I am going to do it in Punjabi, my mother tongue.

[@all1soul]

You're welcome to add Punjabu closed captioning so this message can reach many more people. Thank you.

[@shyaaammeneen63]

Fantastic but don't forget the eastern philosophy of "Law of Karma" which is a very powerful theory about past life, present life and next life. Who is a good person--who is a bad person ? How do past life actions affect our present life? The fact remains that there will always be unanswered questions in life.

[@Xanadu2025]

Hmmm did he forget the part in Job where God tells Satan to cause harm to Job?

[@all1soul]

I believe this is just your interpretation. But, yes, he covers the part about the bet with Satan. Watch the video to hear it.

[@logenwilliams6520]

Hello everyone else in Paul Lewis’s Engaging the Old Testament class

[@hey.ms.parker]

Logen Williams yo! lol

[@all1soul]

Welcome, one and all!

[@spiritosa0123]

Yes, if I had a friend. They could cry with me and would know they are my friend cause they just showed up to be present. I learned during cancer I had one. And he died. So I wonder why so many things have happened that family (left me) or friends would have mitigated the hard hard things. I just wanted company. Yes you are right those five minutes of speech so important

[@all1soul]

Blessings to you. I understand how challenging life can be too. I'm sorry for your loss. Be well.

[@seekandfind5005]

And other books have spawned from this one

[@spiritosa0123]

33:00 minutes onwards Yes yes the five minutes are so resonate with me. Always ask!!!!!

[@rogernadal94]

I want to believe in god so badly but just can’t back it up logically

[@sethflix]

God is not about "logic." If you'd really like to get to know God, then I suggest that you would do well to open your mind to paradox. For this is the realm in which God resides. imagine that God is the love within you and us all, and yet is more than this as well. More than we can comprehend. Love is the answer to your dilemma, just as love is the answer to all the world's problems today. Without having a sincere desire to surrender your life over to God's will (which as i understand it means that 'we are here to love and help one another and serve as good stewards to our planet." ) you will never know God. God is love and law. You can deny God in your life is you wish. You have been given the free will to do this. However, we do so at our own detriment when we make this choice either consciously or unconsciously. God is the love within us all. Being in separation from God and God's infinite love and forgiveness is the definition of living in Hell on Earth, while consciously choosing to serve God and surrender your life over to doing his will (as opposed to your own) is what Christ meant when he told us that "Heaven is within." It's your choice. where do you wish to reside? our bodies, minds, and spirits are where God resides. No church, temple or mosque is needed to be in touch with God, as He is part of you and experiences everything you do through your senses. I believe god loves all of His children equally, yet he favors those who keep his commandments and who desire to serve Him in the ways, of peace, and brotherly love for all. I hope this helps clarify things for you.

[@logo2653]

Fate and destiny. All the contradictions that occur are evidence of the positive and negative life. Nobody can control it unlike its Creator

[@all1soul]

Yes, surrender can be very beneficial indeed.

[@abrahamdecruz5128]

If he writes an updated edition and looks at it with empathy and love from his son's perspective he could write many more revealing chapters. It would be even fuller of riches. His son gave him the experience of fatherhood and his wife the experience of motherhood. If his son when in pain never complained or cursed god that is a marvellous experience for the entire family and an experience in itself. And yes his fate was strong enough to lose his son, bury the boy and not lose his faith. Yes he suffered like Job and like Job experienced loss and then God gave him more as after his son died he had other kids. God rewarded the rabbi more because he was faithful and did not lose his faith. The experience of his son's illness also brought out his love, courage and resilience in abundance. Sometimes to understand the importance of life you must contemplate the certainty of death. Subsequently his book on his son's illness became a best seller, an accidental success and made him a.millionaire even though that was not the purpose for his writing. The monetary gain more than compensated for his suffering and sacrifice. The rabbi likes to say God gives you more than you deserve and his life story proves it eminently. A fitting finale for a rabbi brought up by two religious and observant parents. There is lot to be learnt from this rabbi's seminary training, experience and life.

[@all1soul]

You say: "The monetary gain more than compensated for his suffering and sacrifice." I say: "No amount of money can compensate for losing ones' child." Clearly you are not a parent.

[@abrahamdecruz5128]

@@all1soul i was just trying to explain it is not only about Job. There are even verses on Mercy which might be relevant. Then the verse of all your hair is counted and not a strand will fall without God knowing about it. Then there is the verse about God holds you in the palm of his hand. For the rabbi's son, Aaron sadly God turned his palm down.

[@soioioioioioio34]

Christians i know and even in my family blame the victim.

[@all1soul]

Just because a lot of people do something doesn't make it normal or right.

[@logo2653]

No one interprets the inevitable and stupid events olso we cant intertpet why When Bad Things Happen To bad People (but there is Fate and destiny

[@aeronYTco]

🙏🏻

[@ISRL380]

What if you reach out to the person to show that you care then something bad happens to you after. But then the whole cycle starts again. Fucking delusional. I AM AT ENDS MEET AND THIS IS WHAT I GET THIS.

[@all1soul]

I'm sorry, but I don't understand your question. However, in my experience, love is always the answer,; the problem matters not. Love God, love yourself (in mind body and spirit,) and love others as you love yourself. Know that everything is a blessing in the long run and that the universe is conspiring to do good things for you. Also remember to be grateful for what you have and don't focus on what you do not have, In my experience, the long-term side effects of living with love and an attitude of gratitude is to experience oneness with God (God is love) and experiencing Heaven within. True Hell is not a place we go when we die, rather it is being in separation from God in your mind, heart and soul. Yet, you can never really be separate from God and God's love. God never leaves us. We leave Him. It is only our believing that we are separate from one another and our Creator that causes us to experience a living Hell on Earth. I wish you all the best on your spiritual journey.

[@stuartlewis7860]

Elohim, in hebrew which is normally defined as G-d( the supreme being) does not mean that. It means the Exponential Power/Strength. My theory? Nature and beyond is that Power( perhaps intelligently creative). Nature does not have a personal relationship with us on this planet. It’s up to us, nothing external.

[@all1soul]

Thank you for sharing your view. I respectfully disagree. It's my well considered view that God is not only all of what you say but so much more, which goes beyond our human ability to comprehend. Most importantly though, God is the love within us all. God speaks to us through our consciences. When we listen and do what's right, we are in alignment with God's will and reside in Heaven. When we do not, then we are in a Hell of our own making. In my view, when I think of God in my limited, human way, I see God as being light, law, and love. Heaven is within and we are all one, acting like individual cells in the body of that which we call "God." I believe it's God's will that we all learn to love one another as our fellow brothers and sisters of this world and that we are here to be good stewards of our planet.. a.k.a. our Mother Earth. God is everyone's Heavenly Father and our Mother is the planet we will upon. PS- I find it strangely interesting that you are willing to write out the actual name of God, yet are intimidated so much by your religious upbringing to not write out the full generic word "God" using "G-d" instead. I would encourage you to let go of your dogma. You are one with God, just as I am and every human being and creature, rock plant on Earth. We are all one and inescapably intertwined. Love is the answer. Love God with all your strength of being in bod, mind and spirit. Love yourself, and love your neighbor (meaning everyone who is not you) as yourself. This is the path to discovering true happiness and finding the Heaven within. Humility and surrender to God's will is required, along with courage and a sincere desire to serve God above all else. This is my practice. It serves me well and I encourage everyone to join me in this. Be well, my brother.

[@christopherj9744]

Kushner hits the mark of consolation and compassion vs explanations and justifications, but completely misses the point of Job, suffering and the nature of God. His 3 suppositions aren't incompatible. His conclusion, that #1 God is not in charge, is wildly, blindly, and tragically false.

[@benaffleckisanokayactor]

If everything is predictable, premeditated and predestinative, there is no free will. This means, by definition, that there are no noble actions/noble people or evil actions/evil people -- or anything in between -- rather, only those people whom good decided were noble, and those whom god decided were evil.

[@jerrydurban2812]

why

[@all1soul]

The talk is not about "why" but 'when." There is no answer to "why." "Why?" is an endless loop question. I suggest you be satisfied to know what to do when these things happen and not why or you'll make yourself miserable and live in a hell of your own making. Choose to be happy. Happiness is a choice and it's supported by gratitude and love for self and all that is. Be the love you wish to see in the world. Don't think negatively and create self fulfilling prophecies of doom either. Know that life is good and God has your back... and give thanks daily for your life and all it's many blessings. Including those blessings you once thought were disasters in your life until time passed and hindsight showed you differently. Why wait for it? Give thanks for these disasters now. God has an ultimate plan at work that is larger than you or i can possibly fathom. I suggest you do as I do and surrender to it. Thanks for your comment. Be well!

[@rogernadal94]

@@all1soul thx

[@Rightlydividing-wx1xb]

He is unbiblical, he isn't a rabbi, he does not believe what the God breathed Word says. This man speaks strictly from his imagination and FEELINGS as he demonstrates in the debate. Watch the John Ankerberg program, Norm Geisler debating Harold Kushner.

[@naturegirl9680]

Where is he unbiblical? If you don’t like what he says then move on. Sick of people criticizing good people. None of us are going to agree 100% all the time. More important things to gripe about.

[@all1soul]

@@naturegirl9680 Thank you, Nature Girl!