A new Beliefnet.com gallery asks whether it’s “blasphemous” to be angry at God. Three rabbis respond in very different ways, but they all agree that anger at God is acceptable. They also address the issue as if it’s actually a potential problem, which strikes me both as funny, and somehow missing the most important issue.
One rabbi tells us that “God can handle our anger”, and another suggests” it’s okay to be angry but that really it’s all for the best”, and the third teaches that the bad stuff is not always for the best, but it might not be from God anyway. I see wisdom in all of these approaches, but not a response to the power and meaning of our anger at God.
If all things are from God, then so is our anger. If that is the case, then our anger at God is as sacred as whatever more seemingly pious responses need no defense. The only issue is whether or not our anger helps us and those around us to deal constructively with the situation. If it does then it is the perfect response. If it does not, then let it go.
The issue is not God, it’s us. When our responses to life’s hardships work to heal us and empower us to help others, then the God I believe in is just fine with whatever those responses may be.
Beliefnet
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Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of 
posted January 11, 2010 at 11:07 am
Off topic comment, I admit, but I thought it was worthy of mentioning in light of your comments about Jimmy Carter and The Elders campaign against religiously justified gender discrimination:
Nicholas Kristof, Religion and Women, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/opinion/10kristof.html.
posted January 11, 2010 at 11:28 am
Being angry at G-d and telling Him so keeps one from breaking the commandant of not lying!
He knows if you are mad at Him, so don’t add sin by lying that you aren’t!
He is G-d, He can handle it!
And I have found that He usually gives me an answer when I’m honest with Him!
posted January 11, 2010 at 1:03 pm
JUST KEEP MOVING ON AND KEEP BREATHING,LIFE IS PRECIOUS…
posted January 11, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Thank you, Rabbi, for this discussion & the asociated Beliefnet.com gallery. This is why I originally came to Beliefnet–not for discussions about Michael Jackson. Beliefnet used to feature the Virtual Talumd–of which, I was an ardent reader. The discussion about whether it’s OK to be angry at God was a very satisfying read to me–although, of course, it raises more questions than it answers. But isn’t that the point?
posted January 11, 2010 at 6:51 pm
I agree with you Rabbi, and I also think that when we blame God (or conversely give *all* credit to God) we do so in an attempt to sidestep the consequences/responsibility of our/others actions. Our anger is a call from God to look at what has happened, and learn what we can do to either not have it happen again or keep it coming. God loves us and part of that love is to see us learn!