exactly, Herr Ratzinger

From The Week:

"Pope visits Auschwitz: Pope Benedict XVI, the first German pope, prayed this week at the concentration camp of Auschwitz. Benedict said the the Nazi slaughter of millions of Jews was 'particularly difficult and troubling for a Christian, for a pope from Germany,' to confront. 'Why, Lord, did you remain silent?' he asked. 'How could you tolerate this?' ..."

For a Christian, a pope, and a former German soldier as well.

The Pope's point was a good one, though: Why do so few question or hold God accountable for the bad things that happen in the world? When things go well, it's thanks to God, their Lord and Savior. But when things are bad, it's because it's what God wanted...there was a plan, a reason, for whatever it was. God can't lose.

Why don't people question God's role in the world's events? Maybe there isn't a God; or maybe he gets his jollies watching the world fuck itself up, that he's not a good God, a benevolent one.

But we have free choice, don't we? That seems to be party line of the opiated (religious) masses. It's a convenient explanation/rationalization for God's failure to intervene. (I'll continue later.)