“A few weeks before his death, he asked another Columbia philosopher, David Albert, about God. "Why is God making me suffer so much?" he asked. "Just because I don't believe in him?"”

— Sidney Morgenbesser

he asked. "Just because I don't believe in him?" The Independent, The Independent, Professor Sidney Morgenbesser: Philosopher celebrated for his withering New York Jewish humour http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/professor-sidney-morgenbesser-550224.html, 6 August 2004. The Times, Sidney Morgenbesser: Erudite and influential American linguistic philosopher with the analytical acuity of Spinoza and the blunt wit of Groucho Marx https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sidney-morgenbesser-5cz8gg8qfvm (September 8, 2004). Obituaries – Sidney Morgenbesser, 82, Kibitzing Philosopher, Dies http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/04/obituaries/04morgenbesser.html. The New York Times (September 8, 2004).

Adopted from Wikiquote. Last update April 12, 2022. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "A few weeks before his death, he asked another Columbia philosopher, David Albert, about God. "Why is God making me suf…" by Sidney Morgenbesser?

Sidney Morgenbesser photo

Sidney Morgenbesser16

American philosopher 1921–2004

Related quotes

“I remember hearing about an old comic strip back in the days of St. Ed's. Two guys are talking to each other, and one of them says he has a question for God. He wants to ask why God allows all of this poverty and war and suffering to exist in the world. And his friend says, "Well, why don't you ask?" The fellow shakes his head and says he's scared. When his friend asks why, he mutters, "I'm scared God will ask me the same question."”

Shane Claiborne The Irresistible Revolution

Source: The Irresistible Revolution (2006), p. 65

“If a kid asks where rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is "God is crying." And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is "Probably because of something you did."”

Jack Handey (1949) American comedian

Deep Thoughts (1992)

“The God I don't believe in is a good God, a just God, a merciful God. He's not the mean and stupid God you make him out to be.”

Joseph Heller book Catch-22

Catch-22 (1961)

“He must really think I'm a great guy. He must think that, because otherwise He would not have given me so much. I have a great family. I work in a place where I've always dreamt of working. He has helped me out so much that He must have a very high opinion of me. [When asked by the Spanish radio network Cope what he believed God thought about him].”

José Mourinho (1963) Portuguese association football player and manager

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703498804576156263277820144.html?KEYWORDS=GABRIELE+MARCOTTI <br class="br">2011

“I never saw a useful Christian who was not a student of the Bible. If a man neglects his Bible, he may pray and ask God to use him in His work; but God cannot make much use of him, for there is not much for the Holy Ghost to work upon.”

Dwight L. Moody (1837–1899) American evangelist and publisher

Source: Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), P. 40.

“God knew where he was, but he asked so as to start a conversation with Adam and avoid startling him too much to reply.”

Rashi (1040–1105) French rabbi and commentator

Commenting on Gen. 3:9; why should an omniscient God ask "Where are you?"
Commentary on Genesis

“He always asked, why thus? why this way, not another way? I answered: Because in what we do daily and in the way we do it, we enact the gods. He said: Then the gods are only what we do. I said: In what we do rightly, the gods are.”

Ursula K. Le Guin book Four Ways to Forgiveness

"A Man of the People", p. 106
Four Ways to Forgiveness (1995)

“Do you feel loved by God because you believe he makes much of you, or because you believe he frees you and empowers you to enjoy making much of him?”

John Piper (1946) American writer

Variant: Do you love the cross because it makes much of you? Or do you love it because it enables you to enjoy and eternity of making much of God?

“I pray to the God within me that He will give me the strength to ask Him the right questions.”

Elie Wiesel book Night

Source: Night

“Do not fancy, as too many do, that thou canst praise God by singing hymns to Him in church once a week, and disobeying Him all the week long. He asks of thee works as well as words; and more, He asks of thee works first and words after.”

Charles Kingsley (1819–1875) English clergyman, historian and novelist

Source: Attributed, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), P. 456.

Related topics