Job Replies: I Am a Laughing-stock

12Then Job answered:
³ But I would speak to the Almighty,^*
   and I desire to argue my case with God.
⁴ As for you, you whitewash with lies;
   all of you are worthless physicians.
⁵ If you would only keep silent,
   that would be your wisdom!
⁶ Hear now my reasoning,
   and listen to the pleadings of my lips.
⁷ Will you speak falsely for God,
   and speak deceitfully for him?
⁸ Will you show partiality towards him,
   will you plead the case for God?
⁹ Will it be well with you when he searches you out?
   Or can you deceive him, as one person deceives another?
¹⁰ He will surely rebuke you
   if in secret you show partiality.
¹¹ Will not his majesty terrify you,
   and the dread of him fall upon you?
¹² Your maxims are proverbs of ashes,
   your defences are defences of clay.

 Job shows his shrewd understanding of his “comforters” and their motives. They are defending an idea of God by means of pious lies while criticising him for seeking the truth. If religious tradition hides the truth of God behind a veil of comforting gobbledegook it should reckon with the fierce scorn of Job: “will you defend God by means of falsehood?” he asks.

Often caring people try to deflect the apparently impious questions asked by people in their suffering. This is always wrong: those who look for answers from God are moving in a right direction and should be encouraged. This is a true Christian faith.

I heard Richard Dawkins on the Radio today speaking about his love for science, because it is true, and his hatred of religion because it is false, doesn’t ask serious questions and looks for no evidence. It hasn’t occurred to him that the crucifixion of Jesus asks more serious questions about the human condition than any he’s asked and that those who believe in his resurrection have had to think about all the evidence that makes it seem unlikely. Trite religion with its spurious arguments plays into the hands of scientific fundamentalists like Dawkins and more seriously, fails those who are moved by suffering to ask what on earth God thinks he’s doing. If our faith cannot deal with the questions of say, Syrian refugees, we should get rid of it.