When You're Angry At God

Is it Blasphemous to be Angry at God?

By Adam Dickter

Our faith in the Creator leads us to praise and thank Him when we feel blessed and content for all we have been given. So it might seem only natural, if we believe everything is destined in heaven, to feel cheated or picked on when times are tough.

If we are taught to believe that God controls everything, how can we avoid resentment for tragic events, failed or missing relationships, illness or financial setbacks? Unlike our relationships with mortals, negative feelings about God can make us feel guilty or uneasy. Maybe our anger will only incite more hardship.

But in the end, say many rabbis, we are only human, and there is nothing wrong with exploring our complex emotions.

Adam Dickter is Assistant Managing Editor at The Jewish Week.