Alan Watts: Sense of Nonsense: Book of Job

Alan Watts (alanwatts.org) Dwana Bomba; Pat Macpherson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Book of Job: "Job and His Friends" (Ilya Repin)

What is the purpose and meaning of life? Why do we suffer, God? Does the Christian Bible's "Book of Job" admit of any sense? Many comment on it. (Job, pronounced \joe'buh\ not \jawb\), is this Old Testament good guy who suffers as if for God's amusement or for the Devil to make a point. That's the Bible for ya.

Mankind, you dare to question Me? - No, Daddy.

It's nonsense, rationalization, and amounts to what Judeo-Christianity offers to resolve the problem of suffering living beings). Here former priest and Zen "spiritual entertainer" Alan Watts has a go at it. It's just a sidenote to a much larger and more significant discussion of nonsense, the importance of it, the sense of it.

'Twas bryllyg, and the slythy toves

Did gyre and gymble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves;

And the mome raths outgrabe.

- "Jabberwocky" (Lewis Carroll)

Roy of Hollywood Tuckman presents another episode of "Buddhist Radio," which is what we call Pacifica Los Angeles KPFK 90.7 FM's Something's Happening on Sunday mornings and Thursday nights.