Who Needs God [Paperback]

With the warmth, insight, and understanding that distinguished his phenomenal bestsellersWhen Bad Things Happen to Good PeopleandHow Good Do We Have to Be?,Rabbi Harold Kushner addresses a critical issue in the lives of many: a spiritual hunger that no personal success can feed.

If you have lost faith or have never known it, or if you have ever wondered What can religion offer? here are wise and thoughtful answers. Rabbi Kushner shows how religious commitment does have a place in our daily lives, filling a need for connection, joy, and community.

For anyone who has ever wanted a more fulfilling life or wished to make a difference in the lives of others...for anyone who has ever felt guilty, afraid, or alone...Rabbi Kushner shares a path to faith that offers new sources of comfort and strength for all of us. Powerful, provocative, and persuasive,Who Needs Godis a message of universal appeal.CHAPTER 1

Does God Really Make A Difference?

I Don't Believe In Organized Religion.

Paul was a child of the sixties, with his long hair and casual dress. It was one morning in the early 1970s that he sat opposite me in my study. He had called to ask to see me during his college vacation, more as a favor to his father, an active member of my synagogue, than out of any expectation that I would change his mind.

He told me, I believe in God. I believe in being kind to people, treating them right, not hurting them. I believe in trying to make the world a better place. But I don't see why you need churches and synagogues, fancy buildings that are always looking for money. I don't see why you need professional clergy (nothing personal, Rabbi), prayer books, organized services, rules and rituals that nobody understands. I don't see why you need so many different religions, all arguing with each other. Why isn't it enough just to tell everybody to be nice to each other?

He and I spoke fol“;