Fairness in the "Book of Job"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how the treatment of Job in the "Book of Job" violates every principle of fairness and justice. It examines how, over time, we have come to accept a universal definition, or concept of fairness, which has evolved from many different religions into what we now call the Golden Rule. It also looks at Immanuel Kant's Categorical Imperative as a post- Machiavellian idea and its relevance to the Book of Job and attempts to answer the question of why God allows Job to be punished, even though Job represents the most honorable and loyal man.

From the Paper:

"In the Book of Job, God, however, uses Job solely as a means. Not only has Job never failed in his obedience to God, but also he has never failed to live by the Golden Rule. Moreover, Job insures that his children are equally obedient and rule abiding: "Job sent for his children and sanctified them, rising early in the morning and sacrificing a whole-offering for each of them; for he thought that they might somehow have sinned against God and committed blasphemy in their hearts. This he always did" (BOJ 670). God agrees, "Job was the greatest man in all the East" (670). God says to Satan, "You will find no one like him on earth, a man of blameless and upright life" (670). It is because of Job's greatness than God chooses Job to be the victim of Satan's torturous "experiment" to prove Job's selfish intents for serving God."

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