The West Wing 222 - Two Cathedrals - President Bartlet shouts at God

(c) NBC

The cathedral scene from "Two Cathedrals" after Mrs. Landingham's funeral, when the President gives God a piece of his mind.

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[RichardOnADragon]

1:40 "Am I to believe those were the acts of a loving God? A just God? A wise God? To hell with Your punishments! I was Your servant on Earth - I spread Your word and did Your work. To hell with your punishments! To hell with You!"

[Brian Zusi]

The best 3:00 in network television.

[bga600]

0:30 "What was Josh Liman, a warning shot? That was my son. What did I ever do to yours but praise his glory and praise his name?" This makes me so emotional because we get to see just how much Josh and the rest of the team mean to Bartlet.

[japesjake]

Sure, perhaps I would have strong emotional reaction that would cause me to blame God.

[mev186]

I'm sure you would feel differently if you were Jewish in Germany during World War 2.

[japesjake]

Pain isn't an evil per se. It is only considered evil if your philosophy dictates that pleasure is a good per se. Pain and pleasure is good to the extent that one feels pleasure at doing and experiencing good things and pain at evil things.

[Alec Malcolmson]

Or people. If you really look into the concept of free will you understand why these things CAN happen. If the man did not drink and drive int he first place would anyone be hurt? I can jump off a building, God didn't do it, I did it. I chose. Sometimes bad things happen, it's not always punishment but a mere reaction of your action, a cause and effect.

[krnnova]

The Catholic one is anyway

[Rob Hill]

Excellent performance, and one of the best moments in this fine series. Good job Bartlett.

[MrMaxTruth]

Pain a game? On the contrary. Pain is not something God inflicts on us but rather it is something many a time we inflict on ourselves. Scripture tells us that way back , in the garden everything was good - perfect - no death , no pain. But man decided to disobey God - despite the warnings of death and misery that would follow. But still man disobeyed. We are now living out the consequence of that decision of rebellion. But God, in his infinite love has provided a solution through Jesus Christ.

[mev186]

So all human suffering is just a game to some omnipotent sadist ?

[MrMaxTruth]

And if God took away every misery , every pain, then tell me - how would be become stronger in ourselves, never having dealt with that pain in the first place, how would we know the difference between good and evil, God having taken away all evil. We would be empty automatons, knowing nothing of our selves and mans capability.