daf bit: Avodah Zarah 54

[cellio]

The elders in Rome were asked: if your God does not tolerate idolatry, why does He not abolish it (and destroy all idols)? They replied: if all objects of idolatry were unnecessary for the world He would, but people worship the sun, moon, stars, and planets; should God destroy His world on account of fools? They replied: then God should destroy the objects that are unnecessary and keep the ones that are necessary. The elders replied: no, that would strengthen the idolators' case, as they would say "we know these are deities because they were not destroyed". (54b)

I have heard rabbis use a different argument when Jews ask about other forbidden items -- for example, if pigs and shellfish are abominations, why create them? In this case the answer I have heard is: so Jews will have the merit of keeping the mitzvah of refraining from them. Would the rabbis of the mishna here would give a different answer if a Jew, rather than a Roman, were asking? I wouldn't be surprised.

Comments

[geekosaur]

IIRC there's actually a daf bit about that, where a sage gives three different answers to three different askers of the same question and his students ask why. Can't remember where it is or details though (am about to fall on my nose); hopefully I'll tickle someone's memory.