David Gelernter provides some unique, although ahistorical, insights for all in his book, JUDAISM: A WAY OF BEING (2010). He presents Judaism, with its ranges of beliefs, practices and philosophy, as the "world's first monotheistic religion". Of course, it is not that, and Abraham was not its first practitioner. (Abraham lived and died believing in multiple gods and angels, according to the very words of Genesis). But it does appear that Jews created the idea of congregational worship and "study" of religious texts -- of which they provide the earliest examples. Powerful texts.
While Gelernter's provocative themes of "Separation", "Veil", "Perfect asymmetry", and "Inward pilgrimage" are beautiful but unprovable, I must here preserve two concepts he richly rewards us with:
"The problem of evil is man's problem. The central question is not why God hasn't saved the world, but why YOU haven't." This moots theodicy as well as Belief.
And he draws from the Lamentations: "Make us new again, as we used to be."
What I have learned: It is better to know than to believe. It is better to be loved, than to know. It is better to be alive, than to be loved. To be alive, is to believe. So....
Friday, April 02, 2010
God is Moot;
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gtldomains 103p · 208 weeks ago
zainsaeed · 200 weeks ago
akash0888 58p · 150 weeks ago
It is very interesting and well written. Thank you and good luck with the upcoming posts.BestCordlessLeafBlower