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Extraordinary Claims => Religion General Discussion => Topic started by: kowalskil on August 19, 2014, 09:38:56 PM

Title: God's commandments are ...
Post by: kowalskil on August 19, 2014, 09:38:56 PM
Who is the author of Mitzvah [commandments]? asked Rabbi Herman E Schaalman, in (1). According to some people, he wrote, "the authority of the 'commandment' resides in the people;" they claim that mitzvot are the customs created by our sages. Such an answer would be sufficient, he continues, if "Jews were like any other people." Why is it so? In which way are Jews different? Unfortunately, this question is not answered by the Rabbi, to my satisfaction. He refers to the Hebrew language, with which I am not familiar.

But I do know how Spinoza, a 17th century Jewish theologian (2), would answer this question. Spinoza wrote: "By God's direction I mean the fixed and unchanging order of Nature ... so it is the same thing whether we say that all things happen according to Nature's laws or that they are regulated by God's decree and direction." Spinoza would say that people are part of nature, and that desirable ways of behavior, described by sages, were also described by God. Many theological contradictions would disappear if Spinoza's defintion of God were universally accepted. Do you agree?

Ludwik Kowalski (see Wikipedia)

References

1) "Gates of Mitzvah: A Guide to the Jewish Life Cycle;" edited by Simeon J. Maslin, Central Conference of American Rabbis, New York, 1979
2) Steven Nadler, "Judging Spinoza," The New York Times, Opinion Pages, May 25 2014.
Also in http://opinionator blogs.nytimes.com/2014/05/25/judging-spinoza/


*mod* Fixed it.

-PickelledEggs
Title: Re: God's commandments are ...
Post by: Minimalist on August 19, 2014, 10:02:30 PM
Is this a fill in the blank question?

I go with Man made
Title: Re: God's commandments are ...
Post by: Gawdzilla Sama on August 19, 2014, 10:08:16 PM
Quote from: kowalskil on August 19, 2014, 09:38:56 PM
My apologies, I accidentally wiped out your entire post. If you repost, I will eliminate the previous, again, my apologies -aitm
You can find it in dozens of forums around the internet. :(
Title: Re: God's commandments are ...
Post by: aitm on August 19, 2014, 10:15:05 PM
Quote from: Gawdzilla Sama on August 19, 2014, 10:08:16 PM
You can find it in dozens of forums around the internet. :(
I am feeling less embarrassed...
Title: Re: God's commandments are ...
Post by: Gawdzilla Sama on August 20, 2014, 07:01:40 AM
Quote from: aitm on August 19, 2014, 10:15:05 PM
I am feeling less embarrassed...
He's just looking for Heaven Points.
Title: Re: God's commandments are ...
Post by: Moralnihilist on August 20, 2014, 09:21:59 AM
Whats your point OP?
Title: Re: God's commandments are ...
Post by: SGOS on August 20, 2014, 09:41:53 AM
Great philosophers pondering the imponderable.  This going be like the Deepak Chopra thread that Pickled eggs just started.
Title: Re: God's commandments are ...
Post by: Green Bottle on August 20, 2014, 06:33:40 PM
Philosophy is just bullshit wi big words...... :pidu:
Title: Re: God's commandments are ...
Post by: doorknob on August 22, 2014, 09:44:45 AM
Quote from: Minimalist on August 19, 2014, 10:02:30 PM
Is this a fill in the blank question?

I go with Man made

agreed