tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11425001.post5467469912141976144..comments2024-03-13T00:57:15.699-04:00Comments on YGB - יג"ב: Against Orthopraxy: The God of Independent MindsYosef Gavriel Bechhoferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264311760560329892noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11425001.post-91083473197935537962012-09-02T11:37:47.130-04:002012-09-02T11:37:47.130-04:00"Judaism as currently formulated..."
So..."Judaism as currently formulated..."<br /><br />So far as I know, at the very latest the last "fomulators" of Judaism were the Mechaber and the Rema. And they focused on the Halachic aspect of Judaism. Find (or become) a formulator of your own Judaism!Yosef Gavriel Bechhoferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10264311760560329892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11425001.post-75217401901652086512012-09-02T06:00:04.466-04:002012-09-02T06:00:04.466-04:00Classic straw man. He answers the "claim"...Classic straw man. He answers the "claim" that, "the Hebrew Bible seeks to suppress inquiry and argument...". Problem is, that's not the issue. The issue is that Judaism, as currently formulated seeks to suppress inquiry and argument. For that, there is not such a pat answer.Michaelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11425001.post-80368181479518249522012-08-27T18:59:28.445-04:002012-08-27T18:59:28.445-04:00Some quotes on intellectual struggle:
“The quest ...Some quotes on intellectual struggle:<br /><br />“The quest for authentic spirituality requires confronting the issues that challenge an individual’s belief in themselves, in G-d, and in their capacity to connect the two. Our educational system celebrates questioning and innovation in the realm of textual analysis, but is less tolerant of such critical thinking in the realms of dogmatic philosophy and halachic standards...While, it is not spiritually healthy to encourage the pursuit of every question and doubt to its absolute conclusion, the incongruence between the dogmatic approach to religious ideals and the critical thinking that underscores most academic and professional endeavors risks creating an unintended and often intense crisis of faith. Forums are needed to address these issues, and to validate curiosity as a<br />mature and passionate dimension of religious growth. ”<br /><br />(R. Yaakov Glasser, Klal Perspectives, Spring 2012)<br /><br />"Knowing about Rabbi Weinberg’s struggle regarding the rabbinic attitude to Gentiles is particularly important, I was told, because it enables Jews deeply troubled by these issues to retain their spiritual compass; to recognize that such inner struggle can be legitimate as long as it takes place within the context of an ultimate commitment to the sacrosanct and immutable character of the halakhic tradition...”<br /><br />("Facing the Truths of History", R. JJ Shachter)<br /><br /> “we are also commanded and given permission to wrestle and engage in combat with their words and to resolve their difficulties and not to show favoritism to any man, rather to just love the truth, but with all this one must be cautious for the sake of one’s soul lest he speak with arrogance and expansiveness because one has found a basis for dispute, and imagine that he is as great as his teacher or as the author of the book which he is challenging, rather he must know in his heart that sometimes he has not fully understood the author’s words and intent. Therefore he should take an attitude of great humility, saying “Although I am not worthy, nonetheless it is Torah etc.”<br /><br />(Ruach Chaim, Translation by R. Aryeh Klapper)Shades of Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03029177164921795725noreply@blogger.com