Comments on: Do You Speak of God?

By: Aron G.

Aron G. — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 01:52:05 +0000

I’m not sure anyone reads this section anymore, but I just got a hold of “Finding God” through interlibrary loan and I’m really enjoying it. I’m aware of most of these Jewish philosophers through my own explorations over the years except maybe a few, here or there, but would have liked have gotten this much earlier in my exploration, especially involving Fromm and more humanist voices. The 2002 revised addition even has more added in a smaller section at the end, especially focusing on Jewish renewal and feminist thinkers like Marcia Falk, Judith Plascow, etc.

I’d recommend this to anyone who assumes Jewish philosophy ends with Maimonides or more classic perspectives.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 00:38:52 +0000

Thank you, Rabbi Barr!

By: Robert Barr

Robert Barr — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 19:11:27 +0000

In response to Jamie’s question about Jewish theologians who offer God concepts which are workable for humanists – take a look at Mordecai Kaplan, Erich Fromm, and Alvin Reines. If you want a quick overview of each of these philosophers you might consider the book “Finding God: Selected Responses” by Rifat Sonsino and Daniel Syme.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 21:32:24 +0000

Peter wrote: “Rabbi Barr mentioned several Jewish theologians of the past century as offering God concepts which are workable for humanists.”
Could you please tell me who else, in addition to Buber, would be on that list?

By: Dave Salyers

Dave Salyers — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:28:22 +0000

Hi Peter!

Peter and I have run across each other on various forums as our spiritual seeking has connected with various groups at various times. All I can say is that Peter continues to express what is often in my own head.

On this question, I go back and forth on whether or not I use the term God. When I do use the term, it is with a more naturalistic interpretation generally similar to Kaplan.

By: Peter Schogol

Peter Schogol — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:25:35 +0000

Thanks, Selma. I am so convinced that Our Jewish Community provides an unique medium for speaking of our unique faith perspectives that I joined “the mother ship” Congregation Beth Adam! This is the first synagogue I’ve ever joined!

Rabbi Barr mentioned several Jewish theologians of the past century as offering God concepts which are workable for humanists. One name that doesn’t get put on the table much these days is Martin Buber, likely because many people feel Buber’s God to be in some sense too real. I understand Buber’s “Eternal Thou” to be the Thou of life, my life particularly. When I say things like “Why me?” or “Now why did I go and do that?” I’m addressing my life as if it had the capability of answering. When I pray for healing or greater understanding, whom am I addressing if not the power of the life which animates me to ramp up the volume, so to speak, on the capabilities my life already possesses?

So I would say it’s entirely possible for a humanist or a naturalist to have a lively relationship with the voice of one’s life. That, for me, is a relationship with God.

By: sandy price

sandy price — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 23:28:41 +0000

I believe in God and I speak of God, although I don’t “throw it around” like evangelists do. I happen to be a reform Jew who adheres for personal reasons to certain more traditional customs, like kashrut. I do this as a personal choice, not because I’m “commanded,” which would be the reason for an orthodox person. Many of my friends know I believe in God. Because I’m open to discussion, but neither preachy nor judgmental, I find that people use me to explore their own thoughts and feelings about God, which range, as you can imagine, from agnostic to strong belief. When I’m asked how I justify my belief in God or alternatively, how I came to it, my answer is this: I choose it. Just as I choose kashrut. I cannot “know” with a certainty that God exists, but the “god concept” works for me. It centers me and helps me feel protected in an otherwise chaotic world. It matters not whether I have proof or no proof. Shabbat shalom all!

By: Selma S.

Selma S. — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 20:49:55 +0000

Peter – I’m glad you chose to share your convictions through Our Jewish Community. I find your comments to be most refreshing and thought-provoking, especially your “moment of Zen”, realizing that you are a “serious Jew” and the validity that represents for you. How much we struggle to define and describe our lives and beliefs.!
After many years of questioning whether my own beliefs follow traditional Orthodox,Conservative or Reform doctrine, I’ve finally set all that aside. Does proscribed doctrine identify who we are? I don’t think so.
Being a Jew is my birthright.It speaks to me and sustains me each and every day of my life. I believe that the essence of “godliness” rests within our own selves…I think both life and death are “God” and that we are all a part of a greater whole.

Wishing you good health and a peaceful Shabbat.

By: Peter Schogol

Peter Schogol — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:47:05 +0000

I’ve been reading through the siddur (prayer book) from Congregation Sha’ar Zahav — the GLBT synagogue in San Francisco — and I find I have a different reaction to its theistic language than I do when reading the usual prayer books in Reform temples. In the mouths of people who continue to know discrimination, marginalization, and depersonalization, invoking God has a different gravitas than when coming from well-healed suburbanites for whom discrimination is a historical memory.

By: Peter Schogol

Peter Schogol — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:20:57 +0000

One way I’ve explored the issue is to think of life as God. While we have life it’s as accurate to say that life has us, is more than us, generates, sustains, and receives us upon our deaths.