tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10090837720872005972023-11-16T07:21:17.399-05:00Philosophy Of Religion: Judaism"Philosophers do not expend their power and passion unless they themselves are affected. Quandaries knocking at the heart of the philosopher provide the motive that impels him to toil for truth. All philosophy is an apologia pro vita sua.” (A defense of one's life) – A. J. HeschelCovenantal Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13098595152846798588noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009083772087200597.post-72996417820951962082008-01-23T14:12:00.000-05:002008-01-23T14:14:36.875-05:00Chapter 6-10: Blindness To The Wonder And The Question Of Amazement“The extreme hiddenness of G-d is a fact of constant awareness. Yet His concern, His guidance, His will, His commandment, are revealed to man and capable of being experienced by him.” (pg. 66)“When in response to Moses’ request, the Lord appeared to tell him what He is, did He say: I am the all-wise, the perfect, and of infinite beauty? He did say: I am full of love and compassion. Where in the Covenantal Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13098595152846798588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009083772087200597.post-82879376283812605962008-01-19T20:37:00.000-05:002008-01-19T20:41:17.429-05:00Conversation With An Atheist: Exclusively Logical Vs “Other” SensesOnce again I had some very interesting dialog on an online forum. Last time it was with Christian fundamentalist, this time with folks on the other end of the spectrum, atheists and agnostics.They were talking about logic and reason as the only value so I wanted to bring in other parts of our senses into the equation. I started with some of my favorite quotes:Here are two of my favorite quotes Covenantal Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13098595152846798588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009083772087200597.post-7317806537276916432007-12-31T00:14:00.000-05:002007-12-31T00:38:39.032-05:00Chapters 3-6: The Sublime, Wonder, And The Sense Of MysteryThe Sublime“Our age is one in which usefulness is thought to be the chief merit of nature; in which the attainment of power, the utilization of its resources is taken to be the chief purpose of man in G-d’s creation. Man has indeed become primarily a tool-making animal, and the world in now a gigantic tool box for the satisfaction of his needs.The Greeks learned in order to comprehend. The Covenantal Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13098595152846798588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009083772087200597.post-10716392695822348702007-12-24T16:18:00.000-05:002007-12-24T16:23:11.860-05:00A Rabbi of His Time, With a Charisma That Transcends It There is a great article about Rabbi Heschel in today’s New York Times. You can read the entire article here.Here are some of my favorite excerpts that point to some of the core reasons why I like him so much.“He turns the lost world of his fathers — the communities of Eastern European Hasidim and their rabbis — into an almost utopian realm.”“The scholarly skepticism of his colleagues at the Covenantal Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13098595152846798588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009083772087200597.post-41729858060416006292007-12-21T02:35:00.000-05:002007-12-21T02:52:42.996-05:00Chapter 1: Self-Understanding of Judaism“Religion declined not because it was refuted, but because it became irrelevant, dull, oppressive, insipid. When faith is completely replaced by creed, worship by discipline, love by habit; when the crisis of today is ignored because of the splendor of the past; when faith becomes an heirloom rather than a living fountain; when religion speaks only in the name of authority rather than with the Covenantal Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13098595152846798588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009083772087200597.post-62726219777809268322007-12-01T21:08:00.000-05:002007-12-24T16:24:41.642-05:00Foreword – G-D In Search Of Man By Rabbi Abraham Joshua HeschelThis is my first in-depth encounter with Rabbi Heschel. I initially discovered him when I came across a profile on Frumster that quoted a beautiful excerpt from him that greatly moved me. His poetic and mystical understanding of life and religion instantly impressed me. He put into a few paragraphs my life’s meaning and striving. I was immediately smitten with his insight and was looking forward Covenantal Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13098595152846798588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1009083772087200597.post-72028497379986957472007-11-21T21:53:00.001-05:002007-11-21T22:09:49.986-05:00Introductory Post – What This Blog Is All AboutI am thrilled to announce that a good friend of mine who has attended Harvard Divinity School has agreed to lead an online course on the Philosophy Of Religion.This course will work as follows. We will target the magnum opus of great religious thinkers. We will have one week to read the assigned pages. Usually it will be one chapter, depending on it’s depth, complexity and length.Then we will Covenantal Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13098595152846798588noreply@blogger.com0