273. Beyond Humanism
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People call me “old-fashioned” for my belief in an ancient and timeless teaching and for my faith in G‑d.
In truth, it is they who are old-fashioned;
for they cling to an idea that failed decades ago.
The Age of Reason, of Enlightenment, of Humanism—when Knowledge and Intellect were worshipped as the Redeemers of Mankind—all this died and was buried when the most civilized and intellectual nation on earth committed the most unthinkable atrocities.
Humanity, to survive, must accept, feel, stand in awe and connect to That Which Is Above us.
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Latest Comments:
Shalom!
Well tought. Well written.
DA LIFNEI MI ATA OMED!
I may be allowed to sum up Brother Tzvi Freeman's golden words, then the above fits in perfectly.
I am a rare case of assimilated remnant from yore (first deportation diaspora) - Babylon/Persia/India/Mauritius
Whatever is left of me as jewishness, israelite blood, cannot be dissolved any further.. in fact, it never got either diluted or dissolved though I may look like the indo/hindu type.
I have been a resolved humanist since childhood, through the nurturing of my elders, many generations through. Yet, my first contact with Eretz was a most liberating and exhilarating one. The shadow of Truth has been hovering upon me and the light of Truth has been guiding discretely my footsteps. How true it is... when your heart is steadfast in the quest of Ha Shem, he takes you to the green pastures and in the desert, he sets a table for you to feast, with the hidden manna on top. I see the Beit ha Mikdash rebuilt in our time. Shema!
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"When will they ever learn?", as the somg asks. Ironically, I think that song was written by a humanist! A "philosopher" once said "I think, therefore I am." I have heard it said that the reality is "I LOVE, THEREFORE I AM".
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Rabbi, I assume you are referring to Nazi Germany. Yes, they were the most "civilized" nation on earth at the time. However, the used the Church in their propaganda - Kinder, Kuche und Kirch - to brainwash women, Children, Cooking and Church. Unfortunately, many atrocities have been committed in the name of G-d.
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You sure make a compelling argument. I don't know whether the answer lies in religion. It may for me but there sure are a lot of naysayers. I just happen to agree that man left to his own devices will indubitably and logically lead to a final destruction as their intellect and logic guides them. Something greater with incomprehensible ideals has to be the only way out. For example, at the simplest level, man must rein in his quest for power of man over man. The Americans fought a bloody civil war over it. Libya is currently doing the same. You of course point out the biggest calamity of all, the Third Reich.
i hate to be so pessimistic. The record shows throughout history how man has demolished whole civilizations. The rule is so simple : Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Einstein and John Lennon got it right ... Imagine and imagination. Torah and Tanya are instructions on how we get there. When is civilization finally going to buy in ?
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Okay, if you're going to quote it, I need to write in proper English:
"Religion is a tight little box into which men place G_d. Mitzvahs are liberating acts into which G_d places man."
No, Sharon, our belief in Torah is not religion. It's a result of a communal experience. The experience of being there at Sinai, and the experience of our otherwise inexplicable sustained existence.
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With all due respect, I think the mitzvah vs. religion distinction is just semantics. From where do we get our knowledge of mitzvahs? Undoubtedly, Tzvi Feeman will say the Torah and the Oral Law. But isn't our belief that the Torah and the Oral Law ture religion?
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"Religion is tight little boxes that men place G_d into. Mitzvahs are liberating acts that G_d places man into."
Thank you, Tzvi. I'm going to quote that...with permission, of course.
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After rereading this page several times, the title finally sunk in. We are all children of Noah. Every single person on this Earth is a child of Noah. Every single person on this Earth is my brother or sister.
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Your talking about mitzvahs. That's not religion. Religion is tight little boxes that men place G_d into. Mitzvahs are liberating acts that G_d places man into.
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Without religion to guide us, how do we connect to G-d? Do we go with what "feels right?" I happen to feel very connected to G-d when I'm rock climbing, so should I go rock climbing on Shabbos instead of davening in shul?
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