hey... I was born Jewish but i dont know what i believe in... I want to be more spirtual and learn more about the jewish philosophies but i just cant get into it. I mean how do i know there is a God when all this science is proving everything that I once believed in wrong... Some of the stories in the Torah sound like complete and total bull... but how am i suppose to be more spirtual if i dont believe in most of it? Am i interpreting it wrong or something? Do the stories have some sort of coded meanings? I took a Mythology class and in it i learned all these things that proved the different pagon religions throughout time wrong - what makes us so sure that this is right... people get killed because of this stuff... Our stories in the Torah are like the Myths I studied - written to teach people some moral values... why are these any different? if anyone can help me understand please explain these things to me thanks, Steff
Sun, For the most part none of the liberal denominations are pushing the idea of reading the Torah as history. If you look in any of the current chumashim in the liberal denominations, you will see the various theoretical sources for different pieces of the Torah mentioned from time to time. It is myth. And legend. And poetry. And a number of other things. The God you have a hard time believing in, I'm sure most people would have a hard time believing in that God too. And I couldn't ever say that Torah is right while all else is wrong. That kind of triumphalist statement is outside of my vocabulary. If you're looking to do some reading on your own, this is a good site: http://myjewishlearning.com/index.htm You may be looking for something a little more progressive, in which case I would direct you to these articles (just read whatever seems relevant, as much probably won't be): http://www.ohalah.org/rebzalmanohalah.htm And this magazine (much of which is readable online) might also be helpful: http://www.tikkun.org/ I want to address a few things you've said specifcally: IMHO, you don't know. Nobody does. You also don't know that God doesn't exist, only that your old definition can't cut it anymore. Being spiritual in Judaism has nothing to do with believing everything you read word for word. Nevermind the long history we have of interpretation. Such emphasis on belief is much more of a Christian thing. If you want to be more spiritual, find some small practices you can take on to cultivate your spirituality be it prayer, meditation, blessings, a Shabbos practice, tzedakah, whatever will work for you. Speaking of which, one of the best books I have seen for someone in your position is "Jewish with Feeling" by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi. It just came out last year. Not only does it go over the traditional ways to do Judaism, but also over emerging ways. And it covers theology. There are endless ways to interpret the stories, even individual verses. Jews have been doing it for ages. Some would suggest that the meaning is all really packed in there. I'm more one to say that we have found so many levels of meaning, at times straying from what the text actually says, because we are looking for it. But that what's fundamentally important is whether this is a meaningful process. You're Jewish and you seem to have some desire to express your spirituality in a Jewish way that is also being authentically who you are. So at that point you really have to begin the wrestle to understand what your relationship will be with these texts, with the community, with Jewish ways of living, with God. It's a good thing. Yisrael means "wrestler [of] God" or "God-wrestler." It's good to get your hands a little dirty with that holy work. Good luck. It's not always easy.
Hi Sister ^^ here are some useful links, God is there dear sister Refutation of Darwinism – God is there 15 books All free ^^ Refutation of Atheism – God is There 4 books Full text All free ^^ enjoy And here are some websites and links prove and discuss God's existence http://www.harunyahya.com/ http://www.55a.net/firas/english/ http://www.elnaggarzr.com/Test_fre/English/index_E.asp Scientists Tell Truth - At Last! The Dirty Methods Of Evolutionists - FOSSIL FORGERY Where did everything come from?What is the proof? Big Bang How there isn't (creator=designer=God)? (Presentation) Something cannot come from nothing Design indicates a designer (short) Darwinism fails Now a famous Professor Atheist believes in God existence http://www.jews-for-allah.org/ I don't know if you consider the entire Torah uncorrupted, this corruption made some of the stories disliked or whatever the above website posted the following For more info about the Book please click here There are so many similiar stories in the Quraan and the Bible (Torah) simliar verses too, We Mulsims believe that Allah the God of Quraan is the same God of Torah, that's why Allah mentioned some stories which were corrupted in Torah to know what truly happened, However, I think the website is very Good one. Why not, some times we don't grasp wisdoms directly. I like Torah ^^ but not everything in it. very similiar to Quraan in so many verses and teachings. You are more than welcome Maybe you didn't want Muslim's help or opinion, I don't know, you said: if anyone can help me understand please explain these things to me maybe you meant any Jews, I'm not sure if os, ignore my post. And yeah you can increase your spirituality by believing in God in my POV and through his books and by obeying his majesty, I can talk more about this or explain it, but I don't know what is your current belief regarding his existence, Soul's food is believing in God. Peace and love Yours Sincerely, Cat Stevens
The stories in the Torah are not to be interpreted literally. Everyone is supposed to get meaning out of the Torah, so the message of the Torah is not the same for everyone. You can believe in the virtues that the Torah teaches, like justice, love, and equality without believing that the stories actually happened. Also, you can believe whatever you want, just because you were born into a jewish family doesn't mean that you have to be jewish. If another religion suits you better then go with it. as long as you are a good person with good values, everything's cool.
Just for the record, when it says that the world was created in six days, a common explanation is that the word "yom" (which today means day) might´ve meant something completely else a long time ago. It could´ve meant a million years or something else.
Hello Kaminski Or maybe, six days with different length, not 24 hours, EtcAllah knows Best*Peace and love* Yours Sincerely,Cat Stevens
Yeah okay. What I meant is that a lot of the original meanings of the words in the Torah have been lost. Eg Selah. Nobody really knows exactly what it meant. Yom echad could´ve meant something else.
Kaminski yeah yeah I got you brother , just wanted to add more . *Peace and love* Yours Sincerely,Cat Stevens
Like any religion, judaism has the potential to be an intensely spiritual practice or an immemsely trivial practice. It depends on how you approach and interpret it. I always loved Leonard Cohen's approach to judaism (his maternal Grand Father was rabbi, you know).
