Posts About Jewish
The Meaning Of, and Lies Behind, Matzah
Persistent lies behind the meaning of matzah hide its true, important symbolism.
God Gave us Minds to Use to Improve Life
God gave us minds and hearts and heads, and that it is for us to use that God given intelligence to conduct research that could improve human wellbeing and human life expectancy.
Our Brothers' Keepers, Not Their Guarantors
We are responsible for each other. But the fact that we are obligated to bail each other out, for both moral and economic reasons, does not mean that we must restore all those who have lost out to their former glory and meet their every expectation.
Domestic Violence More About Culture Than Religion
Domestic violence has little to do with religions and far more to do with culture and the degree to which violence is acceptable either in the home or in wider society.
Even When Our Brother is a Loser
However much we may resent helping those who have been careless and who possibly absolutely delighting in risk taking, we have a duty to help for the sake of society.
Religion, Violence and My Murdered Friend
If Aasiyah had been shot numerous times with a family-owned gun, it would be appropriate to discuss the problems associated with the prevalence of guns in American culture. Given that her death reflects a specific set of religious and cultural issues within Islam, it is appropriate to examine those.
Three Ways to Read Sacred Text in God's Presence
Torah speaks powerfully when its voice is heard in the quiet of midnight or early-morning study, alone, undisturbed by the noise of daily life. The text wants to linger with us over time, like the words of any conversation that we know will change us.
Sacred Reading and Sacred Sex
Of course, there is no such thing as truly reading alone. We are always accompanied by the readings, interpretations, cultural contexts and presumptions which shape that which we read.
Discrimination Is a Problem, Not Faith
The federal government has no business aiding programs which follow such practices. Note that I said programs, not organizations.
Ignore Holocaust Deniers, Except...
In most cases, I would argue that ignoring Holocaust deniers is the best thing to do, as it cuts off their publicity hungry life blood -- but not when it comes to the Head of State.
Not All Holocaust Denial Is Equal
A total ban on engaging Holocaust deniers is a convenient way to ignore the real challenge of engaging people with ugly views. And those are usually the most important people to engage. The real choice one has to make is which deniers to ignore and which to engage.
President Too Soft On Some and Too Hard On Many
There is no single Muslim world, and any intimation that there is, will either work against addressing the serious threats we face from some Muslims, or cause us to miss the genuine opportunities that will be found by working more constructively with many more. Where President Obama got it right was in using the word "mutual" to define the new way forward which he seeks.
Obama and the Blessings of the Dawn
Barack Obama has been teaching and preaching for close to two years now that blessing obligates one to action and that action itself is an enormous blessing. For right action builds community, makes life worthwhile, and nurtures hope. The new president reiterated that lesson.
Warren's Inclusive Invocation and Obama's Jewish Speech
The combination of Pastor Rick Warren's invocation and President Obama's inaugural address set the stage for a new kind of public religion in this country. It is both more inclusive and simultaneously proud of particularity than anything we may have seen before.
The Option to Pray is Sacred
Could we all agree that having the option to pray at the inauguration or of ending the oath of office with the words "so help me God" is what is truly sacred? Isn't that kind of choice, especially in matters of faith, what this nation is built on?
Hamas Has a Point, But So What?
While it makes some people uncomfortable, the fact is that according to some readings of Islam, Israel's existence does violate foundations of the faith both morally and theologically. So what? The faithful of every tradition have always found footnotes to justify their actions.
Only Solution: Temper Inflexible Religion with Flexible Politics
The only solution, once Hamas is vanquished, is to temper inflexible religion with flexible politics. Most Israelis, and a good many Arabs, stand ready to achieve a political solution in the Middle East. Whatever their religious beliefs, they understand that compromise is necessary, that the time has come for "the art of what's possible."
Obama's Church Choice His Choice
It seems to me that whether Barack Obama goes to church and where is an entirely personal matter.
How "Broad" Are Anglicans?
Whether conservative Episcopalians should leave and form their own denomination or not depends less on their views- clearly different from the mainstream- than on the extent to which it is possible to live with what is literally a 'broad church'.
More Pressure to Allow Assisted Suicide
2009 will be a year in which there is greater recognition in their religious world of much of Europe that religion is by no means dead, and, indeed, is reinventing itself and having even greater power to sway people's minds, consciences, and spirit than before- and they will not like it!
