![[Under Construction]](../images/undercon.gif){kind=small}
Class February 22
Material from Why Religion Matters
Bring: Candle, matches, ceremonial bowl, Reading: Jewish woman’s poem, Jewish music, The Kingdom of David DVD #1
First Hour
Question: Has the scientific worldview retired the traditional outlook?
The scientific worldview refers only to the cosmos—the physical universe.
The metaphysical worldview asks—Is there more than that universe?
Question: Can science tell us anything about what is outside our universe?
Question: Where can we get information on the "more"?
"Nothing definitively, but it would be foolish not to draw on every resource available."
"They [resources re: the more] are as science, and religion, and philosophy, and art, and common sense, and our deepest intuitions, and our practiced imaginations say they are."
Dreams—Don Bisson dream in dissertation
Practical Experience—DP’s experience
In-breaking spiritual experience—Woman grieving rape
Witnesses—modern mentors, spiritual directors, gurus; autobiographies/biographies
Holy writings—scripture;
Theology--the rational and systematic study of religion and its influences on the nature of religious truth
Example: Thomas Aquinas, Catholic Theologian:
Objection 1. It seems that, besides philosophical science, we have no need of any further knowledge. For man should not seek to know what is above reason: "Seek not the things that are too high for thee" (Sirach 3:22). But whatever is not above reason is fully treated of in philosophical science. Therefore any other knowledge besides philosophical science is superfluous.
I answer that, It was necessary for man's salvation that there should be a knowledge revealed by God besides philosophical science built up by human reason. Firstly, indeed, because man is directed to God, as to an end that surpasses the grasp of his reason: "The eye hath not seen, O God, besides Thee, what things Thou hast prepared for them that wait for Thee" (Isaiah 66:4). But the end must first be known by men who are to direct their thoughts and actions to the end. Hence it was necessary for the salvation of man that certain truths which exceed human reason should be made known to him by divine revelation. Even as regards those truths about God which human reason could have discovered, it was necessary that man should be taught by a divine revelation; because the truth about God such as reason could discover, would only be known by a few, and that after a long time, and with the admixture of many errors. Whereas man's whole salvation, which is in God, depends upon the knowledge of this truth. Therefore, in order that the salvation of men might be brought about more fitly and more surely, it was necessary that they should be taught divine truths by divine revelation. It was therefore necessary that besides philosophical science built up by reason, there should be a sacred science learned through revelation.
A pragmatic [practical] theory of truth: WHAT WORKS [Not complete in itself]
Note: "Physicians have found no remedy to be as universally effective as the placebo. Psychologically that translates into If you think something will help, it does help….If you think affirmatively, your immune system responds affirmatively."
The metaphysical (religious) extension is: An affirmative attitude toward life pays off.
Caution:
Religion as a "service station for self-gratification" vs. Religion as a "way" to de-center the ego, not pander to its creaturely desires.
THE TUNNEL
HOW THE PRESENT WORLD VIEW MINIMIZES RELIGION
Huston Smith
From, Why Religion Matters
HOUSTON’S TUNNEL
This is the worldview which permeates the Western world.
Today’s advertising: Fulfillment derives from the things we possess.
Derived from: Scientific discovery as the highest value [only quantifiable data is valuable; the material universe]
That which has been diminished:
Secondary qualities [scientific term]: sounds, smells, colors, feelings, etc.
Tertiary qualities [scientific term]: values—hopes, fears, pleasures and pains, successes and disappointments—the sum total of the lives that we experience directly
Religion in Traditional Societies:
Bondedness: Keeps their world from unraveling
Bonded to: The Ultimate Source of Things
Bonded to: The Earth: Nature as alive, as a beneficent, receptive, nurturing female
Gathering plants with a Washoe Indian.
Western culture:
Individual: Born as a result of a fertilized ovum
Individual: Nature is for my use
An analogical view:
The human nervous system: Pg. 51
Religio—Latin meaning "to rebind"
Primary aspect of the human race
Relationship…Love
Current Situation
"A desperate search for a pattern."
Primary Causes
1. Technological breakthroughs
Automobile: Weakened extended families
Radios/TV: Weakened regular get-togethers for entertainment
2. Scientific Method: Denying that ‘true’ knowledge can be arrived at by interpreting phenomena in terms of ‘purpose.’ This worldview derives from and depends on inert matter, and apart from organic life, purposelessness reigns. Intention and design are omitted.
Huston Smith’s Conclusion: " We would be better off with a worldview that shows us deeply connected to the final nature of things."
We need a "better story." -- a great orienting myth
Who are we? Where did we come from? Why are we here? What should we be doing while we are here? What happens when we die?
Poem pg. 56-58; counterparts turn up in all tribes and civilizations
Second Hour
Science vs. Scientism
Science, The heart of it: the controlled experiment with its capacity to winnow true from false hypotheses about the empirical world [derived from experiment and observation].
*Scientism: The scientific method is the most reliable way of getting at the truth; The things science deals with—material entities—are the most fundamental things that exist. That is, "the belief that science provides not a path to truth, but the only path."
These assumptions are not "provable," but assumed to be self-evident.
What is self-evident depends on one’s worldview.
"Scientism turns science into a ‘sacred cow’, and we are suffering the consequences idolatry invariably exacts."—a restricted world view.
Houston’s value: Helping us no longer dismiss what we see as incidental evidence; helping us see what is actually crucial evidence.
Appleyard’s book: Understanding the Present: Science and the Soul of Modern Man
Scientism is, "spiritually corrosive, and having wrestled religion off the mat, burns away ancient authorities and traditions…by separating our values from our knowledge of the world." Pg. 67
Question: Are values as deeply ingrained in the world as are its natural laws?
How about justice?
How about love?
How about accountability to the "more?’ [e.g., the Common Good; God; Harmony…]
How about forgiveness?
A look at evolution.
Evidence for evolution from Darwin
Evidence against evolution from paleontologists, e.g., the Cambrian explosion of phyla in China does not support evolution.
The need to have a ‘spirit of free inquiry.’
Judaism
The film we are about to watch is the first segment of a series called "The Kingdom of David." It is recommended by reformed Jews—a less conservative branch.
We will be looking at how the Jewish faith began and its first important leaders.
*Abraham receives a revelation from God, a spiritual in-breaking experience, of the One-And-Only-God. His family worships multiple gods. God calls Abraham to go to a new land. The Promised Land. (Cause of much conflict in Israel today.)
*Monotheism: the belief in one god, in opposition to polytheism or the belief in more than one god.
*Moses—leads the Israelites out of Egypt where they had been enslaved. Receives a revelation from God, of how to live as those who worship the One God—Yahweh—the 10 commandments (the Decalogue).
*The Torah—the first five books of the Hebrew scriptures, attributed to Moses; considered divine writings—revealed by God.
*Genesis: Beginnings
*Exodus: The beginning of the nation of Israel; the 10 commandments
*Leviticus-Numbers-Deuteronomy: The law
*The Misnah-- the first Rabbinic literature, is written. It is based on the oral traditions of Judaism and explains how to apply the sacred scriptures and the oral traditions to everyday Jewish life.
*The Talmud—Cases involving the Misnah and interpretations.
http://www.jewfaq.org/toc.htm [good source for information on the Jewish religion]
*Passover—Special holiday celebrating God’s bring the people out of Egypt.
And this day shall become a memorial for you, and you shall observe it as a festival for the L-RD, for your generations, as an eternal decree shall you observe it. For seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, but on the first day you shall remove the leaven from your homes ... you shall guard the unleavened bread, because on this very day I will take you out of the land of Egypt; you shall observe this day for your generations as an eternal decree. - Exodus 12:14-17
Of all the Jewish holidays, Passover is the one most commonly observed, even by otherwise non-observant Jews. According to the 1990 National Jewish Population Survey (NJPS), more than 80% of Jews have attended a Passover seder.
Passover begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan—March/April. It is the first of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (the other two are Shavu'ot and Sukkot). Agriculturally, it represents the beginning of the harvest season in Israel, but little attention is paid to this aspect of the holiday. The primary observances of Passover are related to the Exodus from Egypt after generations of slavery. This story is told in Exodus, Ch. 1-15. Many of the Passover observances are instituted in Chs. 12-15.
The name "Pesach" (Passover) (PAY-sahch, with a "ch" as in the Scottich "loch") comes from the Hebrew, meaning to pass through, to pass over, to exempt or to spare. It refers to the fact that G-d "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt. In English, the holiday is known as Passover. Passover is also the name of the sacrificial offering (a lamb) that was made in the Temple on this holiday.
*Shabbat—
For six days you may perform labor, but the seventh day is a complete sabbath, holy to the L-RD ... it is an eternal sign that in six days, the L-RD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed. -Exodus 31:15-17
The Sabbath (or Shabbat, as it is called in Hebrew) is one of the best known and least understood of all Jewish observances. People who do not observe Shabbat think of it as a day filled with stifling restrictions, or as a day of prayer like the Christian Sabbath. But to those who observe Shabbat, it is a precious gift from G-d, a day of great joy eagerly awaited throughout the week, a time when we can set aside all of our weekday concerns and devote ourselves to higher pursuits. In Jewish literature, poetry and music, Shabbat is described as a bride or queen, as in the popular Shabbat hymn Lecha Dodi Likrat Kallah (come, my beloved, to meet the [Sabbath] bride). It is said "more than Israel has kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept Israel."
Shabbat is the most important ritual observance in Judaism. It is the only ritual observance instituted in the Ten Commandments. It is also the most important special day, even more important than Yom Kippur. This is clear from the fact that more aliyoth (opportunities for congregants to be called up to the Torah) are given on Shabbat than on any other day.
Shabbat is primarily a day of rest and spiritual enrichment. The word "Shabbat" comes from the root Shin-Bet-Tav, meaning to cease, to end, or to rest.
Shabbat is not specifically a day of prayer. Although we do pray on Shabbat, and spend a substantial amount of time in synagogue praying, prayer is not what distinguishes Shabbat from the rest of the week. Observant Jews pray every day, three times a day. See Jewish Liturgy. To say that Shabbat is a day of prayer is no more accurate than to say that Shabbat is a day of feasting: we eat every day, but on Shabbat, we eat more elaborately and in a more leisurely fashion. The same can be said of prayer on Shabbat.
In modern America, we take the five-day work-week so much for granted that we forget what a radical concept a day of rest was in ancient times. The weekly day of rest has no parallel in any other ancient civilization. In ancient times, leisure was for the wealthy and the ruling classes only, never for the serving or laboring classes. In addition, the very idea of rest each week was unimaginable. The Greeks thought Jews were lazy because we insisted on having a "holiday" every seventh day.
Shabbat involves two interrelated commandments: to remember (zachor) Shabbat, and to observe (shamor) Shabbat.
*Yom Kippur
...In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and you shall not do any work ... For on that day he shall provide atonement for you to cleanse you from all your sins before the L-RD. -Leviticus 16:29-30
Yom Kippur is probably the most important holiday of the Jewish year. Many Jews who do not observe any other Jewish custom will refrain from work, fast and/or attend synagogue services on this day. Yom Kippur occurs on the 10th day of Tishri. The holiday is instituted at Leviticus 23:26 et seq.
The name "Yom Kippur" means "Day of Atonement," and that pretty much explains what the holiday is. It is a day set aside to "afflict the soul," to atone for the sins of the past year. In Days of Awe, I mentioned the "books" in which G-d inscribes all of our names. On Yom Kippur, the judgment entered in these books is sealed. This day is, essentially, your last appeal, your last chance to change the judgment, to demonstrate your repentance and make amends.
As I noted in Days of Awe, Yom Kippur atones only for sins between man and G-d, not for sins against another person. To atone for sins against another person, you must first seek reconciliation with that person, righting the wrongs you committed against them if possible. That must all be done before Yom Kippur.
Yom Kippur is a complete Sabbath; no work can be performed on that day. It is well-known that you are supposed to refrain from eating and drinking (even water) on Yom Kippur. It is a complete, 25-hour fast beginning before sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur and ending after nightfall on the day of Yom Kippur. The Talmud also specifies additional restrictions that are less well-known: washing and bathing, anointing one's body (with cosmetics, deodorants, etc.), wearing leather shoes (Orthodox Jews routinely wear canvas sneakers under their dress clothes on Yom Kippur), and engaging in sexual relations are all prohibited on Yom Kippur.
As always, any of these restrictions can be lifted where a threat to life or health is involved. In fact, children under the age of nine and women in childbirth (from the time labor begins until three days after birth) are not permitted to fast, even if they want to. Older children and women from the third to the seventh day after childbirth are permitted to fast, but are permitted to break the fast if they feel the need to do so. People with other illnesses should consult a physician and a rabbi for advice.
Most of the holiday is spent in the synagogue, in prayer. In Orthodox synagogues, services begin early in the morning (8 or 9 AM) and continue until about 3 PM. People then usually go home for an afternoon nap and return around 5 or 6 PM for the afternoon and evening services, which continue until nightfall. The services end at nightfall, with the blowing of the tekiah gedolah, a long blast on the shofar. See Rosh Hashanah for more about the shofar and its characteristic blasts.
It is customary to wear white on the holiday, which symbolizes purity and calls to mind the promise that our sins shall be made as white as snow (Is. 1:18). Some people wear a kittel, the white robe in which the dead are buried.
*Messiah: The Expected One who will free and elevate the Jewish people to new levels of devotion in practicing God’s law.
Why don’t the Jews accept Jesus as the Messiah?
One reason among others:
1) JESUS DID NOT FULFILL THE MESSIANIC PROPHECIES
What is the Messiah supposed to accomplish according to the Bible? The Bible says that he will:
A. Build the Third Temple (Ezekiel 37:26-28).
B. Gather all Jews back to the Land of Israel (Isaiah 43:5-6).
C. Usher in an era of world peace, and end all hatred, oppression, suffering and disease. As it says: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall man learn war anymore." (Isaiah 2:4)
D. Spread universal knowledge of the God of Israel, which will unite humanity as one. As it says: "God will be King over all the world -- on that day, God will be One and His Name will be One" (Zechariah 14:9).
The historical fact is that Jesus fulfilled none of these messianic prophecies.
Christians counter that Jesus will fulfill these in the Second Coming, but Jewish sources show that the Messiah will fulfill the prophecies outright, and no concept of a second coming exists.
The part of the film we will watch takes us from Abraham through Moses.
What I want you to notice:
God initiates contact = revelation
The "relationship" of key Jewish leaders to their God.
The development of the Israelite people into a nation.