Here are posts on the hj list relating to the question of whether there should be a new theology for Humanistic Judaism, and, in particular, the role of spirituality in such a theology. Post included here by: Al Tauber Dennis Geller (2) Adam Chalom (2) Allan Schoen Titus Mendell Roger Eden ....................................................................... Date: Thu, 2 Nov 1995 18:48:54 -0800 (PST) From: Al Tauber To: hj@teleport.com Subject: A new Jewish Theology Norman F Cantor in his book entitled The Sacred Chain The History of the Jews in talking about the survival of the Jews says "We have to reinterpret Judaism in light of ....natural science, social and behavioral sciences,and humanistic through of the end of the twentieth century...and produce a new Jewish theology" What do list members think that should include? ....................................................................... Date: Fri, 03 Nov 95 08:19:40 WST From: "Averbach, Susan" To: hj@teleport.com Subject: a new Jewish theology response to Al Tauber regarding a new Jewish theology. I think that this would be very difficult for us to develop because we would find it very difficult to agree on what that theology would be. For example, I sent off a humanist kaddish to a person in another SHJ community (Stacie Fine gave this to me awhile ago) and I was told that "compassionate spirit" means God and this kaddish would be inappropriate. I think that this kaddish is beautiful and that any theology that I would want to develop as a humanist Jew would have to include a strong spiritual transcendental dimension. I do not want to simply make statements of rational belief at holidays and life-cycle events, I want to transcend my individual existence in a community that seeks to do the same. Spirituality and authoritarian god worship are not the same thing. The compassionate spirit is real and necessary to our well being as a community. Susan Averbach Northern California Chapter of Society for Humanistic Judaism ....................................................................... From skeptics@cais.cais.comFri Dec 1 20:08:03 1995 Date: Fri, 3 Nov 1995 11:00:29 -0500 (EST) From: Allan Schoen To: "Averbach, Susan" Cc: hj@teleport.com Subject: Re: a new Jewish theology Right on Susan. Spirituality and authoritarian god worship are not the same thing. My sense and study leads me to believe that spirituality underlies all religions. It gets lost in the theology and dogma. Btw I would like to see the kaddish you refer to. ....................................................................... Date: Fri, 03 Nov 1995 11:16:10 -0500 (EST) From: DENNIS GELLER To: hj@teleport.com Subject: Re: a new Jewish Theology > Spirituality and authoritarian god worship are not the same thing. A few years ago we belong to a secular Jewish group with a Sunday school. While we liked the folk and the curriculum, we felt that it was missing something. We attended the (Reform) bar Mitzvah of a friend's oldest child and I was able to see that below the trappings from which i have always felt alienated, there was a definite spiritual sense that I was missing. Soon after we discovered Kahal B'raira and joined. K-B has always had the spiritual aura that the other group lacked. In part, I think this is from the commitment to community. In part it is from the fact that KB observes the holidays and offers appropriate services. And, in part, it is from the commitment to tease out of our tradition and history those ethical (and hence community-building) elements that fit our current lives and world. Those of us who recall the '60s may remember the spiritual experience of singing folk songs in a group. Maybe even as part of a College or High School activity. No authoritarian god (or administrator!) worship there. Dennis Geller ....................................................................... Subject: Re: a new Jewish theology Author: Adam Chalom at Internet-Mail Date: 11/5/95 11:46 AM Susan: I had a couple questions about a recent post of yours. You said that someone objected that > "compassionate spirit" means God and this kaddish would be > inappropriate. I think that this kaddish is beautiful and that any > theology that I would want to develop as a humanist Jew would have to > include a strong spiritual transcendental dimension. I know that my understanding of HJ is colored by being a strict rationalist raised in the Birmingham Temple under a strict rationalist. However, the phrase "spiritual transcendental dimension" really hit me. What is this "Compassionate Spirit?" Does it control our lives? How do you tap into this "Spiritual dimension?" My understanding of HJ spirituality is at the same time a denial of genuine non-rational transcendence and a FEELING of transcendence: I FEEL connected to other Jews, but I know that I am not connected by anything tangible, just the feeling. I don't believe in some kind of spiritual continuium that this other Jew and I are both touching through. Could you explain this a bit to me, because I need help understanding this form of spirituality. Thanks. Adam Chalom ....................................................................... From: "Averbach, Susan" To: Adam Chalom Cc: hj@teleport.com Subject: Re[2]: a new Jewish theology Your feeling of connection to other Jews and to all other people and nature and the whole of the world is what I mean by compassionate spirit or transcendence. When you are hiking in the woods you might have a feeling of transcendence or connection with nature, less of a sense of yourself as an individual. If you were being rational you might categorize the plants as you walk through the woods. If you are sitting with someone who is dying of cancer, you might analyze what is happening to the person and think about the importance of being supportive. If you are feeling a compassionate spirit, you might just be present with the person and feel connected to their pain. Your support would be felt. This is outside the realm of rationality. Is this a satisfactory answer to your question? Susan Averbach ....................................................................... Date: 31 Oct 95 00:36:02 EST From: Titus C.R.Mendell <73517.3133@compuserve.com> To: Al Tauber Subject: HJ and sprituality I think that at a time when the enlightenment and reason are giving way to superstitution and reaction we should focus our energy in saving what is left of the age of reason, and enlightnment. The energy we expand on looking for spirituality is better used in organizing groups and cadres to fight for justice, truth and justice. Long live the memory of the third international where real truth was found.. ....................................................................... Date: Wed, 1 Nov 1995 07:37:21 GMT From: Roger Eden To: hj@teleport.com Subject: Should we tolerate and respecting deism Charlie Brenner suggest we hj's might be alienated, and attempt to use a dubious litmus test of hj purity. Others before him have also questioned our attitude to Jewish Religion. There two quite distinct issues. 1. Most of us feel at home with the cadence of traditional liturgy. Kaddish helps our greif, even at the level of a shared incantation of no rational meaning - dead langauge that few understand (it isn't Hebrew), nothing to do with the dead person, nor with any person. This may help us to be Jewish, but we would like liturgy to also make some sense for us. 2. Religious Jews, however have a stringent litmus test of behaviour - nothing to do with beleif. For me being a Jew is to be part of an ancient search for rules of behaviour, and I abhor some of the behaviour of religious Jews, their attitude to Peace, to Arabs, their interference in the daily life of all Israelis. I accept every persons right to any personal opinion, but I reject their demands that their infantile politics be treated as divine. I reject the slur that non-deists behave immorally (almost a prerogative of theirs). The greatest danger to the future of Jews is no longer an external threat, which has diminished significantly, but Rabbinical Judaism, grasping a dangerous cocktail of irrationality and absurdity, together with chauvinism. I guess this is a desparate and late response to the steady, slow but sure, increase in reason in society. In my childhood, I got on well with Rabbis, even though we had our differences. Now they cannot tolerate any difference. They are a spent but still dangerous force. Current searches for spirituality are blips in the general trend. We should point out these dangers robustly, for our grandchildrens sake. Also the shared adversity helps us to bond. Should we remain quiet, so as not to offend? And see our children walk away from Judaism - and us, because they find current Rabbinical behaviour unpalatable? Tolerating each other, even respecting each other, is a two way street, in which we can hold these views. But they are not interested in our views, they do not tolerate us, simply because we do not hold their views - can it get more arrogant than that? And yes, it is us and them, and that will change when they can accept us as also valid. I don't deny their validity, only their interpretation, which I find to be an increasing departure from our Jewish heritage. Roger Eden, British Association for HJ eden@siftac.easynet.co.uk (Roger Eden)