Thoughts about philosophy from a religious leader AND a television show
I just read an interview of a Harvard-educated rabbi in his 90s about his newest book, "The Triumph of Life." One quote: "God is completely hidden but wants humans to take power and overcome the enemies of life. It is not that God is uncaring, but God really wants humans to take full responsibility. Reward and punishment is no longer the model. It’s all about relationship and shared values."
(As a devoted fan of the television series "Supernatural," that sounds so much to me like what Jack Kline said soon after he ascended to become G-d, succeeding the universe's creator, Chuck Shurley, in the penultimate episode of the 15-year-long television series, which ended four years ago. Minutes later, before he left Earth, he said that he would be available within the consciousness of each human but, unlike the universe's creator, would not take direct action but would be hands-off.
"Answers will be in each of them. Maybe not today, but ... someday. People don't need to pray to me or to sacrifice to me. They just need to know that I'm already a part of them and to trust in that. I won't be hands on. Chuck put himself in the story. That was his mistake. But I learned from you [Dean] and my mother [Kelly] and [angel] Castiel that ... when people have to be their best ... they can be. And that's what to believe in."
Supernatural's originator, whom I met on my birthday last year, is Eric Kripke, a Jew. He ran the show's first five seasons, was semi-involved in the next two, then moved on to new ventures. The three-season story of Jack reads as a radical re-interpretation of Christianity. OTOH, Chuck, who ultimately becomes a supervillain and the chief antagonist, is a wicked parody of a neurotic, sociopathic, depressed, alcoholic screenwriter. Maybe someday I will write about these concepts).
Here is the full interview with Rabbi Irving "Yitz" Greenberg:
At 91, Rabbi Yitz Greenberg writes the ‘big book’ his admirers had been waiting for - Jewish Telegraphic Agency
The Modern Orthodox philosopher talks ideas he's developed over seven decades, the toll the war in Gaza has taken on his family and why he became a vegetarian.
www.jta.org