tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2760004395394142531.post8722434351524501113..comments2023-10-23T14:19:00.021-07:00Comments on Atheodox Jew: Judaism: Incubator for *Secular* Greatness?Atheodox Jewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06404924424040480039noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2760004395394142531.post-24077256924907752732013-07-30T00:44:39.639-07:002013-07-30T00:44:39.639-07:00Hi Dave - What's the idea behind the idea? I a...Hi Dave - What's the idea behind the idea? I assume it's a solution to something you feel is needed/lacking. If so, what?<br /><br />Best, AJAtheodox Jewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06404924424040480039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2760004395394142531.post-8521531469345416312013-07-29T17:35:58.694-07:002013-07-29T17:35:58.694-07:00I have a radical new idea. I suggest that in futur...I have a radical new idea. I suggest that in future, a traditional Jewish group (it cannot be Orthodox) reach out to non-Jews and promote what I call "Noachides Plus" (for lack of a better word) a new religion based on Torah beliefs and the observance of Shabbat, kashrut, niddah and brit milah. This traditional group would then say that they would help and mentor this Noachides Plus, and they would allow Noachides Plus believers to marry Jews. Dave. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2760004395394142531.post-34359428000701756262013-07-25T05:51:17.211-07:002013-07-25T05:51:17.211-07:00Yes, I know he respects R. Sacks for being broad-m...Yes, I know he respects R. Sacks for being broad-minded, well-read, erudite, dignified and relatively inclusive. I do too - although sometimes I think his erudition and wit create a "blind spot" which prevents people from seeing the flaws in his arguments. I'm not sure though what point you wanted to make about my post.<br /><br />Re: your second point about my being "ultra-orthodox centric" and not thinking of other branches of Judaism as religious... I certainly don't mean to demean other denominations or their contribution. I very much *respect* them and think there's much to emulate there, and I agree that humanitarian work is not just "religious" but perhaps should even be considered the pinnacle of Jewish spirituality. That said, I do see the value in the keeping of Halacha and the study of Torah which is characteristic of the Orthodox camp, and if that makes me "ultra-orthodox centric", well I suppose I am then.<br /><br />Thanks for the comments,<br />AJAtheodox Jewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06404924424040480039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2760004395394142531.post-10261031744098816242013-07-24T13:44:03.060-07:002013-07-24T13:44:03.060-07:00two points first if you read r caroza's piece ...two points first if you read r caroza's piece on the outgoing English chief rabbi you might understand that he see's a "gadol" in jewish culture as one who is a sincerely religious man of spirit who is able to have the open mindedness to genuinely respect the spirituality of people of another religion (or of no religion for that matter) and thus give over the message of his faith in broad and inclusive enough terms that he will not alienate the "other" but will inspire and draw people closer together (much as r sacks is seen by the general English populace as a spiritual leader who happens to be of the Jewish faith)<br /><br />second point i think you and r cardoza are coming from a very ultra-orthodox centric point of view, most of the Jewish people over the past 200 years have grown past there fundamentalist beliefs that carried the day in the dark ages the large majority of Jewish people today are actually still making huge socio-theological contributions to the worlds conscience as we continue to evolve and develop our religion think of all the humanistic causes social justice tikun olam fighting for equality freedom and respect for all people and real nondenominational-charity liberalism that the reform-consirvatve-reconstructionist-humanistc-nonafilaited preach and earnestly try to practice all of this is given a very Jewish religious flavor that is seen as the direct continuation of the last 3500 years of our mesorah (that was a horribly put together sentence but you get my idea) the idea that these branches of Judaism are not "religious" is a ultra-orthodox lie that is so entrenched that even those who leave have trouble grasping that this is not at all true, the vast majority of modern jews have a much more evolved and nuanced understanding of what that term means and how it is experienced.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com