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Disputed Origins of Religion: Modern Views (Part 2)

In the last two centuries, we have witnessed the rise of many new theories concerning the origins of religion which continue the debate started by the ancients. There seems to be little agreement among scholars as to how or why religions first originated.

Herbert Spencer identified the origin of religion in what he perceives to be the universal practice among primitive peoples of worshiping the ghosts of their ancestors. He then goes on to trace the further evolution of religious consciousness ...

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Categories: Bible, biblical history, biblical theology, Contrarian wisdom, Heart-Centered Judaism, Jewish History, Jewish Prayer and Meditation, Jewish symbolism, The Future of Judaism, Theology and Philosophy

Disputed Origins of Idolatry: Pre-modern Views (Part 1)

The origin of idolatry is a fascinating study in and of itself. Maimonides traced the origin of idolatry to the pre-Diluvial era of Enosh. Maimonides writes:

During the days of Enosh, humankind made a serious mistake, and the wise men of that generation gave foolish advise. Enosh himself was one of those who erred. Here is what developed: They said for as much that God created the stars and the celestial planets with which to control the world. He placed them ...

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Categories: Bible, biblical history, biblical theology, ethics, Jewish Folklore, Jewish History, Jewish symbolism, judaism, Maimonidean Wisdom, science and religion, The Future of Judaism, Theology and Philosophy

Guarding Our Humanity-Even In a Time of War

In his classical work on masculine spirituality, Iron John, Robert Bly notes how our contemporary society no longer provides the necessary rituals to help reintegrate warriors after a war. Unlike the ancient societies, which presented a series of complex rituals to help their soldiers make a transition to their former lives, today’s warriors have no means of making such a psychological transition to a normal life.[1]

In some cultures, a group of women would bare their breasts at the soldier to ...

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Categories: American Jewish Issues, Bible, biblical history, biblical theology, Contrarian wisdom, Current Events, ethics, good and evil, Interfaith Dialogue, Israel, Jewish History, Jewish symbolism, Political Commentaries, The Future of Judaism, Theology and Philosophy

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From The Age of “Seducing By Scents” to “The Emergence of Ortho-Feminism”

I have often felt that misogyny has been one of the oldest sins since Adam and Eve. The woman’s liberation movement has some remarkable antecedents in American history. It is remarkable how much the 20th century fight for gender rights have completely overturned thousands of years of male hegemony. It is no wonder why traditional religious societies across the globe fear it-change is necessary as it is inevitable.

Seducing By Scents

I came across an interesting article from House and Garden Magazine ...

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Categories: American Jewish Issues, Bible, biblical history, biblical theology, Contrarian wisdom, Current Events, ethics, good and evil, Halacha, Heart-Centered Judaism, Israel, Jewish customs, Jewish Folklore, Jewish Law & Technology, Jewish Prayer and Meditation, Jewish symbolism, judaism, Judaism and Feminism, Responsa Literature, Talmud, Zohar, and Midrash, The Future of Judaism

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When Numbers Become Obscene

In the beginning of Exodus 30:12-13, God commands Moses not conduct a head count of the Israelites before they go into battle against future adversaries:

“When you take a census of the Israelites who are to be registered, each one, as he is enrolled, shall give the LORD a forfeit for his life, so that no plague may come upon them for being registered. Everyone who enters the registered group must pay a half-shekel, according to the standard of the sanctuary ...

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Categories: American Jewish Issues, Bible, biblical history, biblical theology, Current Events, ethics, good and evil, Holocaust Related Issues, Jewish and Jungian ideas, Jewish Folklore, Jewish History, Jewish symbolism, judaism, Political Commentaries, The Future of Judaism, Theology and Philosophy

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