JP's most recent post starts off with an almost reasonable, mudane tone, about the importance of appreciating our children. Can't argue with that. Nor can I argue with the virtue of doing good deeds.
But then, Oh Oh, then comes the clincher. Couched in this seemingly benign, humanistic message, lies another JP lunacy. When we perform commandments, we are "increasing God's glory in the world". Furthermore, according to JP, increasing God's glory in the world has a higher priority than our children. JP has previously said in his comments that if his children did not accept the Torah he would cut them off, and this is consistent with this post.
This is typical Avigdor Miller ultraorthodox mumbo jumbo.
Can anybody tell me what it means to "increase God's glory in the world?" Is this biblical God missing glory, so that if somebody puts on tefillin, or if JP bashes gays, His glory is increased? What if a non religious, humanistic organization feeds hungry children in Africa. Does that increase or decrease God's glory, or is God neutral?
If I had to choose between "God's glory", or my children's welfare, I'd take my child any day. This is the root of the immorality of JP's religion--God comes before human beings.
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4 comments:
> Can anybody tell me what it means to "increase God's glory in the world?"
Sure. God is a megalomainiac, and desires that we constantly do His will and tell him how wonderful he is.
Or he may be referencing the kabbalistic idea that God accidentaly created the world with imperfections which mitzvos rectify, a ridiculous concept if one assumes an omnipotent Creator.
> God comes before human beings
Well, of course He does. Its only you're krum atheistic sensibilities that prevent you from seeing that God is the most important Being in creation! After all, He created the world, so His desires are much more important than we mere humans.
Avraham Avinu himself chose to sacrifice his son. He spoke with God! Who are we, who never hear from God, to do differently?!
Speaking of which, I'm still waiting for Hashem to call me back. I kept leaving messages, and the guy jsut doesn't have the common courtesy to even call back and say he got the message. Oh well, what do you expect from Someone Who demands murder.
In all fairness, though, our making a virtue of protecting our children is just a biological reaction. It isn't inherently better than sacrificing our children to appease the gods. If someone sacrifices their child becuse they truly beleive it will benifit the community, we might even say he is acting altruisticly. Its just that those with an inclination to protect their children increase the likelihood of their children surviving to breed.
"If someone sacrifices their child becuse they truly beleive it will benifit the community, we might even say he is acting altruisticly"
G3--True, but this is not what JP and other kofir bashers are talking about. They aren't talking about the benefit of mankind (since god's punishment isn't manifest in this world), just the glory of god/allah.
You mean increasing God's glory for its own sake, without any sort of benifit to themselves whatsoever? Offhand, I think this idea hijacks altruism, with God as the recipient instead of other humans.
You're right, the "Glory of God" has no functional definition. We don't really know what it is, let alone how to "increase" it (or what the point of increasing it is). I would guess that those so inclined would claim that doing what they think is the "will of God" will increase His glory.
G*3 said...
"Or he may be referencing the kabbalistic idea that God accidentaly created the world with imperfections which mitzvos rectify, a ridiculous concept if one assumes an omnipotent Creator."
Indeed, but the concept of an "omnipotent Creator" is itself a ridiculous concept. (For starters, why the HELL, pun unintended, would an omnipotent being feel any need to create anything in the first place?) Of course, the concept of an omnipotent god is unbiblical, so I do not think one can dismiss that particular kabbalistic idea on such a basis.
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