[Avodah] rationalism and mysticism

[Micha Berger]

On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 20:21:10 -0400 (in v23n206) R Richard Wolpoe
<rabbirichwolpoe at gmail.com> wrote:
: While Rambam's higher metaphysical plane is - aiui - essentially
: intellectual over emotional, he nevertheless DOES advocate a bridging of
: that gap by demanding that we KNOW God - which is after all the Kafich
: emendation to the earlier translation of BELIEVING in God.  Knowing God is
: of course not Carnal - it is spirital/intellecutal and is  equivalent- aisi
: - to Gnosis.

Gnosis is experiencing G-d. Knowing G-d the way one knows one's best
friend.

The Rambam writes about knowing as much about G-d as possible. Knowing
G-d the way one knows Geometry -- with solid proofs. But as ideas,
not a first-hand experience of the Divine.

Frankly, the way I read the Rambam it looks like he blurs the distinction
when he places the Chokham on the same scale as the Navi.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
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