<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Nov 13, 2007 4:15 PM, Micha Berger <<a href="mailto:micha@aishdas.org">micha@aishdas.org</a>> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Three questions:<br>1- CAN Judaism be proven<br>2- IS one's religious stance usually the product of proof<br>3- Should it be<br><br>CAN:<br>I have a number of blog entries in which I argue (following the Kuzari<br>over the Moreh) that the only real proof religion can have is the
<br>direct experience of living according to it<br><<a href="http://www.aishdas.org/asp/category/faith-and-proof" target="_blank">http://www.aishdas.org/asp/category/faith-and-proof</a>>. Philosophical<br>argument is never sounder than the combined weaknesses of all its
<br>postulates, which ultimately means is the product of numerous<br>experiences. Anything as complex as religion will therefore be more a<br>product of the person's willingness to accept the proof than the proof<br>itself. It simply can't be objectively judged.
<br></blockquote><div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><br>SheTir'u baTov!<br>-micha</blockquote> </div><div>That is perhaps why the Kafich's "leidah es Hasehm" is supeior over "lehaamin..." because knowing/experiencing is superior than either logical belief or even "blind belief."
<br><br>When one KNOWS that one is a parent or a spouse there is no need to "believe" taht one has a relatiosnhip! Similarly when one experiences God logic is unnecessary, rather one relates to God.. Similarly when one KNOWS on is Jewish there is no need to believe that one is Jewish, and it follows that one does Judaism [or Torah]. Exactly HOW one does Judaism is another matter.
<br><br>I would also NEVER posit that Judaism is the ONE TRUE RELIGION. Rather, Torah is THE Covenant between an Israelite and God. Non Jews need not apply :-), I[Nor is Torah a prerequisite for perfection of one's Middos.] IOW you don't have to be JEWISH but if one is AWARE that one is Jewish it behooves one to be the best Jew one can be.
<br></div></div>-- <br>Kol Tuv / Best Regards,<br><a href="mailto:RabbiRichWolpoe@Gmail.com">RabbiRichWolpoe@Gmail.com</a><br>Please Visit: <br><a href="http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/">http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/</a>