<div dir="ltr"><div><div><span id="q_11c2503961e4c8ed_1" class="WQ9l9c">- Show quoted text -</span></div><div class="Wj3C7c">On Tue, Sep 2, 2008 at 6:06 AM, Cantor Wolberg <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:cantorwolberg@cox.net" target="_blank">cantorwolberg@cox.net</a>></span> wrote:<br>
</div></div><div class="gmail_quote"><div><div><span id="q_11c2503961e4c8ed_3" class="WQ9l9c">- Hide quoted text -</span></div><div class="Ih2E3d"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
Your answer is right on and excellent.<br>
So now my question to you is:<br>
Are these people you mentioned (and many others<br>
whom we have known) going to be punished by God<br>
for not having had the belief?</blockquote></div></div><div><br>Thank you for your response to my post.<br><br>I would venture to guess that it is beyond the capacity of human
knowledge to know what happens to anyone in this life or the next
directly or solely because of their actions, attitudes, or beliefs.
But a general idea is present in Judaic literature: G-d rewards those
who fulfill his commandments, punishes those who violate them, rewards
even the smallest of noble and compassionate deeds by any human being,
and punishes or warns of the futility of even the smallest
indiscretion or discompassion. If belief in G-d somehow relates to any
form of hatred of the innocent, or selfishness/self-aggrandizement, or
any level of distance, distraction, indifference, or aggression towards
the human spirit or the ideals of love and reverence of others, then belief in
G-d is not only a G-d-given commandment (for which we might excuse
those unaware of a Commander of commandments) but also an integral part
of the nobility and righteousness of the human soul. Perhaps some form
of "punishment" in the form of suffering or shame in this world or the
next is necessary on the part of such disfigured souls to right them
once again in alignment with attitudes that allow them to benefit from
a more complete attachment to G-d and His attributes.<br>
<br>
Now, it is more than possible that even the most militant atheists have
a fully ethical conscience and live their lives with love and reverence
for others, all without reference to G-d. Such a person might
vicariously find themselves well acquainted with G-d and all He
represents in the next world, or they may be shocked to know that they
have much further to go to commune with Him. I don't suspect that
anyone knows for sure...<br>
<br>
Surely though, some people's hatred of religion and the religious is
itself a major character flaw, becasue they cannot find it in their
hearts to respect the meaning that religion has for billions of
people. I think its possible but very unlikely, that they really feel
deep down in their hearts that the average religious person is just as
guilty as those in Nazi Germany who got a rise out of listenting to
Hitler or Goebbels at Nuremberg, no matter how much blood has been
spilled in the name of religion in the past or present.<br>
<br>
On a personal note, I have drifted many times in my life from a
concrete, straightforward view of religion or Judaism, and I have had
to ask myself constantly about the acceptablility of my attitudes and
beliefs in the eyes of G-d and my own conscience. Nevertheless, though
I have at times been angrier at G-d than I have ever been with my
friends and relatives, I have never ceased loving G-d in my heart as a
companion like no other, who in every breath of life reminds me that He
loves me very much and wants me to succeed in whatever life and world
that there is. To not have experienced that kind of relationship--that
kind of love and attachment to someone--strikes me as great enough
deficit of life and meaning to warrant the name "punishment," all by
itself. Perhaps much of what we call punishment is more the necessary
consequences of this life than a meted reprimand...<br>
<br>
Why then does G-d "punish" us by placing us in a life where our victory
over our own misfortune or misdirection is unassured? I certainly do
not know (no direct answers seem totally sufficient), you'll have to
ask G-d Himself when you get the chance, but I guess I have faith that
even grave misfortune and misdeed have their place in a compassionate
plan for the world. As long as life has so much to offer for so many
of us--and we seem smart enough to enjoy as much of it as we can--then
I will remain with this faith.<br><br>Sincerely,<br><br>IJT<br> </div></div></div>