The Almighty is Unjustifiable

Jewish World Review ^ | 4/16/'10 | Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo

[Zionist Conspirator]

To believe in G-d is to believe not only that there is ultimate meaning to our existence but also that this meaning is completely beyond our comprehension. We do not know why G-d created the universe and man; to know that, we would have to be G-d. We would have to abandon the human condition and confront a metaphysical reality that our brains are not equipped to absorb. A reality that asks us to do the impossible — to utterly reject our thoughts, go beyond the shore of our reason and enter into the unfeasible situation in which G-d's thoughts become ours.

As long as we do not know why G-d created anything, we cannot deal with the question why G-d allows, or even causes, so much pain to be inflicted on us. Only if we would know why the world was created would it be possible to see if there is a need for pain and if it could be justified.

[chaos_5]

Thank you! That makes sense.

[srweaver]

Sorry but you lost me.

I took the one (rabbi) to say the “meaning of our existence is completely beyond our comprehension,” while the other (Catholic catechism/Bonaventure) says “God shows forth and communicates His glory” and “He alone can impart true knowledge of the relationship of His creatures to Himself.”

I don’t disagree with the latter, as my knowledge of God which is real, though nor exhaustive, depends on Him giving me the ability to live and reason coupled with Him choosing to reveal Himself to me in ways I can understand.

[nolongerademocrat]

It is a sign of respect.

[spankalib]

If the Rabbi’s point is to stand in awe at the ineffability of God, I’m with him.
In the article, the Rabbi says we don’t know why God created the world.
I’ll see him Isa 45:18
For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited...

And raise him Hbr 1:2
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds
and
Hbr 11:3
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

I don’t think the worlds God made are uninhabited either...I guess that’s one reason why we need eternity. Peace!

[roamer_1]

Excellent article.

Yes, it is.

One of the things I respect the most about my Hebrew friends is their ability to let the mystery of the Father, and His works BE a mystery. It is a lesson that is hard to learn in the Christian community, where many faithful are not content to do so, defining Him, and that which we do not know, in ways which are not necessarily true, and cannot be proven.

As an aside though, The article suggests that "Only if we would know why the world was created would it be possible to see if there is a need for pain and if it could be justified."

I am not so sure that this is a proper focus, or perhaps it is too broad. The presence of pain is not necessarily a bad thing... Not to put too existential a spin on it, But one of the few shrinks that I have respect for is Viktor Frankl... His "Man's Search for Meaning" is probably the finest work I have ever read wrt pain, suffering, and sorrow.

To strive is probably the single most powerful thing in Man's nature - What is the worth of endeavor without pain? the reward, the success, the reason is in the overcoming.

It is one of the purest things on earth.

[irishtenor]

Why did God create all things? For his own glory.

[HarleyD]

... why G-d allows, or even causes, so much pain to be inflicted on us.

God hasn't inflicted anything on us He hasn't inflicted on himself multiple times over. We can't possible understand the depths of giving up being God and suffering the utter humiliation of dying on a cross at the hands of evil people who He wants to save.

[srweaver]

Nor can we understand the depths of God’s love — but we can enjoy “swimming” in it/Him.

[Delta 21]

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Rom 8:18)

We speak of God’s hidden and mysterious wisdom that God decided to use for our glory long before the world began.

[throwback]

It is a sign of respect, but I think it's more than that to. I'm sure somebody will jump on me, maybe an orthodox Jew or something, but I think its because if you read scripture G_d's name is really not known. I think the ancient Jews wrote it as something like YHWY and people later filled in some vowels but nobody knows if they're right. So kind of in keeping with that vein in modern English I guess we follow the same pattern because the Lord's name is so holy a man cannot speak it. I started following this convention too, but I think it comes from reading a lot of scripture.

[onedoug]

M-Theory

Praised be God!

[Buggman]

Jainist saying

Hey, I'm a Jaynist too!

He robbed from the rich
And he gave to the poor
Stood up to the man
And gave him what for
Our love for him now
Ain't hard to explain
The hero of Canton
The man they call Jayne.