1 / 9

Judaism

Judaism. An Introduction to Key Ideas. God. Belief in a personal “Other” anthropomorphisms are symbolic, but . . . more like a person than a thing more like a mind than mere force This personalism focused in a single, supreme, transcendent being (as opposed to polytheism)

Pat_Xavi
Download Presentation

Judaism

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Judaism An Introduction to Key Ideas

  2. God • Belief in a personal “Other” • anthropomorphisms are symbolic, but . . . • more like a person than a thing • more like a mind than mere force • This personalism focused in a single, supreme, transcendent being (as opposed to polytheism) • Yahweh and Henotheism • “Shema”: “Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is One.” --Deuteronomy 6:4 • A God of righteousness and love

  3. Creation (The Material World) • The Material World is Created by God • Creation is Good (so are possessions, sex, food, etc.) • Humans, as the apex/end of creation, have dominion over it (Genesis 1:26) • Judeo-Christian Perspective: • Material aspects of life are important • Matter can participate in the condition of salvation • Nature “can host the divine” (H. Smith)

  4. The Human Condition • “A little lower than god (“the angels”/Elohim)--Psalm 8:5 • People are “dust,” frail, like the grass (Made “in God’s image,” mud infused with God’s breath) • Morally Free • Sinful

  5. History is Real; History Matters • Revelation: first in deeds, then in words • History is not cyclical, but linear (and teleological) • Nature is the site of purposeful divine activity • Social/historical context is important: shapes outcomes and possibilities • Community/collective action is important  “God’s Chosen People”/Covenant • History is a place of opportunity • Tensions between divine possibilities and human frustrations; i.e., religion should not buttress the status quo “Messianism”

  6. Ethics • Honor God (and God’s nature) • Honor Parents • Don’t Murder • Don’t Commit Adultery • Don’t Steal • Don’t Give False Testimony • Don’t Covet

  7. Prophetic Tradition: Let Justice Flow • The future of a people depends on the justice of their society • Thus, individuals are responsible for their own dealings with others and for the general justice of society • Prophets • Prophetic Guilds (1 Samuel 9-10) • Individual Oral-Only Prophets (e.g., Nathan and Elijah) • Written prophets (e.g., Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel)

  8. Suffering • May be punishment, corrective • May be redemptive • May be necessary for the righteous to suffer in order to change things in the world • We learn, and find meaning and beauty, in the midst of suffering

  9. Hallowing All of Life • All of life, when considered from the proper vantage point, and approached in the proper way, can be sacred • Meals • Sex, marriage, family • Birth, Death

More Related