Subj : Re: The universe
To   : Todd Henson
From : Joshua Lee
Date : Tue Dec 19 2000 11:49 pm

-=> TODD HENSON wrote to JOSHUA LEE <=-

 > However, I think you are right theologically; Chassidus, rational
 > mystical Jewish theology, tends to claim that the universe is being
 > continuously created by the words of creation; which are part of
 > G-d himself. (Panentheism.)

 TH> So, is Judaism panentheistic?

It depends upon which thinker you consult. In general, the Chasidim
are and the non-Chasidim aren't; but there are partial exceptions
on both sides.

To clarify what panentheism means, it means the universe is part
of G-d, but that G-d is more than the universe, not limited to His
creation. This interpretation is ultimately based upon the Biblical
doctrine that G-d is everywhere. They understand this to mean that
there is nowhere where G-d isn't; literally.

This belief was controversial however, it got them in trouble with
the non-Chasidim; who went as far as excommunicating (cherem - really
a form of "shunning") them; though that may have been due to their
seperate communal structure and some's strange antics when the
leadership became weak at that point (the Maggid of Mezrich was
terminally ill and soon died) rather than theological differences alone.
Of course, within one generation the cherem was effectively lifted by
the Vilna Gaon's own disciples; and today many of the strict-Orthodox
on both sides of the dispute are more alike each other than different.
(Though not on this theological issue; theological issues aren't as
central to Judaism's normative structure as they are in most other
religions; we don't have scisms based on that typically; or scisms
at all for that matter.)

                       JBL

.... Nachal Novea Mekor Chochmah
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