"It seems to me that to organize on the basis of feeding people or righting social injustice and all that is very valuable. But to rally people around the idea of modernism, modernity, or something is simply silly. I mean, I don't know what kind of a cause that is, to be up to date. I think it ultimately leads to fashion and snobbery and I'm against it."
Jack Levine: January 3, 1915 – November 8, 2010
LEVEL BILLIONAIRES OUT OF EXISTENCE
Sunday, March 31, 2024
Do You Really Believe Jesus Rose From The Dead? - Hate Mail
"A rabbi was asked by one of his students “Why did God create atheists?” After a long pause, the rabbi finally responded with a soft but sincere voice. “God created atheists” he said, “to teach us the most important lesson of them all – the lesson of true compassion. You see, when an atheist performs an act of charity, visits someone who is sick, helps someone in need, and cares for the world, he is not doing so because of some religious teaching. He does not believe that God commanded him to perform this act. In fact, he does not believe in God at all, so his actions are based on his sense of morality. Look at the kindness he bestows on others simply because he feels it to be right. When someone reaches out to you for help. You should never say ‘I’ll pray that God will help you.’ Instead, for that moment, you should become an atheist – imagine there is no God who could help, and say ‘I will help you’.”
— Martin Buber, “Tales of the Hasidim”
Sorry, Sparky. The point -- as you continue to miss -- is that if you don't know how to treat other people kindly, you don't lack religion. You fucking lack empathy.
Ah, no doubt someone posted that on a comment thread you happened upon, I know that you never read Martin Buber. Clearly that Rabbi ran into a far better class of atheists than exists now. I'd have asked him why God would have invented these widely influential atheists, Mao, Pol Pot, the Kims of N. Korea, Lenin, Stalin, Mussolini, Martin Bormann, Goebbels, Eichmann, . . . And don't forget America's most influential neo-Nazis, including William Turner Pierce all of whom would have gladly murdered every last Jew on Earth.
I'll ask, identify the "point" I missed knowing full well that you can't identify one that is in line with the quote you mined from someone on Eschaton (I decided to check if I was right that you stumbled across that quote).
Anyone who is reading this, watch how he DOESN'T identify that "point" he claims I missed.
"A rabbi was asked by one of his students “Why did God create atheists?” After a long pause, the rabbi finally responded with a soft but sincere voice. “God created atheists” he said, “to teach us the most important lesson of them all – the lesson of true compassion. You see, when an atheist performs an act of charity, visits someone who is sick, helps someone in need, and cares for the world, he is not doing so because of some religious teaching. He does not believe that God commanded him to perform this act. In fact, he does not believe in God at all, so his actions are based on his sense of morality. Look at the kindness he bestows on others simply because he feels it to be right. When someone reaches out to you for help. You should never say ‘I’ll pray that God will help you.’ Instead, for that moment, you should become an atheist – imagine there is no God who could help, and say ‘I will help you’.”
ReplyDelete— Martin Buber, “Tales of the Hasidim”
Sorry, Sparky. The point -- as you continue to miss -- is that if you don't know how to treat other people kindly, you don't lack religion. You fucking lack empathy.
Ah, no doubt someone posted that on a comment thread you happened upon, I know that you never read Martin Buber. Clearly that Rabbi ran into a far better class of atheists than exists now. I'd have asked him why God would have invented these widely influential atheists, Mao, Pol Pot, the Kims of N. Korea, Lenin, Stalin, Mussolini, Martin Bormann, Goebbels, Eichmann, . . . And don't forget America's most influential neo-Nazis, including William Turner Pierce all of whom would have gladly murdered every last Jew on Earth.
DeleteAnd you miss the point once again. I don’t know why I’m surprised, though….when you look up “obtuse” in the dictionary, there’s a picture of you.😎
ReplyDeleteI'll ask, identify the "point" I missed knowing full well that you can't identify one that is in line with the quote you mined from someone on Eschaton (I decided to check if I was right that you stumbled across that quote).
DeleteAnyone who is reading this, watch how he DOESN'T identify that "point" he claims I missed.
By the way, if you didn't know it, "anonymous" is Simps.
DeleteYou do realize I already told you what the point is, right?
DeleteI realize Buber's point which, by the way, I think is overly simplistic and kind of stupid but it has nothing to do with anything I've said.
Delete