Scripture as an instance of divine guidance

Earlier this morning I wrote this as an extended answer to a post in challenging_god and wanted to recorded it here for posterity and reference.

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To put this in perspective. At the time of Jesus there was a movement, represented by figures such as Rabbi Hillel, to interpret "Torah" to mean not so much the physical manifestation of the Law in words on paper, but rather the process whereby divine guidance comes to humankind and the cosmos.

To describe this using the helpful language of programming, this would make the written Torah an instance of class "divine guidance and governance." How else could Hillel have claimed to teach the Torah in the time he could stand on one foot ("That which is hateful to you, do not do unto your neighbor; the rest is commentary")? The written Torah contains the key elements that defined Jewish identity and Jewish religious practice. Hillel's summary of Torah doesn't reflect that at all; instead it reflects a teaching that has arisen in all cultures in all times and places.

Hillel is not the only rabbi to have argued along these lines; similar thought was expressed by Akiva and other influential rabbis of the period.

My argument, then, is that Jesus was a rabbi of this tradition -- and so was Paul.

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(no subject)

I don't tend to buy into "end of the world" theories. Five years ago of course it was Y2K. Today the warning deals with "peak oil," the suggestion that the world's oil supply (which of course is finite) will be exhausted within a generation and will be followed inexorably by the fall of civilization. For a sample of the arguments related to this, see:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/alobar/747883.html
http://www.livejournal.com/users/alobar/747302.html
http://www.livejournal.com/users/omegabaphomet/25133.html

I'm far from convinced. But I wonder if "end of the world" predictions have been off base -- or we've just been lucky. The observation that other predictions in the past have been off, does not in itself logically imply that warnings with dire consequences should just be brushed off.

"Peak Oil" is not the only dilemma that is starting to concern me. Add to this ongoing environmental upheaval on massive scales -- global warming, perhaps, but much scarier than that is a process that has received far too little attention -- the massive upheavals humanity has wreaked on ocean life. Undersea life has been drastically altered in the last 400-500 years as a result of farm runoff, over-fishing, and pollution; there have been oceanic changes on an insane scale in that time.

The Bush Administration is replying by sticking its fingers in its ears and shouting "La la la la I do not hear you!" I have no reason whatsoever to believe that a Kerry or Edwards Administration would act any differently.

Suppose there is some truth to the warnings, and what we get instead is an economic disruption on the order of the great 10-year worldwide depression which began 75 years ago. Even that would ruin lives, and is stupid if we can act to avoid it now.

It is well past time that the American public begin discussing radical changes to the way government and business operates. The two main political parties that dominate American life, the Republicans and Democrats, are bought and paid for by the multinational corporations, and while they dither about this social policy or relations with that country, neither party is going to lift a finger to address the ongoing problems.

I don't have solutions yet; I just know that there are big problems and something has to be done. But I'm looking for answers. I'll post here as that quest proceeds.

(no subject)

While Carnival means "Farewell to the Flesh," I doubt I will be saying farewell to flesh. Rather, I expect the next few days to be more like, "Hello, flesh! I'm Sabrina. Nice to make your acquaintance."

Rain chances have increased for tomorrow, Monday, and Tuesday. Bleah.

Well, unless I dial in, I will be unavailable online until next Thursday. See you then, kiddos.