Have you ever noticed the enormous emphasis on social ethics in Islam and Rabbinical Judaism? Jewish philosophers are generally social commentators and existentialists. They don't focus on God the way Christian philosophers and theologians do. To the extent that they talk about God, it's God as the source of morality. Same thing with so much Islamic discourse.
In that regard it's not coincidental that Islam and Rabbinical Judaism are militantly unitarian. Anti-incarnational.
Because the Deity of Islam and Rabbinical Judaism is not an essentially interpersonal being, because the idea of a divine Incarnation is inimical to their theology, the Deity of Islam and Rabbinical Judaism is very abstract. Inscrutable. Ineffable.
The result is to collapse the vertical dimension of religion to the horizontal dimension. We're reduced to immanence. Human relationships. That's because a unitarian Deity isn't very relatable. From above, he creates and sustains a moral and metaphysical framework. And that's about it. A unitarian Deity isn't very engaging, approachable, or sociable–unlike an Incarnational, Trinitarian Deity. A religion of rules that never rises above human social dynamics. A unitarian Deity can be a benefactor, but not a friend or father.
"Because the Deity of Islam and Rabbinical Judaism is not an essentially interpersonal being, because the idea of a divine Incarnation is inimical to their theology, the Deity of Islam and Rabbinical Judaism is very abstract. Inscrutable. Ineffable."
ReplyDeleteThis gets the non sequitur trophy for the day! Note the yawning gap between the premises and the conclusion.
"A unitarian Deity can be a benefactor, but not a friend or father."
It's sad to see a would-be apologist trashing OT theology like this.
Ps 103, Ps 23, Hosea, etc.
"Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us?" Malachi 2:10.
Certainly, Jesus's teaching about God as "our Father in heaven" differs in emphasis, and thank God for this further revelation! But, there is nothing about the idea of a unipersonal God which requires or even suggests loving kindness, personal care, fatherhood, willingness to hear our prayers, etc. Still have that same unipersonal theology in the NT, of course. This is why "God" and "the Father" are *virtually* interchangeable there.
The Rabbinical Judaism philosophers are social commentators and existentialist. Are you disputing this? Give a leading example of Judaism that breaks his characterization.
ReplyDeleteIs there a great emphasis of Social ethics in Islam? Can you say how it is not true?
Speak to your own beliefs... Do you find much to be personally involved with God? I mean when things are awful. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4
Has God ever been in the Valley of the shadow of Death? ... in your theology. How is your daily prayers? Are you hopeful in the response or is it a distant connection.
Rob.