man is not alone what kind of god do we encounter?

Man is Not AloneMan is Not Alone

What kind of God do we What kind of God do we encounter?encounter?

Opening PrayerOpening Prayer

O heavenly Father, who hast filled the world O heavenly Father, who hast filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold thy with beauty: Open our eyes to behold thy gracious hand in all thy works; that gracious hand in all thy works; that rejoicing in thy whole creation, we may rejoicing in thy whole creation, we may learn to serve thee with gladness; for the learn to serve thee with gladness; for the sake of him through whom all things were sake of him through whom all things were made, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. made, thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Amen.

BCP, p. 814

Session 2 IntroSession 2 Intro

This book is really Heschel’s argument for This book is really Heschel’s argument for the existence of Godthe existence of God

Last session concentrated on arguing that Last session concentrated on arguing that our wonder and sense of the ineffable lead our wonder and sense of the ineffable lead us to reasonably conclude that God existsus to reasonably conclude that God exists

What kind of religion are we to embrace?What kind of religion are we to embrace?

Does God demand anything of us?Does God demand anything of us?

How do we live?How do we live?

Slide titles correspond to Heschel's chaSlide titles correspond to Heschel's chapter titlespter titles

The God of the PhilosophersThe God of the PhilosophersObservations of order in the universe lead us to Observations of order in the universe lead us to conclude that there is an orderly mind behind it allconclude that there is an orderly mind behind it allThis “watchmaker” kind of God does not demand This “watchmaker” kind of God does not demand anything of usanything of us““For religion is more than a creed or an ideology and For religion is more than a creed or an ideology and cannot be understood when detached from actual living. cannot be understood when detached from actual living. It comes to light in moments in which one’s soul is It comes to light in moments in which one’s soul is shaken with unmitigated concern about the meaning of shaken with unmitigated concern about the meaning of all meaning, about one’s ultimate commitment which is all meaning, about one’s ultimate commitment which is part of his very existence; in moments, in which all part of his very existence; in moments, in which all foregone conclusions, all life-stifling trivialities are foregone conclusions, all life-stifling trivialities are suspended; in which the soul is starved for an inkling of suspended; in which the soul is starved for an inkling of eternal reality; in moments of discerning the eternal reality; in moments of discerning the indestructibly sudden within the perishably constant.”indestructibly sudden within the perishably constant.”

pp. 55-56

The Ultimate QuestionThe Ultimate Question

““Religion begins with the sense of the Religion begins with the sense of the ineffable, with the awareness of a reality ineffable, with the awareness of a reality that discredits our wisdom, that shatters that discredits our wisdom, that shatters our concepts.”our concepts.”

Rational thought accepts certain Rational thought accepts certain foundational premisesfoundational premises

p. 59

The Ultimate QuestionThe Ultimate Question

A sense of the ineffable A sense of the ineffable – Confronts us with a Presence that is otherConfronts us with a Presence that is other– Assures us that mystery underlies all existenceAssures us that mystery underlies all existence– Teaches us that our existence is dependent on a Teaches us that our existence is dependent on a “spiritual presence” “spiritual presence”

““To the religious man it is as if things stood with To the religious man it is as if things stood with their back to him, their back to him, their faces turned to Godtheir faces turned to God, as if the ineffable quality of things , as if the ineffable quality of things consisted in their being an object of divine thought. Just as in consisted in their being an object of divine thought. Just as in touching a tree we know that the tree is not the end of the world, touching a tree we know that the tree is not the end of the world, that the tree stands in space, so we know that the ineffable—what is that the tree stands in space, so we know that the ineffable—what is holy in justice, compassion and truthfulness—is not the end of spirit; holy in justice, compassion and truthfulness—is not the end of spirit; that the ultimate values survive our misjudgments, deflations and that the ultimate values survive our misjudgments, deflations and repudiations; that meaning is meaningful not because of our minds; repudiations; that meaning is meaningful not because of our minds; that beauty is beautiful not by the grace of man.”that beauty is beautiful not by the grace of man.”

pp. 64-65

In the Presence of GodIn the Presence of God

Approaching God through the sense of the ineffable has Approaching God through the sense of the ineffable has consequences that the approach through rationality does consequences that the approach through rationality does notnot““The root of religion is the question what to do with the The root of religion is the question what to do with the feeling for the mystery of living, what to do with awe, feeling for the mystery of living, what to do with awe, wonder or fear. Religion, the end of isolation, begins wonder or fear. Religion, the end of isolation, begins with a consciousness that something is asked of us.”with a consciousness that something is asked of us.”11

““Endless wonder unlocks an innate sense of Endless wonder unlocks an innate sense of indebtedness….Within our awe we only know that all we indebtedness….Within our awe we only know that all we own we owe.”own we owe.”22

This type of awareness forces us to pursue higher endsThis type of awareness forces us to pursue higher endsThe confrontation with God’s question implies that we The confrontation with God’s question implies that we have the power to answer that questionhave the power to answer that question

1pp. 68-69; 2p. 69

In the Presence of GodIn the Presence of GodPraise is the proper response to this encounter Praise is the proper response to this encounter with Godwith God

““It is God who sues for our devotion, constantly, It is God who sues for our devotion, constantly, persistently, who goes out to meet us as soon as persistently, who goes out to meet us as soon as we long to know Him.”we long to know Him.”33

““Philosophy begins with man’s question; Philosophy begins with man’s question; religion begins with God’s question and religion begins with God’s question and

man’s answer.”4man’s answer.”4

At moments of confrontation with God: At moments of confrontation with God: “We are “We are penetrated by His insight. We cannot think any penetrated by His insight. We cannot think any more as if He were there and we here. He is more as if He were there and we here. He is both there and here. He is not both there and here. He is not a being, a being, but but being in and beyond all beingsbeing in and beyond all beings.”.”553p. 76; 4p. 76; 5p. 78

DoubtsDoubts

Is beginning from the sense of the ineffable a reasonable Is beginning from the sense of the ineffable a reasonable place to begin?place to begin?Individuals not in touch with this sense of the ineffable Individuals not in touch with this sense of the ineffable will not be persuaded by logical arguments for God’s will not be persuaded by logical arguments for God’s existenceexistence““the certainty of the existence of God does not come the certainty of the existence of God does not come about as a corollary of logical premises, as a leap from about as a corollary of logical premises, as a leap from the realm of logic to the realm of ontology, from an the realm of logic to the realm of ontology, from an assumption to a fact. It is, on the contrary, a transition assumption to a fact. It is, on the contrary, a transition from an immediate apprehension to a thought, from from an immediate apprehension to a thought, from being overwhelmed by the presence of God to an being overwhelmed by the presence of God to an awareness of His essence.”awareness of His essence.”Belief in God simply follows from this encounterBelief in God simply follows from this encounter

p. 84

FaithFaith

Faith inheres in how we live our lives & Faith inheres in how we live our lives & takes a lifetimetakes a lifetime

Faith opens us up to communion with GodFaith opens us up to communion with God

““God is of no importance unless He is of God is of no importance unless He is of supreme importance, which means a deep supreme importance, which means a deep certainty that it is better to be defeated certainty that it is better to be defeated with Him than be victorious without Him.”with Him than be victorious without Him.”

p. 92

FaithFaith

Belief in miracles does not lead to faithBelief in miracles does not lead to faith

““God’s existence can never be tested by human God’s existence can never be tested by human thought. All proofs are mere demonstrations of thought. All proofs are mere demonstrations of our thirst for Him. Does the thirsty one need our thirst for Him. Does the thirsty one need proof of his thirst?”proof of his thirst?”11

““The mind surrenders to the mystery of spirit, not The mind surrenders to the mystery of spirit, not in resignation but in love. Exposing its destiny to in resignation but in love. Exposing its destiny to the ultimate, it enters into an intimate the ultimate, it enters into an intimate relationship with God.”relationship with God.”22

1p. 94; 2pp. 94-95

What Do We Mean By the Divine?What Do We Mean By the Divine?

““We have neither an image nor a definition of God. We We have neither an image nor a definition of God. We have only His name. And the name is ineffable.”have only His name. And the name is ineffable.”ItIt is possible to make idols of our creeds & dogmasis possible to make idols of our creeds & dogmasIt is possible to use miraculous means to make untruthful It is possible to use miraculous means to make untruthful proclamations; the miracle does not make truth out of proclamations; the miracle does not make truth out of untruthuntruthGreek philosophy says that God is perfect; the Greek philosophy says that God is perfect; the Decalogue says that God is the One who liberates Decalogue says that God is the One who liberates slavesslavesClaiming that God is perfect places us in the position of Claiming that God is perfect places us in the position of God’s evaluator or judgeGod’s evaluator or judge

p. 97


Sciences & philosophies assume that the unity of the Sciences & philosophies assume that the unity of the universe inheres in its adherence to universal lawsuniverse inheres in its adherence to universal laws““The intuition of that all-pervading unity has often The intuition of that all-pervading unity has often inspired man with a sense of living in cosmic inspired man with a sense of living in cosmic brotherhood with all beings. Out of the awareness of the brotherhood with all beings. Out of the awareness of the oneness of nature comes often an emotion of being one oneness of nature comes often an emotion of being one with nature….We all have a mystery in common—the with nature….We all have a mystery in common—the mystery of being.”mystery of being.”This fuzzy sense of brotherhood often evaporates when This fuzzy sense of brotherhood often evaporates when confronted with the concrete needs of individual peopleconfronted with the concrete needs of individual peopleDespite this underlying unity, life constantly calls upon us Despite this underlying unity, life constantly calls upon us to chooseto choose

p. 104-105


““God is one, but one is not God. Some of us are inclined to deify God is one, but one is not God. Some of us are inclined to deify the one supreme force or law that regulates all phenomena of the one supreme force or law that regulates all phenomena of nature, in the same manner in which primitive peoples once deified nature, in the same manner in which primitive peoples once deified the stars.”the stars.”11

““God is He who holds our fitful lives together, who reveals to us that God is He who holds our fitful lives together, who reveals to us that what is empirically diverse in color, in interest, in creeds—races, what is empirically diverse in color, in interest, in creeds—races, classes, nations—is one in His eyes and one in essence.classes, nations—is one in His eyes and one in essence. God means: No one is ever alone; the essence of the temporal is God means: No one is ever alone; the essence of the temporal is the eternal; the moment is an image of eternity in an infinite mosaic. the eternal; the moment is an image of eternity in an infinite mosaic. God means: God means: Togetherness of all beings in holy otherness.Togetherness of all beings in holy otherness.

God means: What is behind our soul is beyond our spirit; what God means: What is behind our soul is beyond our spirit; what is at the source of our selves is at the goal of our ways. He is the is at the source of our selves is at the goal of our ways. He is the heart of all, eager to receive and eager to give.”heart of all, eager to receive and eager to give.”22

1p. 107; 2p. 109

One GodOne God““Eternity is another word for unity. In it, past and future are not Eternity is another word for unity. In it, past and future are not apart; here is everywhere, and now goes on forever. The opposite apart; here is everywhere, and now goes on forever. The opposite of eternity is diffusion not time. Eternity does not begin when time is of eternity is diffusion not time. Eternity does not begin when time is at its end. Time is eternity broken in space, like a ray of light at its end. Time is eternity broken in space, like a ray of light refracted in the water.”refracted in the water.”11

““Creature is detached from the Creator, and the universe is in a Creature is detached from the Creator, and the universe is in a state of spiritual disorder. Yet God has not withdrawn entirely from state of spiritual disorder. Yet God has not withdrawn entirely from this world. The spirit of this unity hovers over the face of all plurality, this world. The spirit of this unity hovers over the face of all plurality, and the major trend of all our thinking and striving is its mighty and the major trend of all our thinking and striving is its mighty intimation. The goal of all efforts is to bring about the restitution of intimation. The goal of all efforts is to bring about the restitution of the unity of God and world. The restoration of that unity is a the unity of God and world. The restoration of that unity is a constant process and its accomplishment will be the essence of constant process and its accomplishment will be the essence of Messianic redemption.”Messianic redemption.”22

1p. 112; 2p. 112

One GodOne God

In paganism, nature is worshipped as god; in In paganism, nature is worshipped as god; in monotheism, nature becomes our fellow-monotheism, nature becomes our fellow-creaturecreature

The Hebrew word for one, The Hebrew word for one, ehad,ehad, also means also means uniqueunique– To speak of God as one is to speak of God’s To speak of God as one is to speak of God’s

uniquenessuniqueness

““Israel’s answer is: One God. One denotes Israel’s answer is: One God. One denotes inner unity: His law inner unity: His law isis mercy; His mercy mercy; His mercy isis law.” law.”

p. 118

One GodOne God

““His is only a single way: His power is His love, His is only a single way: His power is His love, His justice is His mercy. What is divergent to us His justice is His mercy. What is divergent to us is one in Him.”is one in Him.”11

Education does not necessarily correspond with Education does not necessarily correspond with moralitymoralityEvil is disunity and divergenceEvil is disunity and divergence““No cell could exist alone, all bodies are No cell could exist alone, all bodies are interdependent, affect and serve one another. interdependent, affect and serve one another. Figuratively speaking, even rocks bear fruit, are Figuratively speaking, even rocks bear fruit, are full of unappreciated kindness, when their full of unappreciated kindness, when their strength holds up a wall.”strength holds up a wall.”22

1p. 119; 2p. 121

One GodOne God

““Rabbi Moshe of Kobrin said once to his disciples: ‘Do Rabbi Moshe of Kobrin said once to his disciples: ‘Do you want to know where God is?’ He took a piece of you want to know where God is?’ He took a piece of bread from the table, showed it to everybody and said: bread from the table, showed it to everybody and said: ‘Here is God.’”‘Here is God.’”11

– Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. Jer. 23:24Jer. 23:24

““The natural and the supernatural are not two different The natural and the supernatural are not two different spheres, detached from one another as heaven from spheres, detached from one another as heaven from earth. God is not beyond but right here; not only close to earth. God is not beyond but right here; not only close to my thoughts but also to my body. This is why man is my thoughts but also to my body. This is why man is taught to be aware of His presence, not only by prayer, taught to be aware of His presence, not only by prayer, study and meditation but also in his physical demeanor, study and meditation but also in his physical demeanor, by how and what to eat and drink, by keeping the body by how and what to eat and drink, by keeping the body free from whatever sullies and defiles.”free from whatever sullies and defiles.”22

1p. 121; 2p. 122

God is the SubjectGod is the Subject

We are the objects to God, the SubjectWe are the objects to God, the Subject““God is neither a thing nor an idea; He is within God is neither a thing nor an idea; He is within and beyond all things and all ideas. Thinking of and beyond all things and all ideas. Thinking of God is not beyond but within Him. The thought God is not beyond but within Him. The thought of Him would not be in front of us, if God were of Him would not be in front of us, if God were not behind it.”not behind it.”11

““He remains beyond our reach as long as we do He remains beyond our reach as long as we do not know that our reach is with in Him; that He is not know that our reach is with in Him; that He is the Knower and we are the known; that to be the Knower and we are the known; that to be means to be thought of by Him.”means to be thought of by Him.”22

1p. 127; 2p. 128

God the SubjectGod the Subject

““To the philosopher God is an To the philosopher God is an objectobject, to men at prayer , to men at prayer He is the He is the subjectsubject. Their aim is not to possess Him as a . Their aim is not to possess Him as a concept of knowledge, to be informed about Him, as if concept of knowledge, to be informed about Him, as if He were a fact among facts. What they crave for is to be He were a fact among facts. What they crave for is to be wholly possessed by Him, to be an object of His wholly possessed by Him, to be an object of His knowledge and to sense it. The task is not to know the knowledge and to sense it. The task is not to know the unknown but to be penetrated with it; unknown but to be penetrated with it; not to know not to know but but to to be knownbe known to Him, to expose ourselves to Him rather to Him, to expose ourselves to Him rather than Him to us; not to judge and to assert but to listen than Him to us; not to judge and to assert but to listen and to be judged by Him.”and to be judged by Him.”For Heschel, purpose of Bible is to tell us what God For Heschel, purpose of Bible is to tell us what God requires of usrequires of us

pp. 128-129

God is the Subject God is the Subject

Any goodness, morality, or justice in Any goodness, morality, or justice in ourselves derives from the presence of ourselves derives from the presence of God in our livesGod in our lives

Prophets give voice to God’s call to dwell Prophets give voice to God’s call to dwell in His justice, mercy and relationshipin His justice, mercy and relationship

The Divine ConcernThe Divine Concern

Philosophers can only conclude that God existsPhilosophers can only conclude that God existsTo be alive means that we are concerned to To be alive means that we are concerned to perpetuate our existenceperpetuate our existence““Always in need of other beings to give himself Always in need of other beings to give himself to, man cannot even be in accord with his own to, man cannot even be in accord with his own self unless he serves something beyond self unless he serves something beyond himself.”himself.”To be truly human, instead of being satisfied To be truly human, instead of being satisfied with an animal existence, means that we begin with an animal existence, means that we begin to actively meet the needs of others regardless to actively meet the needs of others regardless of the cost to ourselvesof the cost to ourselves

p. 138


““The self, the fellow-man and the dimension of The self, the fellow-man and the dimension of the holy are the the holy are the threethree dimensions of a mature dimensions of a mature human concern. True love of man is clandestine human concern. True love of man is clandestine love of God.”love of God.”– He that oppresses the poor reviles his Maker: He He that oppresses the poor reviles his Maker: He

honors his Maker who is gracious to the needy. honors his Maker who is gracious to the needy. (Proverbs 14:31)(Proverbs 14:31)

Care for the self is not evil unless it leads to lack Care for the self is not evil unless it leads to lack of care for others; it is part of of care for others; it is part of “Thou shalt love “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself”thy neighbour as thyself”The way to unity with our fellow humans is unity The way to unity with our fellow humans is unity with Godwith God

p. 139


““For if creation is conceived as a voluntary activity of the For if creation is conceived as a voluntary activity of the Supreme Being, it implies a concern with that which is Supreme Being, it implies a concern with that which is coming into being. Since God’s existence is continuous, coming into being. Since God’s existence is continuous, His concern or care for His creatures must be abiding.”His concern or care for His creatures must be abiding.”Heschel says that humans have 2 foci like an ellipse, self Heschel says that humans have 2 foci like an ellipse, self & God& GodEven when the Israelites rejected God’s law by making Even when the Israelites rejected God’s law by making idols, God says of himself, idols, God says of himself, “God is compassionate and “God is compassionate and kind, slow to anger, abundant in love and truth, forgiving kind, slow to anger, abundant in love and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin, but one who will never iniquity, transgression, and sin, but one who will never acquit the guilty, one who visits the iniquity of fathers on acquit the guilty, one who visits the iniquity of fathers on their children, and upon their children’s children, down to their children, and upon their children’s children, down to the third and fourth generation.” the third and fourth generation.” (Ex. 34: 6) (Ex. 34: 6)

p. 143


““To know of God is not to whistle in the To know of God is not to whistle in the dark, as if exemplifying the world’s dark, as if exemplifying the world’s roaming in impenetrable fog….The roaming in impenetrable fog….The impenetrable fog in which the world is clad impenetrable fog in which the world is clad is God’s disguise….God is within the is God’s disguise….God is within the world, present and concealed in the world, present and concealed in the essence of things.”essence of things.”

p. 149

The Hiding GodThe Hiding God

Post-Holocaust, Jews asked, “Where is God?”Post-Holocaust, Jews asked, “Where is God?”

Man hid from God first after eating the forbidden Man hid from God first after eating the forbidden fruit, leaving God to ask, “Where are you?”fruit, leaving God to ask, “Where are you?”

God hides when his people abandon HimGod hides when his people abandon Him

““The direct effect of His hiding is the hardening The direct effect of His hiding is the hardening of the conscience: man hears but does not of the conscience: man hears but does not understand, sees but does not perceive—his understand, sees but does not perceive—his heart fat, his ears heavy. Our task is to open our heart fat, his ears heavy. Our task is to open our souls to Him, to let Him again enter our deeds.”souls to Him, to let Him again enter our deeds.”

p. 154

PreviewPreview

How do we live?How do we live?

The meaning of lifeThe meaning of life

PietyPiety

BibliographyBibliography

Clipart. Microsoft Office Online. Clipart. Microsoft Office Online. http://http://office.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?lcoffice.microsoft.com/clipart/default.aspx?lc=en-us=en-us (5 Dec. 2004) (5 Dec. 2004)

Heschel, Abraham Joshua. Heschel, Abraham Joshua. Man is Not AloneMan is Not Alone. . New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1951.New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1951.

Midi File. All Creatures of Our God & King. Midi File. All Creatures of Our God & King. http://http://www.lassentech.com/midi.htmlwww.lassentech.com/midi.html (5 Dec. 2004) (5 Dec. 2004)

man is not alone what kind of god do we encounter?

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