This Special Discussion Forum was developed in conjunction with the presentation of a special 13 week series, entitled CREDO 13, on Maimonides' Principles of Faith that orginally aired in Ontario, in Spring 2005, on Sunday evenings, at 10:00 pm, on CTS. While this Discussion Forum is presented in connection with this program, viable participation in it is not limited to those who have seen the show.
I believe with perfect faith that G-d is the Creator and Ruler of all things. He alone has made, does make, and will make all things. (from the Ani Ma'amin)
The first principle is that God exists. Within Orthodoxy, there is no disagreement on the fundamental importance of this principle, its necessity and the corollary ideas Rambam includes within this principle, i.e. that God is necessary, omnipotent and eternal. There, though, has been some disagreement over the centuries on the meaning of these terms, especially omnipotence. With the statement that God exists, we begin to ask 'Who is God?' and also begin to ask "Why?'
The 1st episode of Credo 13 on Passages was a lot of fun. It's encouraging to see a creative approach to Rambam. The discussion among the girls about darkness, and about how you have to pay the electric bill in order to have light, and not vice versa was a good metaphor for adopting Emunah, and choosing to do the chukkim. Of course a metaphor doesn't prove that G-d uses this "your move first" formula, but it does show that this kind of formula does exist in other human activities, and so is not so outlandish.
RBH >>Within Orthodoxy, there is no disagreement on the fundamental importance of this principle, its necessity and the corollary ideas Rambam includes within this principle, i.e. that God is necessary, omnipotent and eternal. There, though, has been some disagreement over the centuries on the meaning of these terms, especially omnipotence.<< Are there limits to G-d's omnipotence? It would seem that G-d has chosen to self-limit His power when dealing with this world, especially when dealing with us. There is also the concept of G-d's omniscience. G-d seems surprised by Cain, and He offers him free will,without a predetermined future: Gen. 4:7 Surely, if you do right, There is uplift. But if you do not do right Sin couches at the door; Its urge is toward you, Yet you can be its master.” (JPS)
The issue of God's Omnipotence focuses on questions such as "Can God create a rock that He cannot destroy?" or "Can God create a square circle or a triangle whose angles total greater than 180 degrees?" or, the question that has major theological implication, "Can God make Himself physical?". There are those within the realm of Torah who do insist that God can create a square circle but I would say that the general opinion is that God is limited by such definitions if that is a limitation. Similarly God cannot make Himself physical for God is limited by His Very Being. God cannot make Himself not God. The challenge is to define omnipotence.
The first principle is that God exists. Within Orthodoxy, there is no disagreement on the fundamental importance of this principle, its necessity and the corollary ideas Rambam includes within this principle, i.e. that God is necessary, omnipotent and eternal. There, though, has been some disagreement over the centuries on the meaning of these terms, especially omnipotence. With the statement that God exists, we begin to ask 'Who is God?' and also begin to ask "Why?'
ReplyDeleteThe 1st episode of Credo 13 on Passages was a lot of fun. It's encouraging to see a creative approach to Rambam. The discussion among the girls about darkness, and about how you have to pay the electric bill in order to have light, and not vice versa was a good metaphor for adopting Emunah, and choosing to do the chukkim. Of course a metaphor doesn't prove that G-d uses this "your move first" formula, but it does show that this kind of formula does exist in other human activities, and so is not so outlandish.
ReplyDeleteRBH >>Within Orthodoxy, there is no disagreement on the fundamental importance of this principle, its necessity and the corollary ideas Rambam includes within this principle, i.e. that God is necessary, omnipotent and eternal. There, though, has been some disagreement over the centuries on the meaning of these terms, especially omnipotence.<< Are there limits to G-d's omnipotence? It would seem that G-d has chosen to self-limit His power when dealing with this world, especially when dealing with us. There is also the concept of G-d's omniscience. G-d seems surprised by Cain, and He offers him free will,without a predetermined future: Gen. 4:7 Surely, if you do right, There is uplift. But if you do not do right Sin couches at the door; Its urge is toward you, Yet you can be its master.” (JPS)
ReplyDeleteThe issue of God's Omnipotence focuses on questions such as "Can God create a rock that He cannot destroy?" or "Can God create a square circle or a triangle whose angles total greater than 180 degrees?" or, the question that has major theological implication, "Can God make Himself physical?". There are those within the realm of Torah who do insist that God can create a square circle but I would say that the general opinion is that God is limited by such definitions if that is a limitation. Similarly God cannot make Himself physical for God is limited by His Very Being. God cannot make Himself not God. The challenge is to define omnipotence.
ReplyDelete