tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3559910.post4392872905639382409..comments2024-02-17T19:58:47.311-05:00Comments on Textuality: Rabbi Shmuley on the DisabledLarry Tannerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14642725101009530480noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3559910.post-30216710566512101332012-05-16T16:12:13.441-04:002012-05-16T16:12:13.441-04:00The problem is how absolute "I have no idea i...The problem is how absolute "I have no idea is." The rabbi is supposed to have some--even a small---idea. The dynamic between God and people is not supposed to be "He works his side of the street and we work ours." But that's just the dynamic Shmuley's expressed. If you are looking for comfort from Shmuley's God, you won't get it. If you are looking for reassurance of the divine purpose--that is, if you want someone to tell you that your grief and pain will one day be redeemed--you won't hear it from Shmuley.<br /><br />I hear your point about Exodus. You also could have talked about Job. In practice, however, clergy very often do translate God's ways, means, and intentions on everything in daily life. People expect them to tell them why God does this or that, and they feel better hearing it.Larry Tannerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14642725101009530480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3559910.post-42959947384212621512012-05-16T13:09:44.537-04:002012-05-16T13:09:44.537-04:00>"I have no idea." This line of think...>"I have no idea." This line of thinking might be considered refreshingly honest. Nevertheless, the statement runs counter to what religion is fundamentally supposed to offer: resolution into a larger, purposeful order. This statement confesses total ignorance where many others would soften the admission to "The Lord works in mysterious ways." I cannot see how such a confession would satisfy many people, who generally want to think of their clergy as knowing the intentions of the supreme being. <br /><br />I don't see how this is an issue. In Exodus Moses asks to know his ways and God basically says "No." So humans have this need to know, including clergy, but it does not go counter to the core of the religion that basically says you won't know.Holy Hyraxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17704030181702087485noreply@blogger.com