Here's a true story and it happened to me so there...I was being trained to be a Rabbi in theological seminaries from the youngest of ages.
Anyway...
My g'mother who had this strong belief (as I did) that god was omniscient omnipresent and could do all things.
I was just > my bar mitzvah and had this question on god. she couldnt answer me so she referred it to the Jewish Press in the bronx - a newspaper with a big circulation in which the head rabbis would and could answer things about faith, dietary rulings etc.
It was his answer that changed the course of my life.
The ? was if god can do anything can he make a rock that one person cant lift? A. of course.
Well, can he make a rock 10 people cant lift? A. Of course.
Can he make one 1000 cant lift? A. Of course look at the mountains
Ok then can he create a rock that he cant lift?
The conundrum was no matter how you answer this there's sumptin he cant do. (I now know after my philosophy and logic courses that there are circular arguements here but hey what's a 14 year old know???)
Very confusing to a little Jewish grandma and a pimply young yeshiva kid.
The Head Rabbi's answered that she should disregard the person who had asked the question because he was a nonbeliever, an heretic and all he was trying to do was undermine her faith
That little deflection led to a parting of the ways a few years later
My point....what was my point??
Oh yea, the notions of personal will and god's omnipotence together with predestination has always been a theological minefield through the ages and not really well dealt with in my view.
But my point in the origianal post is that between Judiaism and Catholicism there is a very strong belief that the world will play out in a particular way
I dont
But how do people of faith see the events unfolding in the MEast?
Can they be altered? Should they be altered? Why alter at all?
Sheeezzzz....I'm gonna have red with a nice cigar.
Oh madmacs the hogs good!!! Cant get this grin off my face!!!
