Looking in the Mirror: Philo and the Rabbis on Divine Law and Truth - Prof. Christine Hayes

[@TheRealValus]

Fascinating and enjoyable, thank you. Concerning the "irrational" performances, don't the Rabbis ultimately provide rational justifications? As you say, the absurdity of the directive links to the faithfulness of the obedient, who perform it for no other reason than because it comes from God. It may even be a signal to those outside the fold, as if God were to say, "Check out my people. They obey without reason. They are dependent on my will and not on reason," kind of like how He boasts about his servant Job. Also, this difficulty protects against indiscriminate conversions, like a membrane that one can only pass through by acknowledging the divine origin, rather than a natural logic, and by going the extra mile, as it were, solely for God. And would it not also be a way of further ensuring the preservation of the nation of Israel, by setting it apart, with it's own, unique culture. Here are cultural markers which are not likely to be arrived at by other peoples. Moreover, as cultures deteriorate, the seemingly superfluous, arbitrary markers would be the first to go, but only the beginning of a total downfall. Every inch we give up seems inauspicious, until we realize we have been taken for a mile, and that is why the inch is so auspicious. Keeping these laws is like keeping a seal on a bottle, -- I mean, like a sticker, not a more mechanical, air-tight seal, -- which protects, not by sealing the contents off from the atmosphere, in a natural way, but, by indicating that the bottle has not been compromised even in a cosmetic way. It is a sign of the people's respect, not to alter "one jot or tittle". Most of all, it preserves the place of God as a personal God, whereas, if everything were based solely on reason, it would be easier to fall away from God, little by little, and replace Him with an impersonal idea.

[@sirdelrio]

I'm in love with a married woman. Forgive me Lord.

[@Reporterreporter770]

Biblical Criticism Ha Ha get the papers

[@geofromnj7377]

I get a kick out of her constant reference to "divine law" when everyone knows the rabbinic laws were invented by human beings.

[@ydj8081]

The example for violating logic from Menachos is dubious. That's a bad logical argument on behalf of C. Hayes. Just as it is unhealthy to drink distilled water lacking any minerals, so it is proper for humans to consume oil that's not pure. Furthermore, talmud Brachot states that oil by itself may damage a body.