Claire Keane
Sade Olutola
JVL
Andulka
@theartofmadeline
we're not kids anymore.
⁂
Stranger Things
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styofa doing anything
i don't do bad sauce passes
★
wallacepolsom
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open
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Kiana Khansmith
Love Begins
Cosimo Galluzzi
tannertan36
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@aniketini
“Sh'ma Yisrael , “ Hear, O Israel.” Read the pattern on a tortoise’s shell. Hear the language of the stone. See the crease in your lover’s brow whenever you say good-bye. Get to know the quiet metronome of your own steady rhythm. The eyes of your eyes shall see, and the ears of your ears shall know, a wellspring of goodness is right at your feet.”
— Rabbi Zoë Klein
i like how a lot of religion thought goes along the lines “we worship god bc god created us”
and then there’s greek mythology where “god invented humans, the other gods beat the shit out of him”
Oh, and then there’s Judaism.
Which is- Gd created everything, then Gd went around talking to people, shit happened, Gd tried to find a people to accept Gd’s laws and book, no one would. FINALLY Gd stumbles across the Jews and is like “Hey will y’all accept my laws and be my chosen people?” And the Jews were like “What does that mean?” And Gd is like “It means you follow my rules and read this book.” and the Jews were like “Eh sure why not.”
And so we took the book, read it, and then looked at Gd and said “Hey, do you accept constructive criticism?”
a group of Jews is called an argument
Can someone give me an example of this? I hear that questioning and debates are super common in Judaism, but as someone who was raised Catholic I don’t understand how that works. You mean it’s not blasphemous to question things?
Okay, IDK how to explain it but @athingofvikings explained a few times, you ca find it on his blog?
@an-ime-goil
No. In fact, it’s almost the opposite. There are a number of places in Jewish thought and Jewish law where complete consensus is a sign of something having gone wrong with the process. (For example, if all of the judges agree in a case where the death penalty would be imposed, then the accused automatically goes free and the case is dismissed–because something clearly went wrong if you can get all of the judges to agree!)
It’s because Judaism and Christianity have very different viewpoints on God, sinning, forgiveness, and punishment.
In Judaism, there are several classifications for “sin” that are very different than Christian views; there are sins where one person transgresses against another person, and sins where one person transgresses against God. The former category is viewed as more significant–indeed, two types of sin from one person to another are classified as unforgivable: Murder and gossip. Murder because the victim is not around to give forgiveness, and gossip because it is impossible to take one’s words back once they are loosed in the community.
And then there are the classifications of sin; in Judaism, it is believed that everyone has the internalized capacity for failure and straying. That’s what sin is conceptualized as–a deviation from a correct path. The most common word for sin, hata, essentially means “to go astray/to miss one’s mark”.
So we conceptualize everyone as having free will, and the ability to stay on the correct path of moral righteousness (which is a concept itself tied to justice and charity) through their own choices, or to deviate from that course. And for when we miss that mark, we ask the people we’ve wronged for their forgiveness directly, or ask God for forgiveness on the appropriate occasion (Yom Kippur) for when we’ve gone astray against God.
So for us, we have moral and ethical guidelines on what to do from God, but the implementation and interpretation of them is up to us. So we argue and debate if this particular action or other acts to fulfill that. Is it good enough? Well, let’s build a little fence around the concept so we don’t accidentally transgress. Well, where do we put the fence? And there’s debate on that. And debate on whether we need the fence, or if a “keep off” sign is sufficient? Is the fence still applicable in the modern age? How do we interpret these strictures in the light of changing times? Etc.
And since we didn’t have a central authority to mediate and rule on these things for the last two thousand years, you get practice by consensus… to a point.
Contrast that with Christian views on Sin, and how sin can only redeemed through Jesus–and in Catholicism, Jesus is only accessible through the priests of the Church, which, for the last thousand years, has been aggressively centralizing and defending its authority, on pain of sin for those that go against that authority. And engaging in sin imperils your immortal soul to Hell (another concept that doesn’t exist in Judaism).
So there is a coercive element there that doesn’t exist in Judaism, along with a centralized authority who can and will punish deviation–not just in behavior, but in thought. Because Christianity has thought-crimes, being an Ortho-dox (Correct Doctrine/Thought) religion, while Judaism is an Ortho-prax (Correct Action/Practice) religion.
As a result, in Judaism, debating on what actions to take is not only acceptable, but encouraged, but in Christianity, debate and dissenting viewpoints are forbidden, as independent thought has the risk of breaking someone from the doctrines, and is best left to the priests for the safety of one’s Christian soul.
Note I’m simplifying significantly, but that’s the major difference. And to simplify even more: TL;DR: Judaism focuses on action, Christianity focuses on belief, and questioning actions to make sure they’re correct is applauded in Judaism, but questioning belief in Christianity is a dangerous sign of heresy and stamped out with extreme prejudice.
This was a beautiful and intriguing explanation, but I wanna deviate back to the top jokey part from earlier comments- I’m very sad no one brought up the ‘and then our ancestor wrestled with god’ thing. Seems like it would fit.
i know i’m op but this post was incredible
When a Jew prays, he is asking God a question that has no end.
Nicole Krauss
The truth is that Jewish Orthodoxy (from the Greek orthos (“true” or “right”) and doxa (“opinion” or ‘belief”) never existed. Originally, Judaism was highly unorthodox. While it always believed in God and Torah, it never offered any specifics of what God meant or what Torah consisted of. That was left to speculation, never to be determined. The early Sages, as testified by the Talmud and philosophers, disagreed on some of the most fundamental issues of faith.
But over the years we wanted more certainty. We wanted it handed to us on a silver platter, so that we could avoid debates and live a life of religious comfort, apathy and mediocrity. Influenced by other religions, we adopted the need for cast-iron certainty and psychological security. So we began to rewrite Judaism in a way that would fit into the notions of established religions—well structured, with a good dose of dogma. What we did not realize is that by doing so, we misrepresented Judaism by losing sight of the plot, thus doing it a great disservice.
We need to realize that our epoch of uncertainty is in fact much more conducive to authentic Judaism than all the conviction we’ve had in previous generations. It forces us to rediscover what Judaism is really about and gives us the opportunity to rebuild where rebuilding is required and leave untouched what should remain untouched.
Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo
Imagine a pious Jew who never deviates from halakhic observance, and prays with all of his or her heart each day. At some points in the life of this pious Jew, God’s existence and providence are as clear to them as the light of day. But there are other periods. Darker periods. In those moments, the pious Jew worries about God’s distance. He or she suffers from doubt, but never stops yearning, observing, and praying with a contrite heart. One day, this Jew opens up to God and, echoing Moses (Exodus 33:18) says, ”Father in Heaven, please save me from these doubts. I love you so much, but belief in a Hidden God is often hard to maintain. Show me, please, your Glory”
At no point in this story would it be appropriate to say that this Jew had lost his or her faith. At no point do they disbelieve, even though there are times when their confidence in God’s existence may dip lower than fully fledged belief. At every point in the story, they want God to exist; they think that this is the sort of thing a person should want, and, at every point in the story, God’s existence is a plausible possibility to them. This person can be considered to have faith, even on the days where fully-fledged belief is missing.
Dr. Rabbi Samuel Lebens
Sometimes jews go way too hard. I was reading a quote that the Baal Shem Tov taught that every person has a finite amount of words and once you say them all you die. So you should question when you speak “is this worth dying for?” and like. That’s metal af lmao
you live in St. Louis right? Bc I might be moving there soon and i want to know all the Cool Places
i do! i can tell you all about the cool places!
As God is merciful, so you also be merciful. As he loves and cares for all His creatures and His children and are related to Him, because He is their Father, so you also love all His creatures as your brethren. Let their joys be your joys, and their sorrows yours. Love them and with every power which God gives you, work for their welfare and benefit, because they are the children of your God, because they are your brothers and sisters.
Rabbi Samson Rafael Hirsch
Navratri - a nine day festival dedicated to Mother Goddess Durga
source
The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit, nava meaning nine and ratri meaning nights. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti / Devi are worshiped.
The seeds of inner renewal are sown, sprouting, watched & worshiped by devotees during Navratri and on the 8th, 9th and 10th days, Goddess Durga, Mahanavami and Vijayashtami are worshipped. The tenth day that is commonly referred to as Vijayadashami or “Dussehra”, celebrates victory of Shakti over Mahishasura, of Lord Rama over Ravana, and of Durga over demons like Madhu-Kaitav, Chanda-Munda and Shumbha-Nishumbha; that is victory of good over evil.
The last 3 days of Navratri are called Durgashtami (8th day), Mahanavami (9th day) and Vijayadasami (10th day). On the morning of the tenth day there is a fire ceremony dedicated to Shiva, where the Navaratri participants have a chance to receive Shiva’s blessing.
The beginning of spring and the beginning of autumn are considered to be important junctions of climatic and solar influences. That is why these two periods are taken as sacred opportunities for the worship of the Divine Mother Durga. The dates of the festival are determined according to the lunar calendar.
Navratri is a very important and major festival in the western states of India: Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka during which the traditional dance of Gujarat called “Garba” is widely performed. This festival is celebrated with great zeal in North India as well, including Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and the northern state of Punjab.
Durga, the Mother Goddess of the Hindus and a form of Devi and Shakti, is believed to have manifested in various forms, and Navadurga Maa are believed to be the most sacred aspects of Goddess Durga.
According to a Hindu tradition, it is believed that there are three major forms in which Goddess Durga manifested herself, namely, Mahasaraswati, Mahalakshmi and Mahakali who are the active energies (Shakti) of Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra respectively (without these goddesses the gods will lose all their powers).
These three forms of Durga further manifested in three more forms each, and thus emerged the nine forms of Durga, which are collectively called Navadurga or Nine Durgas:
1. Devi Maa Shailputri - The Navratri commences with the 1st night devoted to the puja of Maa “Shailputri”. “Shail” means mountains; “Parvati”, the daughter of king of Mountains Himavan, is known as “Shailputri”. Her 2 hands, display a trident and a lotus. She is mounted upon a bull.
2. Devi Maa Brahmacharini - One hand holds a “Kumbha” or water port and the other rosary. She personifies love and loyalty. Maa Brahmacharini is a store-house of knowledge and wisdom. Rudraksha is her most adorned ornament.
3. Devi Maa Chandraghanta - Worshipped on the 3rd night this Maa Durga “Shakti” is astride a tiger, displays a golden hue to Her skin, possesses ten hands and 3 eyes. Eight of Her hands display weapons while the remaining two are respectively in the mudras of gestures of boon giving and stopping harm. Chandra + Ghanta, meaning supreme bliss and knowledge, showering peace and serenity, like cool breeze in a moonlit night.
4. Devi Maa Kushmanda - The 4th night begins the worship of Maa “Kushmanda”, possessed of eight arms, holding weapons and a mala or rosary. Her mount is a tiger and She emanates a solar like aura. “Kumbh Bhand” means to see cosmic vivacity in Pindi shape or knowledge of cosmic intricacies in human race. The abode of Maa “Kushmanda” is in Bhimaparvat.
5. Devi Maa Skandamata - Using a lion as a vehicle She holds her son, “Skand” in her lap while displaying 3 eyes and 4 hands; two hands hold lotuses while the other 2 hands respectively display defending and granting gestures. Its said, by the mercy of Maa “Skandmata”, even the idiot becomes an ocean of knowledge such as “Kalidas”.
6. Devi Maa Katyayani - As mother, Maa “Katyayani” stayed in the Ashram of sage Katyayan for penance, hence She named as “Katyayani”. This 6th Shakti is also astride a lion with 3 eyes and 4 arms. One left hand holds a weapon and the other a lotus. The other 2 hands respectively display defending and granting gestures. Her complexion is golden coloured.
7. Devi Maa Kalaratri - Black skin with bountiful hair and 4 hands, 2 clutching a cleaver and a torch, while the remaining 2 are in the mudras of “giving” and “protecting”. She is mounted upon a Donkey. The destroyer of darkness and ignorance, Maa “Kalaratri” is the seventh form of Nav-Durga meaning scourer of darkness; enemy of darkness. Maa Kalaratri’s famous shrine is in Calcutta.
8. Devi Maa Mahagauri - Four arms with the fairest complexion of all the Durga Shaktis. Peace and compassion radiate from Her being and She is often dressed in a white or green sari. She holds a drum and a trident and is often depicted riding a bull. Maa “Mahagauri can be seen in a temple at Kankhal near pilgrim centre Haridwar.
9. Devi Maa Siddhidatri - Ensconced upon a lotus, most commonly, with 4 arms, and is the possessor of 26 different wishes to grant Her bhakts. Maa Siddhidatri’s famous pilgrim centre, is located in Nanda Parvat in the Himalayas.
The nine manifestations of Maa Durga that are worshiped with fervor during Navratri, are believed to lift divine spirit in us to help us overcome obstacles and get liberated from unnecessary qualities to be filled with new freedom and purity.
All these nine names of Goddesses are decribed in “Devi Kavacha” of the Chandipatha scripture. Also called The Devi Mahatmyam or Devi Mahatmya (“Glory of the Goddess”) it is a Hindu religious text describing the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. As part of the Markandeya Purana, it is one of the Puranas or secondary Hindu scriptures, and was composed in Sanskrit around c. 400-500 CE, with authorship attributed to the sage (Rishi) Markandeya. Devi Mahatmyam is also known as the Durga Saptashati or Chandi Patha.
The other important work that focuses on veneration of the divine feminine is Devi Bhagavata Purana (“The Old Book of the Goddess”), also known as Shrimad Devi Bhagvatam or the Devi Bhagavatam.
gentiles on this website: “The Old Testament God is cruel and vengeful!” actual Jews in my synagogue yesterday: “My favorite part of the reading is when it says the Torah is not in heaven so it’s too far to reach, it’s not across the sea so we can’t get it, but that it’s in our hearts… the idea of having that be so close, of being so close to something divine, that thrills me.” “And here, where it says ‘the Lord will delight in you as he did in your fathers’, that’s such a beautiful thing. You know, God is this all-powering being, and God delights in us.”
gentiles on this website: “You can’t be an atheist and religious!” actual Jews in my synagogue yesterday: “I’m just not buying any of this. I was born during the Holocaust and I could never wrap my mind around this omnipotent all-seeing God, and usually I’m a little moved by this, I try to be hopeful, but when I look around the world now, I just don’t buy it! If I really believed there was a God, I would resent him.” [still wears a prayer shawl and attends synagogue regularly]
gentiles on this website: “Religious people never question what they’re told, they just followed blindly!” my actual rabbi: “Sometimes the Torah can be like an older relative whom we love dearly, and who has a lot of wisdom to give, but who also says things that cause us pain, that we find offensive or wrong. And I think the wrong instinct would be to pretend we don’t hear what they’re saying, or to cut them out entirely, or to be guided by them into thinking and behaving in offensive ways. What we need to do is engage the Torah. We need to wrestle with it, and try to understand it, to figure out where it’s coming from and learn how we can progress from it, because the Torah is not unchanging. It belongs in each of our hearts, and it changes for us as we study it, as each generation challenges its old assumptions.”
Advaita (non-dualism) is an interesting philosophy. It believes that everything is contained within Shiva and that Shiva is the essence of all creation. There is no separation of the self and the universe and all of us, from the humblest of worms to the mightiest of presidents, is a part of the cosmic singularity which cannot be explained and cannot be rationalized. It simply is.
In some sense, this dictates an interesting way for us to live. If we are not separate from anything and anyone that exists, how can we differentiate among ourselves along the lines of caste, race, and religion. If we are all indeed one, then hating our fellow humans is no different than hating a part of our own body.
Of course, much of the modern discourse in Hinduism, treats this philosophy as mere theory. But I do believe that there is value in holding it sacred. If nothing else, it will make us better people.
The photos attached to this post are representations of Shiva if s/he were human. I think the artwork in each picture is beautiful and the soul of Advaita’s non-dual tranquility shines through them all.
Shelter
My love is insurgent
Like the flame that refuses
To die out in the wind
As if waiting to be consumed
By the warmth of the sun
After the storm has passed on.
My pain is invisible
Like the nebulous touch
Of a ghostly lover that
Only exists in between
The twilight of sleep
And awakening.
My thirst is real
Like the blood that
Is pumped 72 times
By my heart each minute
Affirming that I live,
Breathe, and weep.
My heartbreak is unending
Because my shoes are broken
And there are no signposts either
On this untraveled dirt road
Leading out from the city
And into the wilderness.
I have no home but
I am looking for a shelter
Before it is night again.
This is a new side blog
Everyone who has had detailed discussions with me on Tumblr knows that I am struggling with a crisis of faith. I know this is not something people often talk about but a lot of us are yearning for a deeper sense of fulfillment. I thought my journey had finally come to a conclusion when I started enjoying services at a synagogue. But I was so wrong. While my studies of the Torah have helped me strengthen my faith, I have more questions now than I ever had before. And for the first time, instead of being able to ignore my soul’s hunger, something is calling out to me to go deeper inside, search within my own traditions and beyond. I have no idea where I will end up. I have no idea if I will ever identify with any particular religion. But a wise teacher said to me the other day that I should give myself the blessing to be a seeker even if I can never be a finder.
My new side blog is called Aniketini, which means the one with no home. My main blog is @carminavulcana.
While I will always have a physical and emotional home in the house of my father and mother, for now, I remain without a place of my own in terms of faith and belief.
If you are in the same boat as I am or just curious, feel free to follow Aniketini.
