The Holy One

[metzareph]

The Holy One

Judaism holds a tension between the transcendent-the unknowable, the infinite, the separate, the “container” of the world-and the immanent-the tangible, the indwelling, the world itself. In Jewish thought, though physical images are discouraged, images of God may be drawn from human forms.

The transcendent God is generally depicted as

Comments

Transcendence

[frater_tn]

I still have much to learn about Judaism, but as I understand it, Judaism fundamentally employs a transcendent god. The tension or duality is not between a transcendent and immanent god, but between the transcendent God and the created world. This duality then entered into Christianity and Islam, but contrasted tremendously with the Indo-Europeans, who did not conceive of this duality or tension. The result of this duality was ultimately a rejection of the world and the acceptance of the body as a prison from which to escape.

I know nothing about the author, but Hammer's essay seems to reflect, not a tension within Judaism, but, instead, the subtle and periodic infusing of the pagan rejection of duality into Western Christianity.

Re: Transcendence

[metzareph]

I get the feeling that Hammer is looking to ease the tension that arises from reading the scriptures and giving them a literal meaning. I think the problem is about the Esoteric and the Exoteric.
My opinion is that the exoteric approach separate us from both God and creation. There is God, over there, and us here. The difference of the transcendent God and the created world creates duality. The result of this is that we live in this land hostile to us. We have to struggle to survive. This is dangerous because emphasizes differences.
Esoteric teachings reveal unity. The fact that God, the universe and humankind are all aspects of the same reality, a reality in which differences are just veils for eyes that cannot yet see the truth.

"Let there be no difference made among you between any one thing & any other thing"

Just my 2¢.

Re: Transcendence

[frater_tn]

I think the problem is about the Esoteric and the Exoteric.

This wouldn't, however, generally apply to the exoteric of the pagan Indo-Europeans, who would not have conceived of this specific dualism. So, if there is an esoteric/exoteric divide, then it's specific to particular times and peoples. But certainly, the Hermeticists (esoteric) repeatedly reintroduced a rejection of this duality into Christian Europe (exoteric?).

Re: Transcendence

[metzareph]

Hello Frater TN,
If you are talking about the ancient Indo-Europeans, there was dualism in my opinion. Even in the form of separation between the clergy and the population. Please elaborate a little more. I may be missing something.
When you say that the division is particular to times and peoples, I don't think I understand what you say or understand your point.
I agree with you about the Hermeticists. I think there has been "support" from them to the Christian Europe and to other religions. In fact, the exoteric cannot survive without the esoteric. Once the support is cut from the esoteric, the exoteric religion will collapse. This is what we are witnessing with the Catholic Church.