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I decided when I chose my New Year’s Resolution topics this year to keep things simple (in order to try to make it accessible to as many people as possible who might read these posts on my personal blog), so, knowing full well the pitfalls of that choice, I am looking at what I as a Mormon can learn from the Jewish perception of “God” – but I am doing so quite shallowly. (For example, I am using the term “God” in place of how Jews would reference God.) I think it’s important that I admit that upfront, and I would LOVE any deeper input everyone here can offer as I cross-post what I write on my personal blog to this site without modification. With that introduction, the following are the most interesting points I found about how Judaism describes God (recorded in quotation marks simply to highlight and separate, not used in the classic way to show exact words of others, since the summaries are my own wording) – with my own commentary on each point:
1) Strict MonotheismQuote:God is above all and incomprehensible. The idea that there are no other Gods before him can be explained as saying that no other Gods existed before him, but it also means that no other Gods ought to be worshiped first (before God). In other words, for modern Jews, there are no other Gods. He alone is God. He is “the Existent One”. He is “I AM”. Period.
(Obviously, there is a conflict here between the Jewish conception of God and the Mormon idea of eternal progression and “godhood” being a condition that can be attained / bestowed to multiple people and held by multiple Beings – as well as the idea of a Heavenly Mother, a Son-God and a spirit God who all are distinct entities. However, there is divergent thought within Mormonism about the idea that “as man is, God once was” – so it is not totally inconsistent with some Mormons’ beliefs to agree that there is no other God before “our God” in either sense of the phrase outlined above. There also is the idea that
FOR US, in practical terms, there is no other God before God, the Eternal Father – and, in that sense, he is “our only GOD” and ever “before / above” us – he is “the Existent One” in every way that matters, as even God, the Son, worships him and is subject to him. Applying that to me personally, I take the message that I need to be humble and worshipful in my view of God, no matter what potential I might believe is ahead of me (us). I can’t let the “potential to become like God” that is inherent in Mormon theology blind me to the foundation of “the grace that so fully he proffers me”. I can’t begin to think I deserve to achieve the object of my faith. I need to remember always and forever that “Our Heavenly Father” allows us to “be one, even as we are one” – not because we deserve it, but simply because it was his creation that enables it. Therefore, what I take primarily from the Jewish perception of God above is the need for humility – abject humility, even as I cling to the New Testament “Good News” preached by Jesus of Nazareth that being a child of God really means something uniquely different than was understood previously.)
2) “The Godhead”Quote:In Kabbalah (a form of Jewish mysticism), “the Godhead” refers to the concept of “Ein Sof” – which is what lies beyond the consideration of the mortal mind. In simple terms, it is the unknowable.
(I find it fascinating that this can be compared in Mormon theology to the “veil of forgetfulness” that separates mortals from their pre-mortal existence. If we stop and think about it in those terms,
there is very, very little we teach about the time before our mortal birth. We believe we existed as individuals, created from “intelligences” – but we have no idea whatsoever about how that creation occurred. We refer to the God(s) who created our spirits as our Heavenly Parents, but there is no indication of precisely how that parentage was formed – other than the act of accomplishing a creation. As I have said in at least two posts on my personal blog, we were NOT formed into individuals who shared our parents’ specific physical characteristics, since one of the key elements of birth into mortality was the acquisition of a physical body that eventually would be resurrected and “glorified”. Thus, there was a fundamental difference between our “first creation” by “parents” and our “second estate” into which we were “born” in the same form as our mortal parents. Other than that very sketchy, ambiguous creation description, all we really have is the idea that there was a “war in heaven” over who would be our God. Everything else is pure speculation with no real canonical foundation. Therefore, I believe it is safe to say, in Mormon terms, that much of what it really means to believe in a “Godhead” still is hidden from us – still lying outside the consideration of our mortal minds.
In this way, although we do not share the monotheistic view of the term, I think it is safe to say that, at the most fundamental level, we share a belief that the “Godhead” still is mysterious and unrevealed to mankind – at least in general and perhaps even for prophets [based on the limitations articulated in the Pearl of Great Price, for example].
What do I take from this personally?For me, this also emphasizes the need for humility in how I think of God – that I continue to hold as one of my “personal creeds” [to use Pres. GA Smith’s phrasing] the principle that, “I see through a glass, darkly.”)
This has been a very simplistic treatment of a couple of aspects of Judaism’s view of God, but I am glad I took the time to ponder it this week.
There is an element of Mormon theology that, when left to the “natural man”, can lead to a degree of egotism and “unrighteous dominion”.The humility that lies at the heart of Judaism’s view of God (despite its ancient “chosen people” outlook) is something I need to remember and internalize even more than is natural for me. I have a bilingual Torah at home, with rabbinical commentary, plus Haftorahs (scriptures read in addition) Quote:In other words, for modern Jews, there are no other Gods.
And for ancient Jews there were. They haven’t read their own scriptures! No other god before him, but certainly acknowledging that there were other “gods” or gods.
It’s a belief ancient Jews and Mormons share, and it’s called henotheism.
Good point, Sam, about henotheism in ancient Israelite beliefs – which is why I was careful to say “modern Jews”. However, I think it’s a bit unfair to say, “They haven’t read their own scriptures” – especially since we don’t continue to do or believe things that are included in “own our scriptures”, even though we read them and call them “scripture”. Many things simply evolve, and, within Judaism, this is one of those things. I would argue that the continuation of henotheism within Mormonism is part of Joseph’s “restoration orientation” – an effort to create a relgion that included “all things”. In some ways, that orientation is radically evolutionary – but it also encompasses things that others have set aside in their own evolutionary paths. It’s a really fascinating discussion – the idea that Mormonism is a theology that is constructed to expand backward as well as forward – or, to be more precise,
to expand in an ever-expanding circular movement in order to encompass everything “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy” no matter where or when it is or was taught. That, however, is a discussion for another day.
NB – Henotheism is probably one of these words that more Mormons should know. “SIn of omission” is another phrase. Quote:However, I think it’s a bit unfair to say, “They haven’t read their own scriptures” – especially since we don’t continue to do or believe things that are included in “own our scriptures”, even though we read them and call them “scripture”.
A lot of people get a shock when they read the Word of Wisdom.
Actually I think a lot of Jews haven’t studied their own scriptures well. Some will have only read them (with difficulty) in Hebrew at a Bar Mitzvah, others will barely read them at all. If they read them in translation, they may not pick up the subtlety of the original Hebrew.
אֱלהִים
(Elohim) is a plural word. The other clues are in the use of “We” and “Us” in Genesis.
Yeah, there is that That particular principle (that’s it’s fine to admit there are unknowable things) is something I really admire, even if the particular details differ.
Old-Timer wrote:I need to be humble and worshipful in my view of God
I would like to add to be respectful of others view of God. It seems very hard these days to sort through the perceptions of God and come to my own decisions about what he represents and how he functions in my life. I feel certain that many struggle through the same process. If I want to show that I value opinions and input, knowing that input could help me redefine my conclusions, it is imperative that I respect all views.
Old-Timer wrote:We believe we existed as individuals, created from “intelligences” – but we have no idea whatsoever about how that creation occurred.
This is totally beyond what I can grasp. I have researched and tried to gather some information as to how “intelligences” have always existed. It seems to me what is being said is that intelligence wasn’t created – it was just always there. My brain goes “boing” when I try to wrap it around that concept. Like many things I think about, I arrive at a place that allows me to put things on hold until more information filters down – however it may come.
I enjoyed your post. You brought up many issues I have grappled with. I like that you stated how you have decided to live with them.
truthordare wrote:I have researched and tried to gather some information as to how “intelligences” have always existed. It seems to me what is being said is that intelligence wasn’t created – it was just always there. My brain goes “boing” when I try to wrap it around that concept.
Aye, it’s turtles all the way down.
But… the origin of the universe is probably far stranger than we imagine. I was watching a serious science program the other night on half a dozen rival theories to the Big Bang. Turns out the Big Bang doesn’t appear to work, unless you include massive unknowns, contradictions, and stuff which has never been proven or discovered.
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