tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374945593972878840.post1011403487446944174..comments2023-09-22T06:24:01.470-04:00Comments on Libertarian Jew: Berachot 33b: Is Fear of Heaven Our True Expression of Free Will?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374945593972878840.post-65315165646714018772013-06-17T19:02:59.881-04:002013-06-17T19:02:59.881-04:00The statement I was quoting was
This verse seems t...The statement I was quoting was<br />This verse seems to conclude that "serving G-d" guarantees good behavior, and after observing enough people and looking at enough history, I know that is certainly not the case.<br /><br />I was actually trying to point out, that in connection with the second passage I cited as well as the story of Yehudah and Tamar, it seems that while a person has free will, that this freedom is not necessarily extended to his actions.<br /><br />There is actually a really wonderful speech from Rabbi Akiva Tatz on free will that can be found here.<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWjCdc9dUz4Why Kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06964277818237534270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374945593972878840.post-63793217946916149012013-06-17T08:42:34.355-04:002013-06-17T08:42:34.355-04:00Dear Why Kay,
I never said that "serving G-d...Dear Why Kay,<br /><br />I never said that "serving G-d guarantees good behavior." First, Nachmanides was famous for saying "one can be a scoundrel within the Law." Second, my take from the passage was that R. Chanina was emphasizing that <i>yirat Hashem</i> is an important catalyst for serving G-d. Finally, I think <a href="http://libertarianjew.blogspot.com/2010/08/parsha-ki-tetze-can-we-avert-out-fate.html" rel="nofollow">free will</a> plays a much more important role than what is implied in this Talmudic portion. Libertarian Jewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07063486300815461137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-374945593972878840.post-16435185728975595302013-06-17T00:44:26.531-04:002013-06-17T00:44:26.531-04:00I disagree with your conclusion that "serving...I disagree with your conclusion that "serving G-d guarantees good behavior". The passage only says that one's fear (or awe as you will) is up to the individual. The implication being that one's actions are therefor not left to the individual. A classic example would be the story of Yehudah and Tamar. Obviously Yehudah's fear of G-d was on par with the greatest, yet his physical action was to sleep with a woman he thought was a prostitute. I believe the meaning of this passage is that it is our job to want to do the right thing to the best of our abilities and G-d will do with us, what He KNOWS is the best thing to do. For that we have the passage in Makos 10b:<br />בדרך שאדם רוצה לילך בה מוליכין אותו<br />In the way a person wants to go, he is brought.Why Kayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06964277818237534270noreply@blogger.com