> I don't necessarily think that's true. Especially since prayer is the > action. Besides, if one has to "balance" prayer with something, anything, > then it kind of defeats the purpose in the first place doesn't it? >
Not in Judaism. At least not in Conservative Judaism. There's something Napoleon supposedly said to his generals that sums it up perfectly: "Pray as if everything depends upon God. But fight as if everything depends upon you." Prayer is NOT enough. God expects us to do His work in His world. Judaism teaches us that we are His partners in completing His creation. In Hebrew it's called Tikun Olam, "healing the world" or "perfecting the world." That God deliberately left the world incomplete so that people could experience the fulfillment of accomplishing its completion themselves. People pray for a lot of reasons. Not just for things but for strength, for guidance, for hope, for direction. And after that, we have to go out into the world and put our faith into action. Tom Beck www.mercerjewishsingles.org "I always knew I'd see the first man on the Moon. I never dreamed I'd see the last." - Dr Jerry Pournelle _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
