RE: [TruthTalk] Judaism and Theology

[ShieldsFamily]

--------------- It is the strength of Judaism that it is not a theology based religion.There is relatively little theology in the Talmud altogether, a handful of pages in all. This makes great sense. For most of us the theological issues that have dominated thinking these past two thousand years are relatively unimportant. Judaism is concerned primarily with living now. ---------------   I thought it was interesting in respect to the emphasis some TruthTalk members place upon theology.  It seems to point to some of the tension between members here.  Some here seem to emphasize the practical living out of God's Word whereas some others emphasize theology.  We all seem to deal with both, but the emphasis certainly is different.  I thought some of you might find this paragraph interesting to think about.   Peace be with you. David Miller.   This is so true, David. I’ve been ridiculed more than once for “not caring” about theology. However, to me we can spend our lives splitting theological hairs or we can go about minding our own business and living out our callings.    I Thes 4: 11 “…and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you…”   Ps 131: 1 “O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty;          Nor do I involve myself in great matters,          Or in things too difficult for me.     Last night I attended the ballet with a friend who needed a companion for the evening.  I sat through the entire first half of the ballet wondering what on earth it was about—it was the most bizarre, weird thing I had ever seen.  I learned during the break that this was a “modern interpretation” of Cinderella by a ballet company from Monte Carlo.  It was amazingly ridiculous to me, as one could hardly concentrate on the beauty of the dancing talent for all the interference in the form of “modern interpretation”. Just like when I watch people admiring most of what passes for “modern Art”, I sat there wondering how people can swallow such ugliness under the pretense of enlightenment.  It all strikes me as a horrid waste of time, talent, and money.  And I keep wanting to announce to everyone, “Guess what—the King has no clothes!!!,”  as they all, like ducks obediently following one another, quacking their mutual self-approval. That is pretty much the same way I see most “higher church” theology—pretentious academic “modern interpretation” which only puffs up, but makes no one a better person for the experience. God save me.  I’d rather weed my garden or make a pot of soup. Izzy