At CPAC, Matt Margolis, LaShawn Barber and I talked a bit about evangelical Christianity and political conservatism.
Matt has a post up today about the upcoming GodBlogCon and he asks a good question:
While I’m sure the intent is not to be a congregation of conservative bloggers, I would guess they’ll represent a large portion of the attendees. SmartChristian Blog refers to it “The first ever Christian Blogosphere Convention”So why isn’t it called ChristianBloggerCon or ChristBlogCon or some variation thereof? As a conservative Jewish blogger, I find it troubling that conservatives have trademarked “God” as Christian.
It’s not that I’m offended, I just feel that if it’s going to be called “GodBlogCon’” any blogger who believes in a higher power and who blogs about their faith—whatever it is—should not feel as if they would be excluded because they are not Christian.
Matt is a pretty sincere and tolerant guy, a religious Jew who strikes me as equally a committed, active political conservative. He did, after all, blog and work for the re-election of Bush last year. And there's the rub, I think.
An Orthodox Jewish Rabbi wrote this series so that his essays retain their value no matter what creed you follow. Think of it as a gentle way of sharing a community's millennia-long history of accumulated wisdom. As Friday night approaches, we turn our attention away from the world and toward these kinds of issues.
Installment #22 is about frustration. Tony Robbins once noted that if your life isn't as successful as you wish, it may be because you don't have enough frustration in it. Sounds counterintuitive, but he made a good case and so does Rabbi Weinberg. The key, of course, is dealing with it the right way.
My current frustration: having seen the hilarious "Gay Bar" Blair/Bush music video parody, I can't get the song out of my head....
An Orthodox Jewish Rabbi wrote this series in such a way that they retain their value no matter what creed you follow. Think of it as a gentle way of sharing a community's long history of accumulated wisdom.
This installment is all about laughter - understanding its dynamics, and using its cutting edge to gain perspective and defuse tension. On a deeper level, he says, laughter teaches us how G-d interacts with the world.
UPDATE: Here's a relevant example from Israel. "Only In Israel" indeed.
This has been a regular feature on Winds of Change, though it went on hiatus during the War on Terror's Iraqi Campaign. In the wake of President Bush's speech last night on the USS Abraham Lincoln, this seemed a proper time to bring it back.
Every Friday (for Friday evening begins the Jewish Sabbath), we cover one more way to wisdom from Rabbi Noah Weinberg. These materials are written by an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi, but are written in such a way that they retain their value no matter what creed you follow.
Think of it as a gentle and modern way of sharing 5,000+ years of accumulated wisdom. This week's installment is about the art of conversation - the real kind, not the stilted, formal variety or casual chit-chat:
"A "conversation" is a exploration of another person. The point of conversation is not to impress others or to enhance your popularity, but to learn about others.There's a lot of value in this, and it's something that really needs to happen in real life rather than in our blogs. A Presbyterian Minister named Fred Rogers used to do this all the time, and he found that his TV celebrity gave him a level of trust that made it easy.That is our most common mistake. When you talk to the guy in the plane, don't let him know by the end of the trip how many trophies you've won and what investments you've made. Nor are you interested in information like who won the ball game and the current market price of gold. That is not conversation. That is the information shop.
The point of conversation is to connect with someone and explore his experiences, thoughts, feelings, and inner appreciations. What does he think about life, about love, about meaning? For example, while a "discussion" might focus on the question, "Is the president effectively dealing with the economy?", a "conversation" would ask, "How is the economic situation affecting you lately?"
So what do you do if you aren't Fred Rogers? Rabbi Weinberg has some suggestions. Speaking from experience, I recommend them highly.
This is a regular feature on Winds of Change. Every Friday (for Friday evening begins the Jewish Sabbath), we cover one more way to wisdom from Rabbi Noah Weinberg. These materials are written by an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi, but are written in such a way that they retain their value no matter what creed you follow.
Think of it as a gentle and modern way of sharing 5,000+ years of accumulated wisdom. This week's entry is about "waking up to life."
"Children are a perfect example. From the moment a baby opens his eyes, he's up like a shot. "Another day... new adventures... so much to discover... so much to experience... waaaah!!!! Take me out of my crib!"Further advice follows aimed at changing your sleeping habits (oy!), but that's just the first step. On a deeper level it seeks to avoid the "zombie life," achieve clarity, capture insights. Wake up to life!And did ever try putting a baby to sleep? No way! He's afraid of missing all the excitement.
To capture this zest for living, you need to focus on the deeper purpose and meaning of life. Look for fascinating, fulfilling activities. Learn how to create joy in living, instead of just "waiting for it to happen." When excited and looking forward to a new day, you are fully alert. "
This is a regular feature on Winds of Change. Every Friday (for Friday evening begins the Jewish Sabbath), we cover one more way to wisdom from Rabbi Noah Weinberg. These materials are written by an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi, but are written in such a way that they retain their value no matter what creed you follow.
Think of it as a gentle and modern way of sharing 5,000+ years of accumulated wisdom. Today's feature talks about physical pleasure. As a way to wisdom? Yes.
Human beings are pleasure-seekers. The more pleasure, the more power. Figure out how to transform raw physical sensation into the deeper pleasures of love, meaning, creativity. Don't worry -- you won't lose the physical pleasure. You'll actually enhance and appreciate it more.... Be a gourmet of life. Focus and make sure you're getting the full pleasure. Swish it around in your mind and prolong its taste. The deeper appreciation will motivate and energize you."There's more, much more. From avoiding over-indulgence and kicking habits to taking full advantage of the joys life sends your way. Read the rest.
This is a regular feature on Winds of Change. Every Friday (for Friday evening begins the Jewish Sabbath), we cover one more way to wisdom from Rabbi Noah Weinberg. These materials are written by an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi, but are written in such a way that they retain their value no matter what creed you follow.
Think of it as a gentle and modern way of sharing 5,000+ years of accumulated wisdom.
I swear, I did not plan this. The next entry in tthe sequence, #17, really is "Marriage Power." Happy Valentine's Day!
"How should you choose a spouse? Are you going to choose the best-looking one? The one with the most vitality? The most money?Otherwise, it will just seem long.Choose for long wear...."
This is a regular feature on Winds of Change. Every Friday (for Friday evening begins the Jewish Sabbath), we cover one more way to wisdom from Rabbi Noah Weinberg. These materials are written by an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi, but are written in such a way that they retain their value no matter what creed you follow.
Think of it as a gentle and modern way of sharing 5,000+ years of accumulated wisdom.
This week's entry talks about the way we live our lives:
"Would you rather be rich or wise? Wise, of course. So why do we pursue money with more zeal? Because money is more real to us. The key is to take that motivation for money, and apply it to the more meaningful aspects of life: relationships, spirituality.Provocative, no? Rabbi Weinberg goes on to discuss the following business and spiritual principles:If your business is worth it, then certainly "You, Inc." is worth it, too. Deal with yourself as if you're a big business. Examine how you strive to make a dollar, and seek wisdom in this same way. Apply business principles to living."
1. Operate Efficiently
2. Commit to the Goal
3. Strategic Planning
4. Keep an Accounting
5. Maintain Quality Control
6. Invest Long Term
7. Test Market
8. Inventory Control
The close is a story, "Elijah and the Fisherman." I won't spoil it for you with a preview, go read it for yourself.
This is a regular feature on Winds of Change. Every Friday (for Friday evening begins the Jewish Sabbath), we cover one more way to wisdom from Rabbi Noah Weinberg. These materials are written by an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi, but are written in such a way that they retain their value no matter what creed you follow.
Think of it as a gentle and modern way of sharing 5,000+ years of accumulated wisdom.
This week's heading is "Oral Instructions for Living," dealing with the oral commentaries around the written Torah. Even if you're not Jewish, applying the principles he explains to your preferred source of wisdom literature can pay real dividends. As Rabbi Weinberg notes:
"Judaism is not supposed to be a reference work sitting on the shelf. It's to be lived and internalized. If you gain a piece of wisdom, integrate it into living."Why not?
This is a regular feature on Winds of Change. Every Friday (for Friday evening begins the Jewish Sabbath), we cover one more way to wisdom from Rabbi Noah Weinberg. They're written by an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi, but retain their full value no matter what creed you follow. Think of them as a gentle and modern way of sharing almost 6,000 years of accumulated wisdom.
This week's feature encourages Jews to RTOM, or "read the owner's manual":
"All men have an inalienable right" -- straight from the Bible. "Love your neighbor" -- the Bible. Isaiah's vision of peace adorns the United Nations. The biblical sanction to "proclaim freedom throughout the land" is engraved on the Liberty Bell.Thanks, Rabbi, but I'm kind of busy over here. Maybe later? Hey, he understands:You don't need to accept the existence of God to learn these basic lessons. Whether inter relationships, self-awareness, community relations, or environmental concerns -- Torah is the ultimate "owner's manual."
"We don't have the patience to get to know ourselves and we want to learn from experience. Many people say: "After I make money, when my business is self-sustaining, then I'll take time out to learn Torah. But I need to experience life a little first."Uh, point taken.Three divorces later..."
This is a regular feature on Winds of Change. Every Friday (for Friday evening begins the Jewish Sabbath), we cover one more way to wisdom from Rabbi Noah Weinberg. These materials come from an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi, but are written in such a way that they retain their full value no matter what creed you follow.
Think of it as a gentle and modern way of sharing 5,000+ years of accumulated wisdom.
Way #13 (the Bar Mitzvah!) is about making decisions in ways that avoid both rashness and dithering, as we consider the challenges life places before us:
"The Sages say that whatever you encounter, study it four times. This process is likened to the act of planting - because wisdom is for the soul what food is for the body.Rabbi Weinberg then goes on to offer 6 Tools of Deliberation to help you in your efforts. To grasp them, you'll need to read the whole thing.....With everything you want to achieve - and the short time you have to do so - taking time to deliberate is the best investment you'll ever make."
- Plowing. The first time you go over an idea, try to figure it out. That's "breaking up the soil."
- Planting. The second time, the idea begins to make sense. You're "putting seeds into the ground," planting it into yourself.
- Harvesting. The third time, you come to an experiential and intellectual understanding. It's "reaping the wheat."
- Digesting. The fourth time, you integrate the idea into your life. It "nourishes" your soul and is now part of you.
