Questions regarding our understanding of God, such as it is. NOT for every question about Jewish beliefs.
6
votes
1answer
600 views
Is there any difference between Jewish G-d and Muslim G-d? [closed]
Do Jews and Muslims worship the same G-d? If so, do they understand G-d the same way? As a related point, is there any linguistic or theological connection between "Allah" and "Eloha" (or "Elohim")? ...
18
votes
7answers
694 views
Bereishit vs. science
How does Judaism deal with the differences between scientific evidence of the beginning of the world and the account(s) in Bereishit?
11
votes
4answers
311 views
Is belief in a G-d a commandment?
I am studying to convert to Judaism and one of the questions I was asked was about the Ten Commandments. I remember reading at that time that there was debate about the division of the statements ...
8
votes
5answers
665 views
Sheidim, fact or fiction?
Are there really such thing as sheidim? If so, what are they? Please include sources.
12
votes
6answers
736 views
How do we know that God exists?
Simple enough question, and very much related to the topic.
According to the sources, on what basis should people believe that there's a God?
5
votes
4answers
283 views
Hashem is here and there and everywhere?
Is Hashem really in front of us, behind us, next to us, etc?
11
votes
3answers
218 views
Do people have an effect on the mood of God?
If a person commits idolatry or fornication he is sinful. Not only that, but the curse of Hashem is with that person. On the other hand, if a person does a lot of mitswots (commandments) and believes ...
10
votes
5answers
203 views
Why did Yonah run away?
If Yonah understood that he was being commanded by God, then how could he have possibly thought that he could run away? Did he believe that God was tied to a particular land, the way pagan gods were ...
12
votes
4answers
608 views
What is the machlokes between the Gra and Ba'al HaTanya?
What is the famous argument between the Vilna Gaon and the Ba'al HaTanya in understanding the Sod HaTzimtzum? And what are some ma'areh mekomos in their works where this Machlokes is seen?
6
votes
1answer
134 views
Does G-d only hear one language?
I'm a little confused by Rambam Hil. Tefilla 1:4.
Consequently, when someone would pray, he would be limited in his ability to request his needs or to praise the Holy One, blessed be He, in ...
11
votes
7answers
950 views
How does Judaism deal with God and paradoxes?
How does Judaism deal with paradoxes relating to the omnipotence of God?
For example: Can God create a rock that he himself cannot lift?
3
votes
3answers
418 views
Bad Jew or Good Gentile?
Whom does Hashem love more: Gentiles who love Jewish people and Israel or Jews who are against Jewish people and Israel?
-1
votes
3answers
128 views
Would Israel's sibling nation do Yibbum?
If Klal Yisrael would all die, ch"v, then would Edom become obligated in Tora uMitzvot because of Yibbum? (because Jacob's/Israel's brother is Esav, Edom.) Or would chalitzah happen because no other ...
6
votes
8answers
336 views
do we really have free choice?
I was told Hashem created us with free will; so we can make a choice to do good or evil, right? Well, Hashem knows what we are going to do in 10 minutes. So do we really have free will? Hashem can see ...
4
votes
7answers
576 views
How can God be just in light of Deuteronomy 23:3?
Deuteronomy 23:3: A bastard shall not enter into the assembly of the
LORD; even to the tenth generation shall none of his enter into the
assembly of the LORD.
I asked a similar question here ...
3
votes
3answers
176 views
Does God benefit from our keeping of the Mitzvos?
Does Hashem benefit from mankind doing the commandments of the Torah?
3
votes
3answers
246 views
Getting benefit from a church
I recently heard that one is forbidden to get any benefit from a church (or any other place of worship other then a shul). They went on to say that the prohibation included while giving directions ...
0
votes
1answer
121 views
Why Wait for Moshiach
The Rambam in Hilchos Yesodei HaTorah says God has no joy or sadness. If so, why do we wait for moshiach? For G-d's glory? G-d does not need anything from us. How are we supposed to have intent to ...
11
votes
6answers
488 views
Reconciling the evidence for the Uncertainty Principle with belief in an omniscient G-d
One of the foundations of modern quantum mechanics is the Uncertainty Principle. This principle is not an assumption, but rather is derived from assumptions made with regard to the structure of ...
6
votes
4answers
191 views
Why is God so hidden from us
Why did God institute a natural order so that His presence would be hidden. I know so many people who are hopelessly convinced of the scientific perspective that the world is basically a machine ...
4
votes
1answer
96 views
Better for Man to Not have Been Created
The Talmud in Eruvin 13b concludes that it were better for a man not to have been created than to have been created.
How can we understand this given that God is absolutely benevolent.
Wouldn't it ...
4
votes
1answer
192 views
What is the difference between Orthodox, Reform and Conservative? (Re: Theology)
I'm asking purely in a da ma l'hoshiv context. I grew up frum (Orthodox) and currently work for a Jewish organization that hires a lot of non-jews as well as Conservative and Reform Jews.
One of the ...
6
votes
3answers
97 views
What happened to Avraham's students?
We read how Avraham was going around convincing people to believe in one G-d and of his many students. Yet we don't hear of those students (or their descendants) ever again.
What happened to them ...
6
votes
2answers
220 views
Is there sufficient evidence to support the theory that ancient Israel practiced monolatry?
I just came across this Wikipedia article on monolatrism that says some people believe ancient Israel practiced monolatry.
The highest claim to be made for Moses is that he was, rather than a ...
5
votes
1answer
73 views
Hashem calls people twice and Hinneni
In many places in the Tanach Hashem uses a name twice (ie Avraham, Avraham in Breshit 22:11; Jacob Jacob in Breshit 46:2; Shmuel shmuel in Shmuel Aleph 3:10 and more).
Rashi says that this is an ...
5
votes
3answers
223 views
The Absolute Unity of G-d
As we all who know Hebrew can assert, the sufix "im" in the words usually means plurality. How can HaShem be Elohim or Elokim if He is absolutely One and the Only Lord?
5
votes
4answers
200 views
God's Pair of Teffilin
How when moshe turns his head not to see God's face, he sees He's got on teffilin? I thought God had no physical form.
4
votes
1answer
59 views
Is idolatrous belief forbidden for gentiles, or is it just practice?
Suppose a non-Jew believes that there are multiple gods, but he does not worship them in any way. Is this a violation of the prohibition against idolatry for gentiles?
4
votes
3answers
234 views
Is Hashem corporeal?
I heard of a discussion over Peseach about whether Hashem is corporeal.
Which classical Jewish sources (Talmud/Achronim/Rishonim) offer definitive opinions about this? (Please cite references!)
I ...
3
votes
0answers
48 views
אלקים בגימטריא הטבע and not טבע?
There's a oft quoted saying that "אלקים בגימטריא הטבע." Why is it הטבע and not טבע? Isn't it "cheating" to add the extra "ה"?
3
votes
1answer
90 views
Why btzelem elokim and not btzelem yud-kay-vav-kay?
The torah states that humans are made btzelem elokim. We know that the shem elokim connotes middat ha-din. What ramification does this have on humans (if any)? Why were humans not made btzelem the ...
3
votes
1answer
169 views
Why can't we say God's name?
Why are we no longer allowed to pronounce the name "Elokim" in everyday speech?
3
votes
2answers
144 views
Shabbat songs that rhyme only with Hashem's real name [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Pronouncing Hashem's name in a song
Many songs we sing and the Shabbat table we use the word Hashem instead of Hashem's real name even when the song was written in ...
2
votes
0answers
50 views
What God must gentiles believe in?
In the Rambam's Mishne Tora, the end of chapter 8 of M'lachim reads:
Any [gentile] who accepts seven commands and is careful to fulfill them is among the pious of the nations of the world and has ...
2
votes
2answers
76 views
Is idolatrous belief forbidden for Jews, or is it just practice?
Suppose a Jew believes that there are multiple gods, but he does not worship them in any way. Is this a violation of the prohibition against idolatry for Jews?
We see from this answer that similar ...
2
votes
1answer
136 views
What's the best rewording of “midas harachamim aleinu hisgalgli” for those uncomfortable with it?
In the Selichot (fifth day of Aseret Yimei Teshuvah, HaPizmon shel Yud Gimel Middot HaRahamim) and in Ne'ila of Yom Kippur, there's the stanza that reads:
The concern is the few middle lines:
...
2
votes
4answers
209 views
1
vote
4answers
307 views
Is Hashem spiritual? [closed]
I know that Hashem is not physical but is He spiritual? Also does He exist in time?
0
votes
6answers
352 views
Can God destroy Himself?
I was thinking about it lately.
If God can do everything, can He destroy Himself?
Is there something about this possibility in any of the holy books?
0
votes
1answer
126 views
What is the Reconstructionist theology notion of G-d?
I would like to know more about the Reconstructionist theology. What books would be good to know more about this movement, stressing the objectives and consequences of its altered understanding of ...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
What are the names of God used in Judaism? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
ALL Names of God
What are names used to refer to God in Judaism? How many of them are there? If there are many, what are the most used one? Please consider providing ...
0
votes
2answers
235 views
Hashem is here, Hashem is there…REALLY?
The song "Hashem is here, Hashem is there..." seems to pose many interesting theological problems. What concerns would you have with this song? How would you educate your child on the challenges this ...
-3
votes
2answers
131 views
Doomsday scenario, what would Hashem do?
Lets say John is about to end all mankind by releasing a deadly virus that can never be reversed, cured, or stopped. Will Hashem step in and stop the act? This is a contradiction because Hashem gave ...
-3
votes
5answers
316 views
Does G_d get incarnated?
There are 3 religions that says so. The obvious one is Christianity with that being it's central term. The second one is Hindu. Khrisna is said to be a God incarnate.
But in torah I often see stories ...
