AdamRedwine

445 reputation

bio	website
	location	Augusta, GA
	age	30
visits	member for	1 year, 8 months
	seen	May 8 at 12:04
stats	profile views	41

I am currently employed in the nuclear industry and have university degrees in nuclear engineering and theoretical physics. I am primarily interested in science and philosophy but I also dabble in programing, information visualization, and fine typography.

	445 reputation	bio	website		visits	member for	1 year, 8 months
19 badges		location	Augusta, GA		seen	May 8 at 12:04

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45 Comments

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May 8	comment	Is it a greater mitzvah to return a lost item anonymously? I appreciate all of the comments and the answer. Though this clearly is not a major dilemma, it is nice to explore the bases for moral choices.
Nov 29	comment	What is the philosophy or logic for considering masturbation to be sinful? I don't know. I suppose that would be a good question to ask.
Nov 27	comment	What is the philosophy or logic for considering masturbation to be sinful? I am well aware of the differences between masturbation and sex; I participate in both on a regular basis. It is, however, neither healthy or normal for a post-pubescent person to not have any sexual release. When people advocate that masturbation is bad, as you do, they encourage unmarried people toward harmful practices.
Nov 20	comment	What is the philosophy or logic for considering masturbation to be sinful? I don't beleive that masturbation is "good" though I believe it is perfectly normal and healthy. I also believe that teaching children that masturbation is bad causes more harm than good both to the child and to society through the neuroses that develop as a result. I believe that represed sexuality is actually one factor in the prevelance of militancy amongst extremely religious groups.
Nov 20	comment	What is the philosophy or logic for considering masturbation to be sinful? I understand your position. I very much disagree with it, but I understand. I do not think that masturbation is bad for people. I just wanted to know why others disagree.
Nov 20	comment	What is the philosophy or logic for considering masturbation to be sinful? I find it fascinating the degree to which Conservative (Masorti) tradition encourages questioning and logic versus how much the Orthodox and Haredi traditions encourage blind obedience.
Nov 20	comment	What is the philosophy or logic for considering masturbation to be sinful? Interesting. Thanks for your response.
Aug 9	comment	Is the Talmud part of the Jewish canon? Thanks for the clarification.
Aug 9	comment	What is the philosophy or logic for considering masturbation to be sinful? @DovF, the comment about reducing the possibility of other sins is a very good point. I do not believe it is wrong, but it doesn't matter what I believe about it. I just wanted to know what are the justifications for believing that it is sinful other than "The Talmud says so." As I said above, that is a fine answer, it is just not what I was looking for.
Aug 9	comment	What is the philosophy or logic for considering masturbation to be sinful? One of the most appealing aspects of Judaism, to me, is that it (in many forms) encourages practictioners to question why certain things are done. The Talmud is almost nothing but rabbis questioning why. I have to believe there are reasons why Jews consider masturbation sinful other than "because the Talmud says so." Having read the link posted, I see that there is discussion in the Talmud, I just wanted to see some of that here as well.
Aug 9	comment	What is the philosophy or logic for considering masturbation to be sinful? @yoel, I did not ask "Does the law approve of, or disapprove of masturbation?" I asked "Why is masturbation considered sinful?" These are different questions. One posible answer to my question is "Because the Talmud says so." but there are many other possible answers. If the question were, "Why do we not work on Shabbat?" one could answer "Because the Torah says so," but one could also answer "In order to remember the day on which G-d rested after creation." I am looking for the second kind of answer.
Aug 9	comment	What is the philosophy or logic for considering masturbation to be sinful? @DoubleAA, I thought I had asked for both it's reasoning and clarification of it. Isn't that what the question "Why is X considered Y?" means? I could certainly delete my disclaimer if it is seen as distracting.
Aug 9	comment	What is the philosophy or logic for considering masturbation to be sinful? @Dov F, Thanks for the link.
Aug 9	comment	What is the philosophy or logic for considering masturbation to be sinful? @SethJ, No, I don't believe it is necessary to start from a position of acknowledging that sin exists. I do not "reject" the talmud, I just don't think everything it says is absolutely true.
Aug 9	comment	What is the philosophy or logic for considering masturbation to be sinful? @DoubleAA, Yes, I understand. I was simply interested in more of a reason than, because the Talmud says so. Surely it gives reasons for the statement.
Aug 9	comment	What is the philosophy or logic for considering masturbation to be sinful? @YDK, good point.
Aug 9	comment	What is the philosophy or logic for considering masturbation to be sinful? Good answer but I would really appreciate it if you provided a quote. I was also hoping for some discussion of the justifications for the claims. The statement "Because XXX says so" does not carry much water with me, even if it is the Talmud.
Aug 2	comment	How long does one say Kaddish for a sibling? My rabbi says 30 days, but did not give a source.
Aug 1	comment	How long does one say Kaddish for a sibling? @msh210 Yes, you are correct, I probably should.
Aug 1	comment	How long does one say Kaddish for a sibling? I have been saying it, when I go to shul (about once per week), for about 8 months now for my brother...