The God of the Whigs

Rabbi Artson has some thoughts about Process Theology: G-d evolves along with the universe and human action.

This theology assumes that G-d is sane and experiences time at least as far as cause-and-effect. This is my assumption as well. And I've never claimed the Torah is the perfect book; as a Christian, I believe Christ is the perfect Word.

But Artson assumes that G-d regrets His creation. Artson permits acts as are contrary to Nature, such as homosexuality. Or at least Artson fails to take a stand here where he is happy to speak out about labour-rights and overadministration of the death penalty.

Let's look deeper into one Biblical administration of that penalty, against witchcraft. Lewis thought that witches were disgusting quislings worthy of death. We execute traitors and the most egregious murderers. We do not execute fools caught in a sting, nor aggravated-assaulters who fail to kill by sheer luck. They'd failed to do their heinous deeds; one could say, by Divine grace, so by that grace we spare their lives. It is in that spirit we should not execute witches. California did not execute even Charles Manson, the cult leader. I do not however say that Manson was an innocent. I would say that Lewis is right inasmuch as witches attempt to contact the dark powers.

Many nonwitches also deserve death; hey, we shall all face it some day. Ultimately G-d is Judge and permits witches to poison... themselves, with the curses and hatred they would wish upon others. The above illuminates the wisdom of Torah, I think.

Despite agreeing on Artson on these narrow points I don't know that he comes to them from the correct standpoint. The rabbi appears to see G-d as the volonté-générale of modern Jewish liberals. Would even Spinoza dare this point? His rabbis certainly didn't.

BACKDATE 6/27