ULTIMATE REALITY AND THE MEANINGFUL LIFE – JUDAISM – THE KABBALAH – PART I
Philosophical Guidance
by Greg Ciliberti
1w ago
“Who can understand Thy tremendous mysteries, when Thou didst exalt above the ninth sphere, the sphere of Intelligence, the inner temple…This is the sphere which is exalted above all the highest and which no imagination can reach; and there is the Hiding Place, wherein is the canopy for Thy glory.”  Solomon Ibn Gabirol, The Fountain ..read more
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ULTIMATE REALITY AND THE MEANING OF LIFE – MAIMONIDES (end)
Philosophical Guidance
by Greg Ciliberti
2w ago
The third step to the knowledge of and connection with God is to discern God’s actions. Maimonides accepts the existence of higher spiritual beings which, as the creatures of God, exercise His influence on the lower portions of the world. Of particular importance is ‘the Active Intelligence’ which connects with the terrestrial sphere and actualizes ..read more
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ULTIMATE REALITY AND THE MEANING OF LIFE – MAIMONIDES (continued)
Philosophical Guidance
by Greg Ciliberti
2w ago
After we learn that ultimate reality for Maimonides is simply God and his works, we are not surprised to find that knowledge of God is the summum bonum leading us to an authentic connection with Him and to immortality, bliss, supreme beatitude, and true love of God.3 Recognition that God is constantly observing us awes ..read more
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ULTIMATE REALITY AND THE MEANINGFUL LIFE – MAIMONIDES
Philosophical Guidance
by Greg Ciliberti
3w ago
“…nothing exists but God Almighty and all His works, and His works are the only things in existence apart from Him…We must, therefore, examine the nature of all existing things so that we can from every science derive true and reliable data to assist us in our metaphysical speculations.” – Maimonides, Guide of the Perplexed ..read more
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ULTIMATE REALITY AND THE MEANINGFUL LIFE- THE OLD TESTAMENT (continued)
Philosophical Guidance
by Greg Ciliberti
2M ago
Having extracted the general representations of the divine being from The Old Testament as original, singular, the origin of physical reality, and finally incomprehensible, we turn now to the question of the ancient Hebrew concept of the ultimate world. To find our answer, we must consider four motifs found in the Hebrew bible: (1) ‘heaven ..read more
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ULTIMATE REALITY AND THE MEANINGFUL LIFE – THE HEBREW PRESPECTIVE – THE OLD TESTAMENT   
Philosophical Guidance
by Greg Ciliberti
2M ago
“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I am.’ God said further, ‘Thus shall you say to the Israelites, “I AM has sent me to you.” ’” – Exodus 3:13.1 Arguably the oldest theological conception of ultimate reality originates in Hebrew scripture known to Christians as The Old Testament.2 Today and next time I will ..read more
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ULTIMATE REALITY AND THE MEANINGFUL LIFE – THE THEOLOGICAL PRESPECTIVE – THE TWO WORLD THEORY
Philosophical Guidance
by Greg Ciliberti
3M ago
“Ineffable providence has thus set before us two goals to aim at: i.e. happiness in this life, which consists in the exercise of our own powers and is figured in the earthly paradise; and happiness in the eternal life, which consists in the enjoyment of the vision of God … and which is signified in ..read more
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ULTIMATE REALITY AND THE MEANINGFUL LIFE – THE THEOLOGICAL PRESPECTIVE – DIVINITY (continued)
Philosophical Guidance
by Greg Ciliberti
3M ago
Last time I argued that divinity can be best understood not via a dictionary-like definition, but rather by distinguishing divine from non-divine characteristics. I then jettisoned for various reasons the terms: immateriality, timelessness, infinitude, self-existence, singularness, supernaturalness, omniscience, and omnipotence as distinguishing characteristics. We arrive now at those properties which it seems to me circumscribe ..read more
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ULTIMATE REALITY AND THE MEANINGFUL LIFE – THE THEOLOGICAL PRESPECTIVE – DIVINITY
Philosophical Guidance
by Greg Ciliberti
3M ago
“To the question, ‘What is divinity?’ he said, ‘That which has neither beginning nor end.’ ” – Thales of Miletus. Before we probe world theological literature for a consensus description of ultimate reality, I think it makes sense to clarify two concepts integral to most, if not all theology: divinity and the two world theory ..read more
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ULTIMATE REALITY AND THE MEANINGFUL LIFE – THE THEOLOGICAL PRESPECTIVE – INTRODUCTION (continued)
Philosophical Guidance
by Greg Ciliberti
3M ago
We come now to an outline of this section covering the theological perspective on ultimate reality. While strict religious dogma is not the area of our prime interest, an orderly presentation follows best from dividing great thinkers based on their religious affiliation.1 We will start in the East with Hindu, Buddhist, and Taoist figures followed ..read more
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