A Verifiable God

Quotes from Spinoza's Theological-Political Treatise

“Christ promises a spiritual reward”

 

[This spiritual reward I, the author, have most certainly received.  However, I do not believe in Jesus, but I can’t deny the possibility of having received it from Jesus.]

“(The) Law of Moses, (is) related to nothing but the Hebrew state and consequently nothing other than material benefits”

 

[This physical reward Moses promised I, the author, have most certainly received.]

In conclusion:

“we can know no one except from his works.  Anyone therefore who abounds in the fruits of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control…has truly been taught by God and is altogether happy.”

[Jackpot for spiritualists and religionists, but keep on searching you empiricists]

Review of Maimonides by Sherwin Nuland ***** - Excellent!

Nuland takes his atheism right out of the book and is a good reporter. I learned so much about the history of Jewish medicine through reading this book, especially that Maimonides was influenced to a great deal by Greek medicine. It was interesting to find that he would heal by any means necessary. His presentation of Maimonides is quite endearing, as this man understood that it was more important to save a life even if it caused the healer not to observe the Shabbat. Also, a big take home message for me is the association of healers with Judaism, and that the word rabbi, usually translated, “Teacher,” can also be translated as, “Healer.”