THE TEN WORDS
By Father John Walsh

Michael has asked me to respond to his question:  There are many commandments that are common to all of us, and many that are unique to our own faiths. Do you experience a commandment primarily as an act that gives glory to God, or primarily as an act that adds value to our lives – and if the latter, how do you maintain that feeling when the commandment seems burdensome or meaningless?
The ten words, commonly referred to as The Ten Commandments, were given to Moses …

ARE THERE TEN COMMANDMENTS?
By Rabbi Michael Whitman

When revealing Himself at Mount Sinai and introducing Himself to the entire Jewish people for the first time, and for all time, why does God describe Himself (Exodus 20:2) as the One who took us out of Egypt and not the One who created heaven and earth? Surely creating heaven and earth is a more majestic and apt description.
We refer to this passage as the Ten Commandments, one of the most influential collection of words in the history of mankind, words that hold special …

DEALING WITH THE BULLY
Father John Walsh

Our world is replete with bullying. In our schools, bigger kids bullying smaller kids, in offices people who are hard-working are attacked by the slackers and eventually have to quit, and in the Dictionary “bully pulpit” is attributed to the American presidency.
The fact is that bullying is not a question of strength but a question of weakness. Bullies are born of weakness and it shows in their inability to have an intelligent conversation. There are strong narcissistic characteristics in a bully, always having to be …

TAQWA AND ANGER (VIOLENCE)
ImamDr. Zijad Delic

The Concept of Taqwa is an important way in the Muslim tradition to help the faithful in refraining from sin such as abuse and violence. It should filter through our thoughts, feelings, behaviors and actions.
The term Taqwa means to be conscious, aware, and mindful of the One who created us and gave us so many blessings. The more we are aware of Him and conscious of Him the less we will become engaged in the activities with which he would not be pleased.
The Prophet Muhammad …

FEAR OF SHAME CAN WORK
Rabbi Michael Whitman

When I read John’s deep words, “what is man-made can be man-unmade,” I think of a Chassidic insight. Our rabbis teach the way to avoid sin is, “Da Mah L’Ma’aleh Mimchah – know What/Who is above you,” which means being conscious of God above us reminds us not to sin. A Chassidic master translated the words differently: know that what is above (your reputation and spiritual essence in heaven) is a result of what you do here.
Our rabbis warn us about anger: “One who …

VIOLENCE IS MAN-MADE AND CAN BE MAN-UNMADE
Father John Walsh

Violence has its many triggers. Fear, frustration, alienation, isolation, poverty, to name a few that lead to anger and eventually to violence. Violence is a symptom of what ails us the most but it has become systemic and culturally acceptable. We are not hard-wired to be violent; we are hard-wired to be empathic. What is man-made can be man-unmade. We must take the steps necessary to avoid the development of anger and there ae several ways to overcome anger. As a young …

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RESPONDING TO FATHER JOHN’S PREVIOUS POST ON CONSCIENCE
Rabbi Michael Whitman

After reading John’s essay several times I realized two things: First, that John is a much deeper thinker than I am! Second, the work we are doing together gives us a chance to learn how much unpacking and translating is necessary from one tradition to another – even when the words used are simple and easily understandable in other contexts.
John argues for the supreme authority of conscience, questions the relationship between subjective and objective morality that flows from conscience, and distinguishes …

Father John Walsh

Is the primary reason for all religions to form conscience? As a Catholic the failure of religion is to forsake this responsibility and to be sidetracked by other preoccupations. The formation of conscience is a never-ending process in my tradition because the Church is always “semper reformanda,” always renewing herself and updating with each generation. Each person is responsible for her or his own conscience; notwithstanding the reality that each person collectively forms a community conscience. A person’s conscience may be in keeping with the conscience of the …

MUSLIM WOMAN AT THE BEACH ASKED TO DISROBE
Rabbi Michael Whitman

Police forcing women at the beach to disrobe is just the latest assault on respect and common sense, in the name of secularism. Muslim women who wish to remain modestly covered while enjoying themselves at the beach in France have been targeted by municipal laws throughout France in the last few weeks. The fact that these laws have been overruled by French courts is of little comfort, as popular sentiment against these women has been unleashed in particularly venomous ways, and presidential …