Daniel J Pearso
writes:
>>Everyone talks about It/.../Him but I never heard a good
definition.Many..
>>speak and act as if G-d was some kind of
omnipotent person...What I need
>>is a definition that is truly
satisfying.
Micha Berger responds:
<<However Rambams approach is to show..First
Cause..>>
I would suggest that Micha was referring to the Rambam in Foundations
of
Torah Chap 1. However a more complete definition (thus answering
Daniel's
question) is in Repentance 3:6-8. Paragraphs 6,7,8 discuss 3 groups
of
attributes which are essential. These 3 groups of attributes give rise
to
13 specific properties which have found there way into the 13 verses of
the
Poem Yigdal. Finally these same 3 groups are the groups that Rabbi
Albo
used in his review of all beliefs of G-d in his book Essentials
(The
Ikarim). These 3 groups are
Repentance 3:7: LORDSHIP/PRAYER: Omnipotent; All prayer goes only to
Him
Repentance 3:8: PROPHECY: Mans capacity to prophecy; Moses
greatness
Repentance 3:6: REWARD & PUNISHMENT: Including the resurrection
of the dead
In other words: To believe in G-d is to believe that there is Someone One
can
Pray to, Who has the power to do anything, who can and has verbally
responded
to man and who will punish/reward those who violate his will.
Incidentally we
anthromorphize G-d because of Prayer and Prophecy (speech is
distinctly
human!)
Russell Jay Hendel, Phd. ASA; rhendel @ mcs drexel edu