13 Things Clergy Don’t Want You to Know

[SecularMotion]

Dear Rabbi, I just finished a Reader’s Digest book called the 13 Things They Won’t Tell You. The “They” are specialists in a number of fields. Sadly the book doesn’t include clergy. What are the thirteen things clergy won’t tell us?

While I’m sure different clergy will come up with different lists, here’s mine:

1. Religion is rooted in fear, especially fear associated with the afterlife. Every religion has a horrible vision of the afterlife (either some hell realm or terrible rebirth) that its clergy say can be avoided if you would but do what they tell you to do. While it may be coincidental rather than causal, the two largest religions—Christianity and Islam—posit the two most horrible after–life scenarios.

2. Clergy have no innate authority. This is why, if you don’t like what your clergy person says, you can reject her and find another one. The ideal clergy person is the one who says what you think, and who treats you the way you wish to be treated. When she or he fails to do one or the other, you move on.

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rabbiramishapiro/2014/08/13-things-clergy-dont-want-you-to-know/

[cbayer]

1. What an interesting guy this author is.

I wasn't familiar with him, but he certainly is provocative.

I looked at his "Holy Rascals" site, which is fun. Here is his description of a Holy Rascal

What is a Holy Rascal?
Ordinary rascals put people down; holy rascals lift them up.
Ordinary rascals make fun of religion; holy rascals have fun with religion.
Ordinary rascals despair of meaning; holy rascals rejoice in meaning making.
Ordinary rascals disrupt community; holy rascals transform community.

[libodem]

4. I can't help but like rascals

I sort if loved this article. I liked #5. Now I'll have to go back to see what exactly it said. I just got up. My brain isn't on yet.

Bookmarked to my phone for further reference. When I can think straight.

[cbayer]

5. I like rascals too, particularly the kind he describes.

I hope you get a chance to read it later. It's a good article, though unsettling for the most part. I think he is talking about a particular type of clergy, and I doubt that he thinks he is one of "them", but it is quite thought provoking regardless.

[libodem]

13. He is my kind of Rabbi

IMHO secular Jews are so brilliant. This is a thoughtful man.

[trotsky]

9. "Ordinary rascals make fun of religion"

Like laughing at a religion's holy book while on a road trip?

[intaglio]

2. K&R a good read

and an interesting man

[rurallib]

3. Thanks for this

I would say point #1 is the main point and the rest flow from their.

[TM99]

6. He sounds like a Buddhist.

[Starboard Tack]

7. Thanks SecMo for a really great post

This guy, Rabbi Rami, says it all. Beautiful!

[TygrBright]

8. Exactly. I hope this goes viral.

The author's insight about religion reflects a vision for better humanity.

I especially liked the paired/contrasted observations in #12 & #13.

Thanks for posting this.

appreciatively,
Bright

[trotsky]

10. I'm confused.

Many things on this list have been stated in this very group - and the person who stated them was branded an evil "anti-atheist," or a "distruptor," or a "demon." I'm looking specifically at this one:

7. Anything you claim to know about God, even the notion that there is a God, is a product of your imagination.

Similar statements have been condemned as being as bad as fundamentalists, "how dare you tell people it's imaginary if you don't have PROOF that it is," etc. But yet the individual who has done that exact chiding is now complimenting this author.

[mr blur]

11. You're looking for logic? Consistency? Civility?

Here?
Good luck with that.

[pinto]

12. Good read. I wish I knew more about the "Jewish debate" traditions. (That may be the wrong term).

"Rabbinical meetings"? Apparently they are often lively, opinionated and held as a part of Rabbinical practices.

[okasha]

14. Judaism has a 2000 year old tradition

of rabbis happily arguing with each other. Go back another 500 and you get the prophets mixing it up with Yahweh himself.

[daleo]

15. That was intresting