Q&A: Rabbi Michael Abraham's Conception of God
Rabbi Michael Abraham's Conception of God
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I would be very glad to hear what your view is regarding the conception of God.
When you stand and pray and say, “Blessed are You, Lord,” etc., or are struck by religious feelings when you say, “How great are Your works, Lord” — who and what is that God whom you see in your mind’s eye? A conscious personal being with free will? Or perhaps that positive, benevolent New Age energy that animates the world?
That mighty king, blessed, great, speaker of peace, majestic, ancient, elderly with gray hair and a long white beard?
Or perhaps you zealously negate His attributes with the flaming sword that turns every way — turning essential attributes into attributes of action and concluding, “We have no dealing with hidden matters.”
Answer
First, I usually do not have religious feelings.
Second, I do not see any kind of figure before my eyes. For me, this is an abstract being that created the world and us. Since there are interactions with Him, He is what is called personal.