February 7, 2020, 12-1

Last week’s we discussed participants’ reactions to televised debates between Rabbi Wolpe and Christopher Hitchens and other atheists.  It’s probably safe to say that no one came away from watching these videos thinking that either side made an airtight argument.  We were particularly interested in the affect displayed by the debaters–Wolpe seeming to be overly affable and Hitchens seeming to be overly arrogant.  We then went on to continue our discussion of Chapter 4 in Rabbi David Wolpe’s Why Faith Matters.  Among the issues discussed were whether the truths of faith endured, unlike the truths of science that often changed; Wolpe’s assurance that God interacts with the world; and Wolpe’s belief that we are partners with God in an on-going process of creating ourselves.

This Friday, we’ll begin with a loose end from Chapter 4, Wolpe’s discomfort with philosopher Thomas Nagel’s saying, “I hope there is no God! I don’t want there to be a God; I don’t want there to be a universe like that” (p. 103).  We’ll then begin discussion of Chapter 5, “What does Religion Really Teach?”  It’s likely that we’ll only get to discuss the first half of this long chapter this week.

Our informal discussion group meets every Friday from 12-1 in the CBI Library.  All are welcome to join us, regardless of their level of expertise or attendance at previous noon study group discussions. Why Faith Matters is available on a variety of internet outlets.  If you have questions, please contact Jay Jacoby at jbjacoby@uncc.edu.

All are invited to join us for a family-friendly Friday night service at 6:00pm followed by a vegetarian/dairy potluck meal.  Pizza (courtesy of Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian Restaurant) and ice cream are provided, please bring a salad or side dish.

Join us in welcoming Shabbat with prayer and song.