Kabbalah
( Hebrew for "to receive") is a form of Jewish mysticism which
emerged around 1300 CE.
Adherents
of Kabbalah claim their texts were transmitted by God in the beginning, and
handed down - not to the masses, but to worthwhile seekers from each
generation.
The
Kabbalah represents Ein Sof's ( "the infinite") hidden blueprint, a
roadmap for comprehending the deepest questions about purpose and meaning, a
key to unlocking the greatest mysteries of life and the universe.
Adherents
believe the Hebrew Bible contains God's secret code. Emphasis is placed onto
the books of Genesis and Ezekiel because these books detail creation and close
encounters with God.
Discernment
of the Kabbalah is considered subjective and difficult because God's reality is
multi-layered and highly complex. One is always required to dig deeper to find
hidden truths beneath revealed truths.
Kabbalists
believe that creation is not a past event but an ongoing process similar to
evolution. In this way, biblical faith and evolutionary science are not in
competition, but are in unison to God's reality.
Finally,
the Kabbalah is not believed to be an independent religion, but rather a
spiritual tradition able to be practiced by adherents of many faiths. However,
the majority of Kabbalists prefer Judaism over others.
Question
-
What thoughts do you have about Kabbalah?
References
Matt,
D. C., & Matt, D. C. (1995). The essential Kabbalah: The heart of Jewish
mysticism. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco.
Scholem,
G. G. (1991). Origins of the Kabbalah. Princeton University Press.
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