Overview

"Why Call It God? contends that God is the order of the universe, including """"divine intangibles"""" such as love, justice, beauty, and compassion, which correctly give us faith that our lives have purpose and meaning. The age-old problem of evil, science increasingly explaining how the world works when we used to turn to God and religion for answers, and rampant secularism have produced a decline in religion, though less a rebellion than simply a drifting away. We need to understand that God is the order of the universe and thus the ultimate source of life, meaning, and spirituality. Since no one fully understands the divine, all God talk is metaphorical and approximate. Many moderns mistakenly think they are religious doubters when in fact they are just holding on to personal metaphors for God as """"king"""" and """"judge"""" when they could, and most often do, believe in the awe-inspiring order of being, a conviction enhanced by science, religion, ethics, and the arts."

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9781725284944

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In Why Call it God?, Rabbi Mecklenburger continues with insightful inquiries into the connections between religion and science. He demonstrates effectively that religious concepts from Judaism and other faith traditions have continued relevance for our daily lives in an age of scientific advancement and skepticism. --Daniel S. Levine, Professor of Psychology, University of Texas at Arlington In our increasingly secular age, Rabbi Ralph Mecklenburger explores faith and how to think about and speak of God and ourselves in more meaningful ways. . . . Mecklenburger makes a persuasive case for 'Order of Being' as language for God reflective of our times and explains why we need to think about this important topic. He reflects, builds upon, and incorporates the tenor of our times in ways that I, as a Roman Catholic, found tov me'od (very good) for my nephesh (self, soul). --Toni Craven, Emerita Professor of Hebrew Bible, Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University Rabbi Mecklenburger examines the timeless principles of faith in light of twenty-first-century knowledge. Leaving no essential religious question unaddressed, his compelling and thoughtful conclusions will illuminate and animate the life and faith of every reader. --Richard Agler, Rabbi Emeritus, Congregation B'nai Israel of Boca Raton Recognizing that all language for God is metaphorical, Rabbi Mecklenburger shows how the concept that God is a person has become increasingly problematic, leading some persons away from faith. In its place, he offers a philosophical metaphor for God that he argues persuasively will allow persons troubled by the personal metaphor to believe that there is more to life than accident, that beyond life's pleasures, and despite our obvious frailty and inevitable death, our lives do matter; that they have purpose and meaning. Persons acquainted with the Abrahamic faiths--Judaism, Christianity, and Islam--will appreciate Mecklenburger's attention to the relationship of his philosophical metaphor for God to the Hebrew Scriptures and contemporary religious practices. --D. Newell Williams, President and Professor of Modern and American Church History, Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University Too often, our language about God is stuck in the past. But just as human beings, culture and even Judaism itself have evolved and changed over time, our views of God need to evolve, as well. Rabbi Mecklenburger and Why Call It God? approach some of the most challenging theological topics--from mitzvot to covenant to prophecy--with rationality and a scientific mindset, helping us develop dynamic new ways to think about and talk about God. --Geoffrey A. Mitelman, Founding Director, Sinai and Synapses

In Why Call it God?, Rabbi Mecklenburger continues with insightful inquiries into the connections between religion and science. He demonstrates effectively that religious concepts from Judaism and other faith traditions have continued relevance for our daily lives in an age of scientific advancement and skepticism. --Daniel S. Levine, Professor of Psychology, University of Texas at Arlington In our increasingly secular age, Rabbi Ralph Mecklenburger explores faith and how to think about and speak of God and ourselves in more meaningful ways. . . . Mecklenburger makes a persuasive case for 'Order of Being' as language for God reflective of our times and explains why we need to think about this important topic. He reflects, builds upon, and incorporates the tenor of our times in ways that I, as a Roman Catholic, found tov me'od (very good) for my nephesh (self, soul). --Toni Craven, Emerita Professor of Hebrew Bible, Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University Rabbi Mecklenburger examines the timeless principles of faith in light of twenty-first-century knowledge. Leaving no essential religious question unaddressed, his compelling and thoughtful conclusions will illuminate and animate the life and faith of every reader. --Richard Agler, Rabbi Emeritus, Congregation B'nai Israel of Boca Raton Recognizing that all language for God is metaphorical, Rabbi Mecklenburger shows how the concept that God is a person has become increasingly problematic, leading some persons away from faith. In its place, he offers a philosophical metaphor for God that he argues persuasively will allow persons troubled by the personal metaphor to believe that there is more to life than accident, that beyond life's pleasures, and despite our obvious frailty and inevitable death, our lives do matter; that they have purpose and meaning. Persons acquainted with the Abrahamic faiths--Judaism, Christianity, and Islam--will appreciate Mecklenburger's attention to the relationship of his philosophical metaphor for God to the Hebrew Scriptures and contemporary religious practices. --D. Newell Williams, President and Professor of Modern and American Church History, Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University Too often, our language about God is stuck in the past. But just as human beings, culture and even Judaism itself have evolved and changed over time, our views of God need to evolve, as well. Rabbi Mecklenburger and Why Call It God? approach some of the most challenging theological topics--from mitzvot to covenant to prophecy--with rationality and a scientific mindset, helping us develop dynamic new ways to think about and talk about God. --Geoffrey A. Mitelman, Founding Director, Sinai and Synapses

Author Information

Ralph Mecklenburger is rabbi emeritus of Beth-El Congregation in Fort Worth, Texas, and adjunct faculty at Brite Divinity School. In recent years he has developed expertise in the theological implications of cognitive studies and neuroscience, and his first book, Our Religious Brains, was published in 2012.

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