In this case, yes. I think the 'may God have mercy on you all' was a dead giveaway that the commentator leaned more heavily towards religion than intellect' in this context.
However, historically religion is often based on both academic and spiritual pursuit so no I don't see a dichotomy generally. Every case is individual.
I don't know Nancy so I cannot be sure of her thinking in that short post, but I have my suspicions.
First, somewhere between 10% and 20% of people alive today are professing Christians. Christmas is the second most important point in the Christian calendar and the most visible. While I prefer my hearty meal of ultimate truth served with a side of humor, I can understand the desire for a more substantial essay on Christmas Eve. The repost today of last year's Christmas essay is quite substantial.
Second, I sense irony and hyperbole in the, "May God have mercy on you all" statement. It uses something very close to a final statement of a judge to a prisoner convicted to death to chide the "power structure" of the Free Press for an essay perceived as weak. Hyperbole when used sparingly is an excellent way to get a point across. Many rabbis use it to great effect - including the rabbi whose birth we celebrate today.
Merry Christmas! And may God have mercy on my soul!
I must have struck a nerve to have invited this. I assure you, I was not insulting religion if that is what is worrying you. I was simply pointing out that there are more appropriate substacks if you wish to dictate the focus for a more religious subject during the holidays. It's also quite myopic to insist a certain 'holiday spirit' infuse an article which people of multiple religions, as well as those actively opposed to religion, are reading. It speaks to an entitlement that things go one's way and that everyone see the holiday period as you do, when one expresses disappointment or anger over an article not written according to a specific focus, and with your own demographic in mind.
I never thought this would turn into a bigger thread, however, since it has, I must also point out that what you have written above is not only quite a stretch, but also off-topic. I am guessing you did not like my response regarding a dichotomy between intellect and religion, and so you have introduced a distraction as if you need to justify the 'intellect' in the original poster's comment suggesting their 'May G-d have mercy on us all' was hyperbolic. But no matter which way you spin it, it still comes across as a demand for a specific type of focus, rather than a tolerance for multiple viewpoints and approaches to the holiday season. Bari's substack posts some pretty heavy and intense content throughout the year. Perhaps the holiday season is a perfect time for a little informative trivia.
Having attended multiple synagogues over decades I can assure you that I have never heard a rabbi say 'May G-d have mercy on your soul.' Your perspective is a very Christian one, and the original comment was definitely self-centered. This self-centeredness and self-importance when it comes to dictating how a subject is managed, is because you have enjoyed the privilege of being considered the norm and status quo. When you are Jewish, and you are reading a substack about Hannukah that is read by a diversity of people, you would never demand it be more indicative of the spirit of Hannukah - because being a minority you realize that many people reading this aren't necessarily going to care for the spirit of Hannukah, but rather that what unites us here, which is the spirit of thinking.
I hope that explains my position further, and Merry Christmas to you!
Thanks for your generosity shown by eloquently explaining your point. On reading my responses again, and especially since you have say how being Jewish informs your viewpoint, I can readily understand how you see an air of presumption on my part. I feel I have touched a nerve too, for which I am sorry.
Yes, I am overly sensitive to claims that religious belief cannot be held by intelligent people. Your second post clarified that you were not claiming that.
Your last post clarified your specific objection with hammer-strength- fitting for the season I suppose.
I would like to clarify one thing,
however. I have heard rabbis use hyperbole, but (like you) not the statement about G-d having mercy on souls. This includes the rabbi who spoke so eloquently at my nieceтАЩs funeral. May her memory be a blessing.
I pray that you prosper in love and understanding. Thank you for your gift to me. Happy Hanukkah!
What a lovely response. Thank you. I know I can be too forceful in the way I express myself sometimes. Just try to imagine a loud, Jewish woman animatedly sharing her opinion rather than someone who is actually upset or annoyed in any way.
I am terribly sorry to read about your niece. May her memory be a blessing.
Seriously? This is your feature article on Christmas Eve? May God have mercy on you all.
Well, this is a thinkers' substack. There are plenty out there that cater purely to the religiously observant.
N & C, your comment implies that you see a dichotomy between thinkers and the religiously observant. Did you intend that?
In this case, yes. I think the 'may God have mercy on you all' was a dead giveaway that the commentator leaned more heavily towards religion than intellect' in this context.
However, historically religion is often based on both academic and spiritual pursuit so no I don't see a dichotomy generally. Every case is individual.
I don't know Nancy so I cannot be sure of her thinking in that short post, but I have my suspicions.
First, somewhere between 10% and 20% of people alive today are professing Christians. Christmas is the second most important point in the Christian calendar and the most visible. While I prefer my hearty meal of ultimate truth served with a side of humor, I can understand the desire for a more substantial essay on Christmas Eve. The repost today of last year's Christmas essay is quite substantial.
Second, I sense irony and hyperbole in the, "May God have mercy on you all" statement. It uses something very close to a final statement of a judge to a prisoner convicted to death to chide the "power structure" of the Free Press for an essay perceived as weak. Hyperbole when used sparingly is an excellent way to get a point across. Many rabbis use it to great effect - including the rabbi whose birth we celebrate today.
Merry Christmas! And may God have mercy on my soul!
I must have struck a nerve to have invited this. I assure you, I was not insulting religion if that is what is worrying you. I was simply pointing out that there are more appropriate substacks if you wish to dictate the focus for a more religious subject during the holidays. It's also quite myopic to insist a certain 'holiday spirit' infuse an article which people of multiple religions, as well as those actively opposed to religion, are reading. It speaks to an entitlement that things go one's way and that everyone see the holiday period as you do, when one expresses disappointment or anger over an article not written according to a specific focus, and with your own demographic in mind.
I never thought this would turn into a bigger thread, however, since it has, I must also point out that what you have written above is not only quite a stretch, but also off-topic. I am guessing you did not like my response regarding a dichotomy between intellect and religion, and so you have introduced a distraction as if you need to justify the 'intellect' in the original poster's comment suggesting their 'May G-d have mercy on us all' was hyperbolic. But no matter which way you spin it, it still comes across as a demand for a specific type of focus, rather than a tolerance for multiple viewpoints and approaches to the holiday season. Bari's substack posts some pretty heavy and intense content throughout the year. Perhaps the holiday season is a perfect time for a little informative trivia.
Having attended multiple synagogues over decades I can assure you that I have never heard a rabbi say 'May G-d have mercy on your soul.' Your perspective is a very Christian one, and the original comment was definitely self-centered. This self-centeredness and self-importance when it comes to dictating how a subject is managed, is because you have enjoyed the privilege of being considered the norm and status quo. When you are Jewish, and you are reading a substack about Hannukah that is read by a diversity of people, you would never demand it be more indicative of the spirit of Hannukah - because being a minority you realize that many people reading this aren't necessarily going to care for the spirit of Hannukah, but rather that what unites us here, which is the spirit of thinking.
I hope that explains my position further, and Merry Christmas to you!
Thanks for your generosity shown by eloquently explaining your point. On reading my responses again, and especially since you have say how being Jewish informs your viewpoint, I can readily understand how you see an air of presumption on my part. I feel I have touched a nerve too, for which I am sorry.
Yes, I am overly sensitive to claims that religious belief cannot be held by intelligent people. Your second post clarified that you were not claiming that.
Your last post clarified your specific objection with hammer-strength- fitting for the season I suppose.
I would like to clarify one thing,
however. I have heard rabbis use hyperbole, but (like you) not the statement about G-d having mercy on souls. This includes the rabbi who spoke so eloquently at my nieceтАЩs funeral. May her memory be a blessing.
I pray that you prosper in love and understanding. Thank you for your gift to me. Happy Hanukkah!
What a lovely response. Thank you. I know I can be too forceful in the way I express myself sometimes. Just try to imagine a loud, Jewish woman animatedly sharing her opinion rather than someone who is actually upset or annoyed in any way.
I am terribly sorry to read about your niece. May her memory be a blessing.
Wishing you only good things.
Seriously ?