Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, also known by the Hebrew acronym RaMCHaL, wrote in Derekh Hashem (The Way of G-d) "Man is the creature created for the purpose of being drawn close to G-d. He is placed between perfection and deficiency, with the power to earn perfection. Man must earn this perfection, however, through his own free will... Man's inclinations are therefore balanced between good (Yetzer HaTov) and evil (Yetzer HaRa), and he is not compelled toward either of them. He has the power of choice and is able to choose either side knowingly and willingly..."
Source: Wikipedia
It's interesting how much my thoughts are influenced by Jewish concepts now. My husband's deployment is nearing, which leads to many stressful situations and a lot of tension in our household. Shalom beit has left the building...
As I was thinking about how I normally think and respond when faced with these situations (aside: who knew there would be a real-life reason to use the term "metacognition?"), I realized I'm starting to see a split between my first inclination to react, and my thoughts on how I should react knowing the circumstances influencing each of us. That thought led to a rumination on the nature of being, and the yetzer hatov and yetzer hara.
After laughing at myself for being so immersed in my own mind that I had stood with my hands in a sinkful of soapy dishes without washing more than two in ten minutes, I launched into more thoughts on how much my thought patterns have changed over the course of the year. It's natural for a Jewish concept of human nature to occur, rather than the usual Christian approach that I naturally jump to the negative reaction because I'm born evil and broken and obviously need saving and "washing in the blood." The Jewish approach is much more forgiving, yet also more realistic than, say, the basic tabula rasa approach.
I have to question how anyone could look at a child and say that the in-born selfishness they exhibit at a year old consigns them to hellfire. Are they influenced by a bent which puts others behind self, of course! This is why the idea of yetzer hatov developing later (and around the time that developmental psychology says judgement and higher thinking are developing) makes so much sense and is so much more acceptable to my mind. Of course, I realize my mind isn't enough to base a belief system on (wouldn't it be nice if I were on that level of function!), but in order for me to accept a belief system as my own and to live my life accordingly, I have to find it compelling and reasonable. As with a scientific hypothesis and theory, when evidence leans more to one hypothesis than another, we accept the one that best explains the evidence...we don't twist the evidence to match our firm thoughts.
My husband would tell me I'm missing the entire point of faith and belief. Perhaps he's right. But if all I had was blind faith, what would keep me elbow-high in dishes?
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