(19) marc , February 6, 2009

You are very right! NOn- believers will never believe unless they decide to give it a chance. We don't have to prove it from these miracles. Are body working is a mircale and can not at all be explained by science! I hate to break it to all of you, but no matter how much explanation about our bodies and the earth and its creatures scientists will explain, they will not be able to tellyou all the sources. all leads back to the one above!

(18) David , February 5, 2009

Wow! Talk about pre-conceived notions!

"Doesn't there really seem to be some kind of supreme being?" Sorry, although I'd classify myself as a believer (more or less), if I thought that was the best argument for belief in God, I'd resign and join the other side. If the US Air crash with no fatalities proves there's a God, does another crash with 100% fatalities prove there's no God? or does it prove that the doomed passengers just didn't "believe" enough? But this was the prize line: "When you want to believe something, you can see anything else you want and it won't make a dent." Indeed, Rabbi Salomon!

(17) Anonymous , February 5, 2009

Preconceived notions

I think Rabbi Salomon has preconceived notions as well. Looking in a mirror can be helpful.

(16) Hanan , February 5, 2009

On miracles

Let me first start off by saying I believe in God, but it seems you are only addressing the good that happens and classifying it as a miracle. What about all those other planes that end up crashing and killing scores of people? Like Jason mentioned, your argument is entirely circular. It's not that these events show you that there is a God, but that you start of with a belief in God and then see events supporting that axiom. How are you going to show a person that the plane landing in the Hudson was a miracle when most other planes would crash and kill people? You can't. Remember, in order for you to reach out to those 16% that do not believe, you have to show there is a God first, then the miracle argument can work. Because events like the plane landing, and the octuplets are going to be interpreted differently with each individual based on his all ready established beliefs.

(15) sharona , February 4, 2009

re to Fred

It's true that many tragic events happen besides nice events. But when any event happens, we try to trust that for everything there is a reason. We don't know the reason, but it is there. Plus, sometimes when something tragic happens, there is a silver liling like someone survived or people came together to help others and so on

(14) Jason , February 4, 2009

Definition of Miracles

With all due respect, your definition of a "miracle" is quite wanting. If something can be explained scientifically, is it in your submission, a "miracle"? You engage in circular reasoning. You conclude without any scientific data that there is a God, and therefore assert that there must be a God for certain events to have ocurred. You lament the fact that non-believers have pre-conceived notions, but you yourself promote your own self-conceived notions!

(13) Denise C , February 4, 2009

Maybe...

Maybe, most of them believe but they don't want to show their faith openly, because of the violence, of the discrimination, of the intolerance of the open believers!!!

(12) Elonna , February 4, 2009

Luck & science

A lot of people would say the survivors of the crashed plane had a skilled pilot and were lucky. The octuplets the result of medical science and lots of luck. People are going to believe whatever they feel like believing. As long as they are good people, living their lives a certain way, I think that is what matters. I spent 10 years with an atheist and never argued with him about it. At the end of 10 years, he announced he was agnostic. What mattered most to me is he was a good person at heart.

(11) Patty Ann Smith , February 4, 2009

It Is Very Good

God looked at HIS creation and said "It is very good", I like to say that about everything too. I always add very in front of good!. God is so very good!!. I don't understand clearly why we must at this time have all this suffering that is happening in our world, but I have confidence that God is working it all out for the "very good" sake of man and His creation!

(10) Hannah , February 4, 2009

What makes one believe

I don't think its only in the 'good things' (as opposed to 'bad things') in life that are sufficient enough to make a person believe. Its about knowledge and also knowledge of looking at creation (biology etc.) People do choose, and its also dependant on what they have learnt and their influences. Its a matter of opening our eyes to what life is and asking ourselves serious questions, rather than sailing through!

(9) Anonymous , February 4, 2009

The wonder of faith

I grew up in America and while in the first grade of grammar school a law was passed making it illegal to read the Bible in public schools. Living in a Jewish neighbourhood, we were read a psalm each morning before the law was put in force. I loved those readings so much so that I remember the sadness of losing the right to them until this day! That's almost 50 years ago. I don't know why you, Rabbi, are so surprised by the 50 million non-believers. They have been a very powerful force for a long time. Let's just hope the non-believers do not overly influence the lives of the rest of us by preventing us from enjoying the wonder of faith.

(8) Fred , February 3, 2009

The other point of view

What do the believers think when they see babies dying painful deaths due to birth defects? What do believers think when they see terrorist attacks that kill thousands of innocent men woman and children? What do believers think when they see mothers of large families dying of cancer? What do believers think when they see a world in which animals have to brutally rip each other apart just to survive? What do believers think when they see thousands of innocent men woman and children killed in natural disasters? I could go on and on and on.

(7) ilan , February 3, 2009

pre-conceived notions, but whose?

the rabbi is censuring non-believers for allowing pre-conceived notions to cloud their judgement? well, perhaps they do. but more likely it's believers who interpret facts to fit their biases. in any case, the rabbi's advice should apply to both believers and non-believers. a believer will relent in his or her belief after taking a good, hard, honest look at the world - especially when we no longer need supernatural explanations for so-called 'miracles,' i think the rabbi would do well to follow his own advice.

(6) ruth housman , February 3, 2009

what non believers, believe

Hi, there are some cogent commentaries on line about this piece. The first, for example, because life is so filled with paradox and one could certainly turn every argument upside down and on its side. I happen to be a "true believer". I feel I don't believe in God. I "know", but I cannot proselytize. For me, what's important is truly how we ACT with each other, and that truth, for me is about beauty, meaning compassion, and an evolving sense of ethical morality which is about the entire world. I think God is often playing a game of What's my Line? meaning, Who truly speaks for God. I hear a cacophany of voices, around the world, voices carrying God's banner into battle and each group is so sure. So Sure. So I say, it's all God and God is wanting us to learn something together about going deeper, and the message in that has to be about unity. We're all in this together There is no "other". Back to the nonbelievers. I think everyone believes in "something" and so many atheists and agnostics too, love, deeply. They love science, they love their children, their lives, they love their dogs... I mean what isn't there to love about life? So it doesn't really mean much to me to talk about this schism between believers and non believers. You see, in my particular universe, if you love anything with all your heart, your soul and with all your might, you are doing the commandment, meaning loving God. Because in all of us, this creation, there is divinity from within. So you can't really lose. I think there's a learning curve to life and we are all of us in a big one room schoolhouse, climbing a ladder that takes us to the stars and beyond I must and will celebrate diversity of all kinds and that fire we all get, from these articles, from being with each other, from conflict and resolution of conflict, and that final hugs which is for Good night, I'll just sleep on it. The reve or dream that is French which is also contained by our English word, revelation. in truth/ruth

(5) Grace Fishenfeld , February 3, 2009

One Chooses.

Not to worry Rabbi. I live with an athiest Jew. He is loving and civic minded. He supports Israel and reads aish history along with me and loves it. Our son had a Bar Mitzva because I would not allow him to be deprived of his Jewish rite.My husband's family are respected in the Jewish community and still he can not find it within himself to believe in God. He does not choose to. It does not bother him. He is a pleasure to live with and has earned our love. I have a different approach life and believe in a powerful and loving God. I am more optimistic about the future and most things because of this faith. Even though strange and cruel things have occurred and still happen, I believe that mankind can work through it and make things good. That is what was written when God looked at the world that he created- "And It Was Good".

(4) Anonymous , February 3, 2009

The flipside to the argument

I'm not a "non-believer," but I imagine many of them would respond to Rabbi Salomon's presentation by asking "What should we believe when we read about a plane crash where nobody survives?" or "Why were all the Hudson River plane crash people saved, and not just the "believers?" or, "How did G-d guide the events of 9-11?" I only raise these arguments to point out that examples of miraculous good fortune are not the automatic conversion-to-belief kits that one might think.

(3) G.M. Grena , February 2, 2009

Only 50 Million???

After several decades' worth of public-school indoctrination that force-feeds children into believing their ancestors evolved from slime, I'm shocked that the figure doesn't top 5 HUNDRED million. It's time to put Evolution in its proper place: a Religion classroom. As long as it breaks the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics & the Law of Biogenesis, it does not belong in a Science classroom. I hope the new president hears the call of organizations that emphasize the separation of church & state, & has the courage to remove Atheism from taxpayer-funded schools.

(2) SusanE , February 1, 2009

Believers and Belongers

Rabbi, Thanks for the revelation that 50 million people in America are non-believers. That number makes an impact on anyone hearing it, especially those in a religious community. The religious Christians, especially, will see it as a mission to go out and save those poor lost souls. Bring them in to the fold and save them. That's what they do, because that is what they believe, that Everyone has to belong somewhere. Most of the people that I know who would be considered as one of the 50 million non-believers are actually simply non-belongers. Most do feel a G-d exists but they don't know very much about him. They don't belong to any organized religion or to any organized church here in America. They are the people who fall through the cracks and aren't counted among the 'believers'. In the last 40 years I have talked to many who are not belongers to any religion, and surprisingly they are probably more profound in their beliefs than most of organized religion. Not all 50 million people are profound thinkers to be sure, but some are. The ones I've talked to seem to be put off by all religions that have their own church codes and laws and rituals, so they drop out of the mainstream. They have seen too much hate and violence associated with religion. They quietly give, and love, and do good as they see fit. Once a person joins a religious group whether it's becoming Muslem or joining a small Methodist church around the corner, that person quits looking for the magnificent attributes found in G-d. He doesn't ever consider another aspect of G-d. Whatever that particular church teaches and worships, is exactly what that person believes. .......In my opnion, those people are the ultimate non-believers.

(1) Moshe Rosen , February 1, 2009

when atheists can thank G-d

Sometimes when certain miracles occur, arguably, atheists can find reason to thank G-d. It's a matter of being open-minded and managing convictions...That's particularly why pres. Obama wants a more inclusive society, and it's important to remember what he said how society cannot prosper by just the prosperous.