Question:
Dear Rabbi,
I'm undergoing a spiritual search and most of the concepts that
I know of the kabbalah are what seem to feel right... but there's
one concept that I don't quite understand :
You say that the point of creation was just for man, and therefore
he has more importance than all the rest of creation. and that
Man is God's most important and special creation and thereby the
greatest expression of His will.
What would happen if they finally discovered intelligent life
out in the universe that is NOT man? Is the word 'man' used largely
as something to denote us as conscious beings, and not specificly
humans, or would we just be still the focus of creation?
Thanks
Sebastien
Answer:
Dear Sebastien,
Thanks for your question. Of course, the possibility exists for
intelligent life "out in the universe". But for some
reason we haven't found it yet. I venture to suggest if we would
spend the time and money we might find intelligent life on Earth.
However, intelligence is not equal to importance or spirituality.
Animals have less intelligence, not No intelligence. Man is not
God's chosen being because of man's intelligence, his intelligence
is an indication of his chosenness.
Whatever you will find in the universe is irrelevant to the
purpose and importance of mankind. The Torah says that Man, in
the normal sense of the word is the one being with a moral challenge
and spiritual bond with the Creator. There are a lot of amazing
things in the universe God created. Whether they have less or
more intelligence than man, they don't have this relationship
with God. This is our tradition.
All the best,
Rabbi Max Weiman
Rabbi Max Weiman
|
