Old Testament Radically Interpreted in Fromm's
l
Newest Work as Humanist Development in Mankind
"The interpretation of the Bible
It is also asserted by Dr. Fromm I every man carries within himself all of
given in this book is that of radical that "the idea of the One God hulan !ti y i What we mean to ask is
humanism," Dr. Eric Fromm states expresses a new answer for the
dead, dead.
de
o t f h:sarfgengerisGod
in a self-evaluation presented in solution of the dichotomies of hu- we might
better raise the question
man is dead."
the introduction to "You Shall Be man existence; man can find one- whether
of
His
evaluations
of
the
Psalms,
As Gods," published by Holt, Rine- ness with the world , not by regress-
hart and Winston (383 Madison, ing to the prehuman state, but Halakha, of practices related to
z2ahr
etitS has the
finest gifts
for dad!
NY16). This radical interpretation by the full development of his spe- the development of humanism, ele-
of the Old Testament and its tradi- cifically human qualities: love and vale this work to the status of
lion treats the subject as a "global j reason. The worship of God is challenging ideas that will intrigue
and
philosophy which emphasizes the first of all the negation of idolatry. theologians,
religious leaders
laymen. He declares that the ren-
Oneness of the human race, the The concept of God
is at first la i i n the West
capacity of man to develop his own formed according to the political aissance
of humanism
now occuring
among adherents
powers and to arrive at inner har- and social concepts of a trial chief is
of all faiths as well as in Marxist
mony and at the establishment of or king . . . This God without at- Socialism. "It is," he declares, "a
a peaceful world." tributes, who is worshiped :in si- reaction to the two-toed threat
Dr. Fromm implies "a skeptical lence,' . . . has ceased to be an which mankind faces today: that
attitude toward the use of force, authoritarian God; man must be- of nuclear extinction and that of
precisely because during the his- come fully independent, and that the transformation of men into
tory of man it has been, and still means independent even from appendices of machines."
is, force — creating fear -- which God. In 'negative theology,' as
i mysticism, we find the
has made man ready to take fiction well as in
same revolutionary spirit of free-
for reality, illusions for truth.
Wondering about
which characterized the God
"Is it not natural," the eminent of the revolution against Egypt..."
"Is
investments as a
philosopher asks in introducing
Further he declares:
possible next step
his subject, "that the story of the
"Independence is not achieved simply
liberation from slavery in Egypt, by not obeying mother, father, state,
in your family's
the like. Independence Is not the
the speeches of the great human- and
same as disobedience. Independence is
financial planning?
ist prophets, should have found possible only if. and according to the
to which, man actively grasps
an echo in the hearts of men who degree
the world, is related to it, and thus
$150 to begin—then $25 a month
had experienced force only as becomes one with it. There is no inde-
will start you on a systematic in-
pendence
and no freedom unless man
vestment program in the United
its suffering objects, never as arrives at the
stage of complete inner
activity
and
productivity.
surprising
Funds group of mutual funds.
its executors? Is it
"The answer of the Bible and of the
For free Booklet.Prospectus
that the prophetic vision of a later
Jewish tradition seems to be:
giving detailed information,write
man is feeble and weak, but ne !
united, peaceful mankind, of indeed,
is an open system which can develop
or call...
justice for the poor and helpless, up
to the point where he is free. He
needs to be obedient to God so that ;
found fertile soil among the Jews he
can break his fixation to the pri-
and was never forgotten? Is it mary ties and not submit to man.
"But is the concept of man's freedom
surprising that when the walls •arried
to the ultimate consequence
of the ghettos fell, Jews in dis- of his freedom from God? In general
this
is undoubtedly not the case. God. in
proportionately large numbers the rabbinical
literature, is conceived
were among those who proclaim. as being the supreme ruler and law-
He is the King above all kings.
ed the ideals of internationalism, giver.
and those laws for which reason can
peace and justice? What from find no explanation must be followed
for not other reason than that God has
National &tabulate of the
a mundane standpoint was the commanded
them. Yet, while this is
Wiled roads group
true, there are statements in
tragedy of the Jews — the loss generally
of mutual funds
the Talmudic law and later Jewish
of their country and their state literature which are indictive of a trend
is to make man completely autono-
— from the humanist standpoint that
mous. even to the point where he will
was their greatest blessing: be- be free from God or, at least, where he
REPRESENTED LOCALLY BY
deal with God on terms of equality
ing among the suffering and can
The idea that man has been created
despised, they were able to de- in the image of God leads not only to
MARVIN S. GREEN
the
concept
of
man's
equality
with
God,
velop and uphold a tradition of or even freedom from God. it also leads
353-6300
central
humanist
conviction
that
/
humanism."
to a
Jewish
historical
ex-
Tracing
Friday, June 9, 1967 - 13
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
periences in relation to the growth)
of humanist tendencies, Dr. Fromm
1
Waddell
&Reed
MCINIIVOLATC•
Gifts Beautifully Wrapped
NOBODY FITS IT LIKE
l ot
'
makes these
S
CLOTH ES
19132 LIVERNOIS JUST OFF 7 MILE ROAD
PHONE DI 1-0480—FREE PARKING LIVERNOIS CORNER OF CAMBRIDGE
OPEN MONDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY 'Tit 9:00 P.M.-SATURDAY 'TIL 6:00 P.M.
important observa-
tions:
"The Jews were in possession of
effective and
Wchigan Bankard and
Security Charges Honored.
impressive secular
power for only a short time, in
fact, for only a few generations.
After the reigns of David and Solo-
mon, the pressure from the great
powers in the North and South
grew to such dimensions that
Judah and Israel lived under the
ever increasing threat of being
conquered. And, indeed, conquered
they were, never to recover. Even
when the Jews later had formal
political independence, they were
a small and powerles satellite. sub- "
ject to big powers. When the
Romans finally put an end to the
state after R. Yohanan ben Zakkai
went over to the Roman side, ask-
ing only for permission to open an
academy in Jabne to train future
generations of rabbinical scholars.
a Judaism without kings and
priests emerged that had already
been developing for centuries be-
hind a facade to which the Romans
What's your best time from
the basement to the phone?
Michigan Bell
gave only the final blow. Those
prophets who had denounced the
idolatrous admiration for secular
power were vindicated by the
course of history. Thus the pro-
phetic teachings, and not Solo-
mon's splendor, became the domi-
nant, lasting influence on Jewish
thought. From then on the Jews,
as a nation, never again regained
Part of the Nationwide Bell System
out most of their history they suf-
fered from those who were able
to use force. No doubt their posi•
Lion also could, and did, give rise
to national resentment, clannish-
nes, arrogance; and this is the
basis for the other trend within
Jewish history."
• 956—monthly charge for
each extension
• $4.00—one-time charge.
Covers any number of
phones in color installed on
the same order. No charge
for black.
A nominal serrice-
power. On the contrary, through-
SOUTHFIELD ELEMENTARY
and JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS will
hold open house 2-4 p.m. Sunday.
Activities in the 21 buildings will
range from carnivals and demon-
stration lessons, to ice cream so-
cials and the rededication cere-
monies at the newly named Marion
M. Simms Elementary School.
t r
Whatever it is, cut it down to near-
nothing with the breath-saving con-
venience of an extension phone.
For as little as 95-cents a month you
can have an extension phone where
you need it. Different type phones and
decorator colors are available.
Isn't this a good day to stop your
running around? Or up and down?
Make your choice . . . then call
Michigan Bell and place your order.
Desk
and
Wall phones
connection or change
charge may be applicable.
Charges quoted for residence
extensions do not include tax.
Your choice of decorator
colors.
Trimline® Desk
and Wall phones
• $1.95—monthly charge for
each Trimline extension
• 55.00 — one - time charge for
each phone.
A nominal service-
connection or change
charge may be applicable.
Charges quoted for residence
extensions do not include tax.
Your choice of decorator
colors.
Princess's phone
• $1.70—monthly charge for
each Princess extension
• $4.00—one-time charge.
Covers any number of
phones installed on the same
order.
A nominal service-
connection or change
charge may be applicable.
Charges quoted for residence
extensions do not include tax.
Your choice of decorator
colors.