[Explanatory Note] The phrase ‘from the scrapheap’ (the defining perspective for me in the story/play Job), the phrase ‘life under the sun’ (the defining perspective for me in the Ecclesiastes essay), and the phrases ‘from below’/‘with the world face to face’/‘non-religious’ (the defining perspectives for me in Bonhoeffer’s prison correspondence) lead to the center/heart of the perspective on spirituality and ethics I have been intentionally pursuing since the early 1970s. The journal entries (1992-present) I am sharing via this website constitute my most unfiltered attempt to understand this experience. My understanding and use of the story/play Job and the Ecclesiastes essay have matured significantly with the opportunity -- in twice-monthly discussions 1999-2006 with a Hebrew language/literature specialist friend -- to present/test the results from my sustained/intense meditation (analogous to attending the same Broadway play several times each week year after year) on the story/play Job and the Ecclesiastes essay. I kept detailed notes from these discussions. Each discussion was conducted in tutorial fashion, with specific attention to my specialist friend’s judgment whether the Hebrew text permits/tolerates my appropriation of the story/play Job and the Ecclesiastes essay as I have attempted to stay on a ‘scrapheap’/‘life under the sun’/‘from below’/‘with the world face to face’/‘non-religious’ path. He has freely shared his expertise with the Hebrew language and Wisdom Literature. I have disciplined myself not to press him to agree with my conclusions or with the associated approach to spirituality and ethics. I accept full responsibility and accountability for the ideas that have withstood the scrutiny/pressure of this crucible.
▼