Night: Philosophies and Religion Explained ELA 30-1

Nihilism root is found in the verb “annihilate” -- to bring to nothing, to destroy completely root is found in the verb “annihilate” -- to bring to nothing, to destroy completely Definition in Merriam-Webster Dictionary: Definition in Merriam-Webster Dictionary: 1 a: a viewpoint that traditional values and beliefs are unfounded and that existence is senseless and useless b: a doctrine that denies any objective ground of truth and especially of moral truths 2 a: a doctrine or belief that conditions in the social organization are so bad as to make destruction desirable for its own sake independent of any constructive program or possibility bcapitalized : the program of a 19th century Russian party advocating revolutionary reform and using terrorism and assassination

Friedrich Nietzsche most often associated with nihilism most often associated with nihilism in Will to Power [notes ], he writes, “Every belief, every considering something true, is necessarily false because there is simply no true world.” in Will to Power [notes ], he writes, “Every belief, every considering something true, is necessarily false because there is simply no true world.” there is no objective order or structure in the world except what we give it. there is no objective order or structure in the world except what we give it.

Shakespeare’s Macbeth eloquently summarizes existential nihilism's perspective, distaining life: Shakespeare’s Macbeth eloquently summarizes existential nihilism's perspective, distaining life: Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more; it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing.

an individual may choose to “feel” rather than think, exert their “will to power” than pray, give thanks, or obey God. an individual may choose to “feel” rather than think, exert their “will to power” than pray, give thanks, or obey God. after an impressive career of literary and philosophical creativity, Friedrich Nietzsche lost all control of his mental faculties. Upon seeing a horse mistreated, he began sobbing uncontrollably and collapsed into a catatonic state. Nietzsche died August 25, 1900, diagnosed as utterly insane. While saying Yes to “life” but No to God, the Prophet of Nihilism missed both. after an impressive career of literary and philosophical creativity, Friedrich Nietzsche lost all control of his mental faculties. Upon seeing a horse mistreated, he began sobbing uncontrollably and collapsed into a catatonic state. Nietzsche died August 25, 1900, diagnosed as utterly insane. While saying Yes to “life” but No to God, the Prophet of Nihilism missed both. Acts 17:24-28 Acts 17:24-28 Acts 17:24-28 Acts 17: John 5:20 1 John 5:20 1 John 5:20 1 John 5:20

Hasidic Jews חסידות, Hasidut, meaning "piety", from the Hebrew root word חסד chesed meaning "loving kindness" חסידות, Hasidut, meaning "piety", from the Hebrew root word חסד chesed meaning "loving kindness" originated in Eastern Europe (modern Belarus and Ukraine) in the 18th century originated in Eastern Europe (modern Belarus and Ukraine) in the 18th century Hasidic Judaism tends to focus on the role of the rebbe (rabbi) as a spiritual conduit of God Hasidic Judaism tends to focus on the role of the rebbe (rabbi) as a spiritual conduit of God Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer (1698–1760), also known as the Ba'al Shem Tov is seen as the founding figure Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer (1698–1760), also known as the Ba'al Shem Tov is seen as the founding figure

Kabbalah = Jewish mysticism Kabbalah = Jewish mysticism leaders were Sanhedrin leaders were Sanhedrin every Hebrew letter, word, number, even the accent on words of the Hebrew Bible contains a hidden sense every Hebrew letter, word, number, even the accent on words of the Hebrew Bible contains a hidden sense good and evil emanate from God good and evil emanate from God in the Ukraine, the Jews tended to live scattered in villages far removed from intellectual centers where the influence of the kabbalists prevailed in the Ukraine, the Jews tended to live scattered in villages far removed from intellectual centers where the influence of the kabbalists prevailed gave a ready response to the burning desire of the common people in its simple, stimulating, and comforting faith gave a ready response to the burning desire of the common people in its simple, stimulating, and comforting faith aimed less at doctrine than at spiritual change and growth aimed less at doctrine than at spiritual change and growth less academic, so focus is more on joy and spirituality less academic, so focus is more on joy and spirituality

Israel ben Eliezer taught them that true divine service consisted not only of religious scholarship, but also of a sincere love of God combined with warm faith and belief in the efficacy of prayer taught them that true divine service consisted not only of religious scholarship, but also of a sincere love of God combined with warm faith and belief in the efficacy of prayer the ordinary person filled with a sincere belief in God, and whose prayers come from the heart, is more acceptable to God than someone versed in and fully observant of Jewish law who lacks inspiration in his divine service the ordinary person filled with a sincere belief in God, and whose prayers come from the heart, is more acceptable to God than someone versed in and fully observant of Jewish law who lacks inspiration in his divine service taught by means of by means of sayings and parables that contained both easily graspable insights, for the laymen, and profound Kabbalistic depth taught by means of by means of sayings and parables that contained both easily graspable insights, for the laymen, and profound Kabbalistic depth

Religious Basics based on based on omnipresence of God omnipresence of God devekus: communion between God and man devekus: communion between God and man not only the Deity influences the acts of man, but also that man exerts an influence on the will of the Deity not only the Deity influences the acts of man, but also that man exerts an influence on the will of the Deity communion through prayer communion through prayer in order to render this communion complete the prayer must be full of fervor, ecstatic in order to render this communion complete the prayer must be full of fervor, ecstatic the soul of him who prays must during his devotions detach itself from its material dwelling the soul of him who prays must during his devotions detach itself from its material dwelling Theological learning and halakhic lore are of secondary importance, and are useful only when they serve as a means of producing an exalted religious mood Theological learning and halakhic lore are of secondary importance, and are useful only when they serve as a means of producing an exalted religious moodhalakhic

Current Position The Holocaust brought final destruction to all chasidic centers of Eastern Europe The Holocaust brought final destruction to all chasidic centers of Eastern Europe Most survivors moved eventually to Israel or to America and established new centers of Hasidic Judaism modeled after their original communities Most survivors moved eventually to Israel or to America and established new centers of Hasidic Judaism modeled after their original communities largest communities in US are in Brooklyn, NY and Rockland County, NY largest communities in US are in Brooklyn, NY and Rockland County, NY large community in Outremont borough of Montreal large community in Outremont borough of Montreal