G-Dess: "Ancient science.": Science is word strongly rooted in Latin and simply means "Knowledge." A more accurate usage might be "Knowledge which employs a structured and analytical approach to studying it." On that basis Kabbalah is entirely a science.
"Mom on psychadelics.": Not all Bratslaver/Breslov use psychoactives. ALL Jews are supposed to use mind altering substances but most limit it to alcohol out of concern for societal mores. those of us with roots in eastern lands, tend to use that which was used by the society at large.
Psychadelics are popular amongst a certain subset of Breslov, and most have at least tried it, but females have different spiritual responsbilities than males. They are not prohibited from using anything a male does,but custom often looms large.
My own mum never used it to my knowledge. My dad never adopted Breslov ways and in fact never even drank so he did not fufill very basic parts of our faith by that omission.
We have 4 days on which we are supposed to get plastered (all Jews) I) Purim (Feast of Esther), II) Simchat Torah (Joy of the Torah), III) 1st day of Pesach (Passover) and IV) Rosh HaShanah although not all observe the 4th that way.
Most also get that way every week on Shabbat (Sabbath) and also on occasion of Marriages, Brit (circumcision) and Bar Mitzvah (Coming of Age ceramony for males).
"Is the G-D of the Jews the same G-D as the Muslims and Christians?": There is only one G-D so of course, the same for all.
"Logos" is simply Greek for "Word." Early Christians used the word to describe their faith as in "Good Word," or "Have you heard the Word?"
"Mammon" is rooted in Latin by way of Greek by way of Syriac and Aramaic by way of the original, Hebrew. It is pronounced lik this: "Mah' mon" with the "o" in the second syllable pronounced long a in "lone". It does not mean money, it means "riches:" and while money can be riches, riches are not neccessarily money, yes? Seems like splitting hairs but one needs ot be careful with translations from one language to another. Imagine then, translating it over 5 languages like this word? At least it has retained its original sound which is rare.
What Jesus was talking about in the snippet you quote is the corruption that is naturally part of an entrenched hierarchal religious structure, like the Jewish Temple of his time, which is what he was actually discussing.
Breslov link...
www.breslov.com
and
www.breslov.org
Both are fair introductory level porrtals into the Breslov outlook.
for others...
Breslov is a group founded in what is now the Ukraine in the early 19th Century CE/AD. It is named after the ukrainian town where the founding Rabbi lived for many years, "breslov." in yiddish it is named "Bratzlav" henace the different names.
The founding Rabbi is Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, a great-grandson of the "B'ESHT." "B'ESHT" is an acronym in Hebrew for the founder of the Chassdici (Hassidic) Movement, Yisroel Ben Eliezer (Israel Son of Eliezer).
B'ESHT was from a mountain village in Poland and worked with the youngest students in a Cheder, a Jewish school so that he was like a Kindergarten Teacher's Aide in modern Western terms.
The Jewish faith at this time was, in europe, populated by very dour men who believed the only way to Salvation was through serious study, night and day. B'ESHT on the other hand believed anyone could cme close to G-D by simply being joyous in life. Dancing, singing, using intoxicants, all things that caused the Establishment to denounce him and even ex-communicate him.
His movement caught on amongst the poorest Jews who found his message to be liberating. After he died his best students attracted heir own followers and these became the first Dynastic Rabbis. however, they also began perverting the original message, rotating back to serious study and less joyous worship, etc.
Then came Rebbe Nachman. Nachman was tubercular (had TB) but also loved his faith and sought to reintroduce his great-grandfather's original ideas. He was involved with alot of progressives and even thoroughly secular Jews, and it was at their urging that he ended up moving to Uman, in the present day Ukraine, and he died there at age of 38.
Instead of naming a successor, as other Rabbis did, he rejected the practice as a perversion to his great grand-dad's teachings. His students honoured his desires and so today many Breslov Jews are known as the "Dead Rebbe Chassidim."
Breslov wear a distinctive skull cap, almost always snow swhite but peaked and with a pompom on the top, like some winter hats have. yhey are also known for stopping traffic both in Israel and in Brooklyn in NY by blaring Trance from loudspeakers and getting into meditative trances while dancing in traffic jams.there is a video, I will link to, on Youtube but it is in Hebrew.
They are poking fun at Breslov for their outlandish practices and I believe with that explanation, most can get the jist even though it is in a different language:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuMiYzedrus
It starts with a traffic jam, people hot and aggravated and a famous TV reporter in Israel is playing the journalist, who is talking about a mysterious traffic jam when he comes upon a group of Breslov dancing to Tranceand VERY happy (wink wink). He asks, "What is the happy ocaison?" The answer is a blrb about "Happiness with G-D" and then the reporter asks the man his name, and the man is like "My name? what does my name have to do with love? My name is this, that and the other thing" but he is saying it all high, etc. If you watch you might get a kick out of it. then they start dancing around this pissed off woman who is like "Leave me the fuc& alone!!!" and they just laugh all high. then they start plastering bumper stickers with religious mantras all over the jammed vehichles, winging one at a motorcyclist as he is driving through the traffic. The reporter joins these men fora ride and they are so high that they run over some elderly lady. Looks funnier than it sounds.
I explained alot of other things in an earlier post. the main Pilgramage we have, is spending our New Year, "Rosh HaShanah" in Uman at his grave. Soemtimes as much as 60,000 Jews from all over the world mob that small town and spend days dancing in the streets. one of the best parties in the world.
I'd buy you a beer for this one.
