I am in the process of reading the book "Staying Sane in a Crazy World" by
Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine.  I heard the author speak at a local program jointly
sponsored by the 'Humanistic Jews of  Greater Portland'  and our local
humanist group, 'Humanists of the Portland/Vancouver Metro Area.'

        First an aside: It seems to me that there is much more acceptance of
atheists in Jewish culture than there is in the Christian culture. This may
be my ignorance, so if someone knows better, please inform me. But I only
rarely hear of a priest or preacher who doesn't believe in God and then it
is in the context of excommunication or a similar procedure.

To the book:

        His basic premise is that once you realize that this world isn't run
by an all-knowing, all-powerful, and loving deity  (How can it be if the
holocaust etc. can happen?) then on what do you base your life?

        His answer is a very rational analysis of how to approach various
aspects of our life. Sample chapter titles are: Dismissing Illusions,
Rational Guilt, Useful Anger, Constructive Love.

        His talk was in a room in the Jewish Community Center. It was
interesting that  the critical questions came from people who just happened
by and weren't members of either sponsoring group. - Questions such as,
"Without God, why would there be any reason to be moral."  (Yawn)

I have heard that many Humanistic Jews are more Jewish than humanistic. Mr.
Wine certainly used Jewish history for examples, but he was thoroughly
secular humanist.


        Dennis Brown, Portland, Oregon   brownd@teleport.com