So – a bunch of rabbis are nattering and debating about whether a particular type of oven can transmit impurity. All of the rabbis bar one argue that the type of oven in question can’t possible be pure. However, this one rabbi – that one that disagrees – tries to demonstrate that he was right. First off, he says that if he is right than a carob tree will uproot and shoot off. And it does. The others are unconvinced however. “The law is not a carob tree,” they say. So, the rabbi says that if he is right the river will run backwards. Which it does. “Rivers aren’t arguments,” the rabbis reply. Finally, exasperated, the rabbi calls upon God Himself to back him up. Which indeed He does. And the rabbis reply, “It isn’t in heaven.”
Like any lapsed Catholic I’ve struggled since giving up on God. Inevitably, I turned to Marxism first and this provided me not only with a new Kingdom of God and some new utopian shore to swim for, but it gave me an equally dense and meaningful set of rituals. And it gave me an answer for everything, which was exceptionally important for a sixteen year old boy particularly one who liked to argue (no doubt a major reason why certain people still never question their faith).
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