yitayningwut:
Oh. I just reread your previous posts. I get it now. That’s interesting…why and how would Jewish philosophers concede to the idea of no hashgacha pratis whatsoever? Isn’t that the theory of kadmus haolam?
…doesn’t saying that humans have an intrinsic G-dly characteristic make them inherently G-dly? But I think THAT is a question of semantics…regardless, there is SOMETHING there that we ALL have, and that deserves respect. And some apportionment of value, I think.
To clarify: I always thought that cheilek elokai mima’al is what only Jews have, while goyim were given a ruach mimalilah. Maybe they are different distinctions in tzelem Elokim? I don’t have any sources for these assertions, though…
And regarding “Eisav sonai l’yaakov”: then WHY do so many people (including some people on this forum, apparently) use this as an excuse to regard goyim collectively with a general distrust and contempt? It’s so antithetical to what we believe in…