billv
Having been studying Qabalah for a little while now, it seems that "God" or "YHVH" (as in the Old Testament God) is pretty apparent in the structure. Personally I like most of the ideas presented around Kaballistic thought, but not the idea that this is really just a system based on old biblical texts or myth. I realize that the Kaballah and it's varients are from a Jewish heritage, but do they presuppose a belief in YHVH? Maybe this is a silly question at this stage. I know there are references to many angelic and elemental spirits as well. Are these references just allegorical, to personify aspects of mind, or are they to be taken as objective, existing entities?
For example, in Robert Wang's book he talks about "suspending disbelief" when it comes to these things in his book, yet later he seems entrenched in the ideas surrounding deities, archangels, etc...
I'm really having a difficult time with this as I am agnostic with a strong lean toward outright atheism. Yet, I still see value in the system from a psychological/self-development perspective. I also remember Alistair Crowley talking about how it is best to use the religion you grew up with as the basis for working in magickal endeavors, even if you had renounced it's dogma/beliefs because it provides a model for study. This is confusing to me. Do you have to believe in God to be successful in Kaballistic/Qabalalistic studies?
For example, in Robert Wang's book he talks about "suspending disbelief" when it comes to these things in his book, yet later he seems entrenched in the ideas surrounding deities, archangels, etc...
I'm really having a difficult time with this as I am agnostic with a strong lean toward outright atheism. Yet, I still see value in the system from a psychological/self-development perspective. I also remember Alistair Crowley talking about how it is best to use the religion you grew up with as the basis for working in magickal endeavors, even if you had renounced it's dogma/beliefs because it provides a model for study. This is confusing to me. Do you have to believe in God to be successful in Kaballistic/Qabalalistic studies?