B"H
Understanding Evolution as Iterations
Many do not understand the apparent discrepancy between the amount of time that Torah says the world exists and what nature tells us.
There is no discrepancy.
The Hebrew word for time is זמן. It is numerically equivalent to the word מקראות, which is the written Torah. It is also equal to the word להבין, which means to understand.
Our level of understanding Torah is what determines our experience of time.
Also know that the Hebrew word for year is שנה. This same root means to change. It is also virtually identical to the Hebrew root ש-נ-נ, which means to learn by repetition of the same text, thus advancing in understanding.
We should not understand the past as having existed long ago in the flow of time, but rather, in the flow of understanding.
We should understand evolution as continuing iterations of the understanding of a concept: a concept like cat, for instance. An earlier form of cat is an earlier iteration of cat, an earlier understanding of cat and understanding of what cat can grow into.
That which is said to have existed millions of "years" ago, actually existed millions of iterations ago in our collective consciousness. It was our earlier understanding.
Doreen Ellen Bell-Dotan, Tzfat, Israel
Understanding Evolution as Iterations
Many do not understand the apparent discrepancy between the amount of time that Torah says the world exists and what nature tells us.
There is no discrepancy.
The Hebrew word for time is זמן. It is numerically equivalent to the word מקראות, which is the written Torah. It is also equal to the word להבין, which means to understand.
Our level of understanding Torah is what determines our experience of time.
Also know that the Hebrew word for year is שנה. This same root means to change. It is also virtually identical to the Hebrew root ש-נ-נ, which means to learn by repetition of the same text, thus advancing in understanding.
We should not understand the past as having existed long ago in the flow of time, but rather, in the flow of understanding.
We should understand evolution as continuing iterations of the understanding of a concept: a concept like cat, for instance. An earlier form of cat is an earlier iteration of cat, an earlier understanding of cat and understanding of what cat can grow into.
That which is said to have existed millions of "years" ago, actually existed millions of iterations ago in our collective consciousness. It was our earlier understanding.
Doreen Ellen Bell-Dotan, Tzfat, Israel
dordot2001@yahoo.com
