berger788

Hi all! I'm new here. I joined this listserv particularly so I could ask this question:

Do you know of any other books that contain interpretative versions of biblical Psalms. I already have Stephen Mitchell's "A Book of Psalms." Also Emil Weitzner's "Humanist Meditations and Paraphrases." What others are you aware of? Alternatively, what websites might carry humanistic poetry and readings of a mystical/spiritual nature?

DrJim

Funny you should ask that:

There is a book launch adn reading out here in Lethbridge on just such a collection by a poet from Nova Scotia.

I have no idea if you poetic meditations on Psalms is any good or if it is what you are looking for, but the poster is pretty prominent in my hallway.

You might want to check out:
Regina Coupar, "The Seeker's Heart: Meditations Inspired by teh Book of Psalms" (Blue Grama Publications).

see BlueGramaPublications.com.

JRL

berger788

You might well ask why I'm interested in finding humanistic interpretations of Psalms.

My answer would be as Weitzner wrote in his introduction:

"Prayer, it seems to me, addresses the unknown, the incomprehensible, the ineffable, beyond the mystery. Perhaps the dialogue is with the cause of being or the ground of being. Always it is directed to deity, or godhead, personified as God, Lord, Creator . . . [and so on]

There are many, Jew and Christian [and Muslim] alike, who cannot pray to a personified deity because they do not "believe" in one. They are religious in their sense of mystery and wonder and of [human] limitations, insignificance, and oneness. But having no faith in deity, they cannot pray to . . .Thou [,] Him [or Her], whether conceived as an existent entity or as a companion in an I-Thou dialogic relation, or as a process, force, intelligence, Eternal, or principle.

These persons nevertheless have need -- as do those who profess faith in a personalized deity . . . for articulating their identification with and amazement at the mystery or the ultimate beyond the mystery, and their sense of unity.

So far as I know, [Weitzner continues] there is no form of liturgy available for Jews in this category. For them the problem is complicated by a desire in some way to give expression to the continuum of their historic and spiritual heritage (they do not want to separate from it), in a frame reference, however, that would conform and be adapted to their humanist religious attitudes. I was prompted to attempt the meditations included in this volume by the needs of these persons, among whom I count myself."

As do I, Yehuda Berger, who posted this thread.

berger788

Dr Jim wrote:

You might want to check out:
Regina Coupar, "The Seeker's Heart: Meditations Inspired by teh Book of Psalms" (Blue Grama Publications).

Thanks for this lead, Dr. Jim. I look forward to seeing what Ms. Coupar has to offer.

Yehuda