Guiding the Perplexed

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 54: Part 2, Introduction

Rambam summarizes the 25 basic premises of Aristotelian physics from which we will derive the scientific basis of the Oneness of God, the existence of a Creator God, and that he is incorporeal.

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 53: Part 1 Chapters 74,75 & 76

Rambam explains the various logical proofs that the Mutakallimun used to prove the existence of a creator, that He is One, and that He is not corporeal. He also explains why their proofs fail. This concludes Part 1.

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 52:Part 1 Chapter 73

Rambam describes the 12 fundamental premises of the Mutakallimun, upon which they built their proofs for God's existence. He points out some flaws in these premises.

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 51: Part 1 Chapter 72

Rambam describes how the universe is constructed, how the rotations of the spheres are controlled by forces or intellects and how everything exists because of God who moves it all. He also compares the universe to a single organism.

Guide For the Perplexed Lecture 50 - Part 1 Chapter 71

Rambam describes why it is important to study what exists in reality and then make conclusions regarding why things are the way they are. One should not decide first what he wants to prove and then pick and choose the ideas that support the conclusion he has already made. Rambam also introduces us to his idea that the Aristotelean idea of the eternity of the world can be used as a starting point to prove the existence of God, even though he believes in the creation of the universe.

Guide For the Perplexed, Lecture 49: Part 1, Chapter 70

What does it mean that God is "riding in the heavens"?

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 48. Part 1, Chapter 69

Rambam describes how God is the "First cause" of everything, the Cause of all purpose, and the Cause of all form. We show how Rambam uses this idea to rationally explain verses in Tanach that seem on the surface to defy rationalist explanations.

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 47 Part 1, Chapters 67 and 68

In 67 Rambam describes the meaning of God "resting" on the seventh day, then in 68 he explains how God , the things that He "knows" and the "intellect" with which He "knows things" are all one and the same.

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 46 Part 1, Chapters 64, 65 and 66

Rambam explains in chapter 64 the multiple uses for the phrase, "God's name". In 65, he describes what it means that God "speaks", and in 66 we learn that God speaks to us through the natural world.

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 45 Part 1, Chapters 62b and 63

Rambam explains that God's "names" have no inherent powers, rather they describe concepts about the nature of God. In Chapter 63 Rambam describes the conversation between God and Moses at the burning bush.