Hi, Mike, yes, my son is doing quite fine, but his music is not hitting any charts yet (g). That is why he asked me to "expose" him a little, and I agreed to post his site ( irrevolute.iuma.com ) on some of my posts.
As for "spilling seed in vain" (free translation), I believe the rationale is the same as the dictum against masturbation, not fulfilling the dictum "multiply".
As for the womb, yes there are other citations, for instance, Jeremia, 1:5 "Before I formed you, in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you". Mind you, the same word "formed" appears here and in Genesis, and G-d indeed knows inanimate "things" and may dedicate them for his purpose (just as Adam was inanimate before his first breath, but G-d already knew the purpose of his action. One can even find an additional parallel in Jeremia 1:9, whereby the actualization of Jeremia to his appointment does not occur, until G-d touches his mouth. But once more, I can easily see some religious sects viewing Jeremia pre birth dedication to his task as a "proof" that prior to his formation, G-d "knew him". But the order of things is quite rational, first Jeremia is "known" (note that the word "know" is used in the bible to describe the act of copulation quite often), then one is "formed" (now in the womb, no longer from dust), then one is born, then, through the mouth or nostrils, ensoulement occurs.
A perfect example that the Almighty, indeed knows what he is doing and is quite consistent with the complex process of endowing inanimate objects with precious life, and of course the rights and duties being alive entails.
Zeev |
