We recall that as a boy, Frimme established a contract with God. Let's examine the concept of God. In private Jewish grade school and middle school we learned that God created the heavens and the earth. God is everywhere. God is a stalker. God creeps on you like Santa creeps on little kids.
Later in life my Rabbi presented a new image with everything as water and God as waves. No clear line where tangible things end and God begins. The image stuck with me, continually rattling my brain... until my little sister mentioned a Flying Spaghetti Monster. What? She passed me The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster by Bobby Henderson. You should check it out. It's very entertaining.
But if you don't, here's a recap: it approaches religion using only logic. Consider: perhaps there is a huge Flying Spaghetti Monster hovering above our planet, protecting us and controlling the universe. He keeps us from flying off the earth by caressing us with his noodly appendages. As he is invisible, we have no proof that he does not exist. Look and giggle!
Who has the coolest invisible friend? Nobody.
We -I- really have no idea what's out there.
So, contracts. Two parties mutually agree to a set of given rules. Does Frimme Hersh's invisible friend ever agree to Frimme's terms? We don't know, but Frimme's friend "God" at least motivates him to act kindly and compassionately towards others, and to project more positive than negative energy into the universe (for good karma).
Frimme Hersh writes a contract on a stone. Using it for moral support, he does his best to consistently be a good person. Frimme dies. Hmm... sounds like... life. Perhaps Frimme Hersh is simply... human.
Believe it or not, there was a panel one year at the American Academy of Religion-- the main body of scholars who study religion academically-- all on Pastafarianism and the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I couldn't attend because I had to give my own paper at the same time, but I wish I had seen it!
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