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Hello, everybody I'm dennis prager, welcome to my home. This is actually my home. This is completely UN scripted. It is my almost weekly fire side chat because it's a good way to get to know each other and especially you know me cuz. You know if you see me on one of the videos. Obviously that's something I read from what I wrote so it's me, but I wrote it, but this nothing written here and it's a good chance for me to also talk about a lot of non-political things because my radio show obviously Not only about that, but has to be on watching the news as well as the other things that I care about anyway, whatever the reason I'm glad, you watching people do when I'm very happy about it. Welcome again to my home so I'm gonna be really personal in the opening faults of this week because this has been a very powerful and personally moving week for me since I was a kid and I mean In high school I have a Dream of taking the insights of the bible to the world because I had a very early belief that there was great wisdom and great more old guidance here and that people even religious people didn't truly appreciate how wonderful it was an especially the first five books of the bible which called uh among Jews the torah, many non Jews, no the word to but that's that has a special ranking and so I've devoted my life Obviously not on the radio and not anywhere else, but in courses and on video uh to video of my courses, but they never there was no Internet when I begin so for eighteen years, I toward verse by verse, the first five books of the bible the torah and half the people who came to the class we're not Jewish, even though, was that a Jewish University and the reason was very simple. I have a model either the tour has something to say to everybody or has no Things to say that the Jews, the idea that it only speaks to choose it's like saying um. I think I gave it given this analogy only of vitamin C is only good for baptist. I mean it's an absurdity either. It's good for baptist is good for everybody or it's not good for anybody so I have this has been the source of my understanding of life and if you think that I have a good understanding of life, then you might wanna know where I got it from largely from these five books from the bible generally, but especially These five books so finally, thanks to a dear friend's, incredible efforts in making this happen, the first volume of my five volume commentary has just come out. This week and it's called the rational bible and because the reason is that I use reason alone reason is my vehicle to God and to religion. So I don't ask anybody to suspend their their faculty of reason in what I have to say uh in this in this book but why this week was particular The moving was not just because it was published and it's beautifully done regularly. The publisher did it. I mean the staggeringly beautiful job is into colors it's extremely accessible. Uh in the way it's presented as well, but the I was, I was shock this week and it's rare in life. You get a pleasant shock, motors chocs are not pleasant but I got a plus in shock the book was the second best selling Look in the United States on amazon and the first number one in non-fiction. I didn't even imagine you know sometimes you just you have an imagination of something wonderful happen. I never even imagined it part of the reason is by the way you finding my happiness book. I don't have expectations in life so I'm constantly placed in the position of being grateful for what happens because I expect nothing so if something Good happens. We will but this is beyond that and it tells me a lot of things but the thing that most help, because there's a hunger in this radically secularized Western world in which we live essentially a godless world in which many of you have been raised for something deeper and transcendent and and and it make sense, do you know that this you are, if you're under for 50 level on under 35 or under 20 your the. First generation in history that was raised in essentially a God Bless world, your education was godless of the society around you, the entertainment world, but America was not America was was was a deeply bible based country and that's why it is became the greatest country that it did and for those of you or not, American, as I'm not saying this, to some American I am not a shoulder. This none of that stuff matters to me. Anybody could be wonderful in any country in their plumbing miserable Americans. We all know that that's not the issue but it became the country with In France gave the statue of liberty, they didn't give it to another country. They came in to the United States because we stood for liberty and the founders of America with deeply rooted in this book. The most famous symbol of the American revolution by far there is really no other, simple. This is the symbol is called the liberty Bell there's only one thing written on the liberty Bell and it's a verse from the bible from the torah from the third book us. You shop for clean liberty through The land to almost in happens and they got the idea that God wants us to be free from these books from this bible and especially from this tour. These first five books they were so immerse in it. That Benjamin franklin and Thomas jefferson, two of the founders of the United States of America, jefferson became President franklin was the best-known American outside of the United States. They designed a seal of the United States the great seal of the United States. You can see it on the Internet. You know what it was it was the accidents the Jews leaving Egypt Because they said just as the Jews left Egypt, we left Europe to be free. That is how powerful these ideas were in this founders and now you are raised by I bet most young people today, but most the kids. It stand for y'all. You name it doesn't matter where could not identify came and able of that, a lot of you camp this was unheard of. I promise you 98 percent of Americans a hundred years ago, would, if not only identified cain and able they would have culture. The entire story. The bible was the one book of family in America. How to book it was the bible abraham lincoln, the great President, the emancipation of slaves, abraham lincoln, had one book on his nightstand and he said he read it every single night. He didn't go to church, whatever, but he read this book the bible every night. What you don't get in College or high school or elementary school now, is wisdom, wisdom matters, wisdom is much more important than knowledge. They're not the same thing. Wisdom is what is life about, reminds me I said something on the radio yesterday that I actually like so I. I committed it to memory a lot of people say we we don't need religion. Science will guide us that is show unbelievably foolish and I said the following on the radio yesterday. I said science is a moral video that is science doesn't Oh, you right from wrong science has, as is completely oblivious to whether you murder, rape, torture. It doesn't matter. Science doesn't care, science doesn't teach you right from all it teaches you what Adams compose a water molecule. That's very important science is great. If it's used for good things, it could be used for horrific things. Obviously it's completely morally neutral science. Can't replace religion, religion tells you what is right and wrong. Science tells you what is that's not the same thing What is and what is right and wrong or not. The same thing. What teaches you what is right and wrong. What teaches you the meaning of life, not science. It's not sciences fault. It's like it's like asking a barracuda to drive you to work. Barracuda is don't drive just the way. It is, it's right now, because you can driven a lot never been driven by barracuda yeah oh man later oh, my God mm oh So okay anyway that's very important next time you hear science, science, science, science is great. Alright you're not gonna get a cure for cancer from the bible. I agree, but you're not gonna get right and wrong from science you're, not gonna get what is the purpose of life from science, science doesn't tell you anything about that. There's no wisdom and science. These knowledge in science okay so the these are this is why this is so important so I hope you will read this. it It's meant to change your life it's not meant to convert you to anything I'm not asking people convert to judaism or christianity or or even to faith in God, just read it. You decide what you wanna do with your life but it's got a lot of stuff in here that's that that will help your life go further. Rational bible. Well, I really do hope I hope you'll read. It because we're in trouble Me that's why we're in trouble we've lost our way in many ways. Okay. Those are some 14 out of your questions. Alright question time owner was get this owner by present again okay. I got a stephanie 29 in saint Paul Minnesota hi stephanie. Do you have any advice for personal keeps wavering on religion. How do you find a constant faith in God is it just supposed to come naturally doesn't come to me. Naturally that's. Why I spend so much five teaching. This stuff. This is why the Approach of most religious people has not been my approach. You know have faith have faith have faith. I never have said that once the people here are reasons to take God seriously, reasons not faith, faith, faith faith faith is nice, but reason. It is powerful so that's. Why I called the rational bible that is my approach. What is the other part of your question uh one second It of it yeah, we did got back God what magic wow you have any advice for personal keeps waving on religion. Everybody, waivers, the only people don't waver atheist every person who believes labors when, when I see when I see or hear about you baby born with terrible form of these, you don't think I ask where is God of course, I do every every thinking religious person waivers here's, something that I'm preparing the next book on genesis coming up next year. This is It is the second book the first book is genesis. Do you know the name. Israel, which is the name of the hebrew people or the Jewish people in the bible, the man named jacob, has his name changed to Israel. That's where we get Israel from the children of Israel or the. He brews are the Jews. You know what Israel means it's says so in the book. I didn't make this up struggle with God. Yes, but if it was God is to struggle with not amazing the Game of speak, god's people struggle with God. It is completely okay to struggle with God. What is not okay is not to struggle is to be an atheist and two or to be an agnostic and say it doesn't matter. It matters so struggling with God is completely understandable. Who we struggle with everything meaningful most people struggle with their parents right. We just The perfect analogy what rocco struggle is part of life, sometimes husbands and wife's struggle. I mean I read about it somewhere and right on diary. How are k little dark. Humor. There camp in divorce, but I am very happily married thing alright. Let's see here. We are always okay and 26 long island New York hi dennis. I am newly engaged for context. We both love you're working our conservative and Catholic high again. What would be the most important lesson to carry Forward into our marriage, oh man, you know what first of all you should read your married are ready and those of you not marriage and revere it's on the Internet somewhere. It easy to find just put in dennis prager questions to ask before you marry and I have it's a two part color Miller. Many years ago, questions people should ask. I told you to my House. They even know which dog that is. He barks. If there is a mosquito that flies by me this anyway, these are Acid him that's what they're known for uh you should read that it's got questions that people should ask before they get married. Now that you're married what is just say what your engaged oh yes read. This that's right. This is perfect for you. Questions you should ask before you marry and it will help you get leader solidify your engagement or wherever ended. I got a fair number of e-mails from people who ended their their relationships before marriage because of the answers that they gave to these questions so there's that there's, a lot Go forward what what message did you ask what see most important lesson to carry forward into our marriage. You know what there is the most important there were many for you should share values. Obviously that should be chemistry here here, ready. If I'm always wondering is there little kids watch this because I have to you know I have adult things. I don't bad language but I have adult things I think people should marry if they three Things have to be involved in your in your commitment or desire. Your attraction to this other person. Your brain, your heart and your sexual parts. They don't have to be 30 30 30 or 33 33 33 people precise. No, but they all have to be there. It could be 50 30 20 that's fine weather. Can none of them. Could be zero or next to zero the all through We have to be involved in in helping to create a good marriage. That's one thing. Uh the sharing values is another, but here is my help. My favorite question is, do you enjoy each other. That's a big one. You can love each other and enjoy each other that's a very important part of life if you enjoyed by the way same with with friends do you enjoy your friends so it's a big it's, a big deals not the only the old but it should be there so good luck alright Jack, seventh The Manhattan Beach California prager force. Thank you, Jack. What are you thoughts on the recent Palestinian court. Peace and protest who is to blame for the court in court non violent uh, a court violence well look come us wants to destroy Israel it's not an opinion. This is that they live for that. It's. Why most westerners cannot understand this, that, among palace And many other Muslims, tragically in the Middle East in particular and not just the Middle East, Iran is not necessarily the Middle East. The most powerful idea of their life. The animating focus of their existence is to annihilate Israel most people in the West. This is show far into their mentality that they can't relate to it. You mean you live to destroy another country that's right that's. What they live for home is completely in Stood in building hospitals in employing it's youth in building schools. It has no interest has one interest. Annihilate Israel, that is the only interested has belong 11 on that is the only interested many Palestinians. It is the only interest of the running machine that everything else is secondary in life. There's. No parallel to that in the world, that people are animated by a desire to destroy a country, Israel is the only country Owner of good for annihilation, gonna think by the way that in of itself is an interesting question. Why there's only one Jewish country on Earth and it's the only country targeted for annihilation. Read my book. Why the Jews explains that, but that's another issue okay okay. Finally, jonathan eighteen in California, he has no city help for his very big to sit California amidst all the political talk and work. What do you do to stay level and maintain joy and a professional, often Associated with negativity well Actually, it is work. My book on happy initially claimed. I don't. I hate sounding like I want promoter. Why walk when my gonna do it. I did writing looking at the night by work very hard on the issue of happiness, one hour of light show every week since 19 99 is called the happiness. Our electron happiness like giving this very serious lot of serious thought, happy that the founders of America in their genius life liberty and the pursuit of happiness in the declaration of independence so I don't know if any of Has pursuit of happiness and it's founding document this is something I love one of the many things I love about the founders of of this country it's good to pursue happiness is not good to pursue fun. It's not good to pursue excitement, but it is good to pursue happiness so it and it's of art. There is an art to to being happy it's a tough world. We live in and in my profession, your hundred percent right, everyday I'm reading about terrible things in America and in the world and I work to maintain Being a happy disposition, I do so. I look for happiness outside of the newspaper. I don't find it there and anyway, if I get down what good will it do so. I could do my listeners any good it's not gonna do me any good is like gonna. Do my family any good that's. Why. I think we have a moral obligation to have a happy disposition. It brings joy to others by the way, if you have a happy disposition, you bring people into your life. You know a lot of people have no friends This was a revelation to me since I've always had for close male friends. It's been a revelation to me, but I learned it from my radio show how many people call up and say dennis. I just don't have any friends and I was talking to my friends, Dr Steven farmer, is a psychiatrist ucla and a private practice in La brilliant man good man and he pointed out there's a correlation happy people tend to have friends so this this is selfish re And for you to pursue happiness your probably draw more people into your life so he is a vicious cycle. This is how life works in cycles life is filled with cycles happy people bring friends into their lives. Friends bring you happiness so you get more happy and get more friends and more friends and more happy on happy people to not to attract people, then the fewer friends, they have the more unhappy they get the more happy they get the fewer friends they have so it's another reason to have a happy Position into and to work on it so I work on it, but you're right in the most depressing part is when I, when I see what's happening in American, I see what's happening in our universities that the close mindedness in the the ease with which people just call people horrible names. You know there I'm gonna be speaking Columbia, University next week on what they be there I'm gonna be in Philadelphia Wednesday. I'm gonna be in New York. I'm gonna be in North Carolina uh Wednesday, so, Wednesday Get 12 University right in the graduate school, the first time I'm going back. I think I don't know maybe I went back once I remember and they such a battle to to get a place for me to speak because I'm conservative so that all this hate this heat fill the students and teachers, just protesting for if a conservative code it's these are bad through trends in America, call people you different with fascists and White supremacists and the Nazis, all it does cheap in the battle against real meal Nazis that's what it does So anyway, yep I work on it is a very valid question. How we doing on time. Everybody pretty much what what how much time of been on the hello. Nobody knows shit. I have three wonderful bright people here. I told let me know when it's a half hour and nobody knows how much time yet anyway uh. I don't wanna over burden. You with. We have five to go till. We hit so we have 30 minutes so I think yes. I'm getting mixed signals Okay, this is really funny. This proves it's not scripted. This is so not elegantly. If this is so on sophisticated, it could only be of scripted be that as it may look, I, I give you a lot of heavy duty stuff to think about these. These fireside chats mean a lot to me that's. Why. With all the things I'm doing, I try not to miss them so until next week. Please do read my book the the rational bible it's a promise. It will affect your life it's it's the the the outpouring of what I For through, for all of my life and it's it's important in an age where meaning is of a premium and I'll see you next week and those of you Columbia, I'll see you. I hope when day and until then, thank you so much for watching I'm dennis prager bye bye











