It's not that I'm uncomfortable with power--but I think our power, or power per se, needs to be redefined. Right now, we don't have much choice, explosives and steel. But I believe there are other skills relating to power, which, oddly enough, actually create peace.

There is the Biblical story of Shechem, where the prince rapes Jacob's daughter and the town plans to plunder and kill Jacob's family. Levi and Shimon use steel to solve the problem, and Jacob has a bit of a fit. That's not how we are supposed to do it, he essentially says. The problem is that his sons don't know what he knows. Jacob's next step is to handle the rest of the problem in his own way--the rest of the problem being that Levi and Shimon's use of metals incited the neighboring cities and tribes of Shechem to also want to kill Jacob's family, fearing that this family is dangerous (sound familiar?). So Jacob does what he does well, and the family is safe.

The Torah has no problem with power--plenty is exercised with no side effects. Our problems result from our use of the wrong technology when exercising this power.

I know this is a vague answer, but that's where I sense we are. Our religion, for most Jews, makes no sense. Or, for religious Jews, they see the Torah as providing answers. I see it as providing clues and a pathway towards developing skills. I think we have to try to understand what Abraham knew about the universe, cause and effect, and technology. It's research, not following or toeing the company line.

But that's just me.