JudaismComparative Religions

OverviewJews have influenced approximately 1/3 of the

Western WorldWestern civilization took over the Jewish

perspective on the deepest questions life.Jewish homeland, Canaan, is really just a

“postage stamp” country.◦ 150 miles long◦ 50 miles wide

To have impacted the world the way they have, Jewish history really wasn’t that impressive.

What lifted them to the impressive spot they hold was their passion for meaning.

Meaning of GodJewish quest for meaning was rooted

in their understanding of the Supreme Being◦No human is self-created◦Human power is limited

Jewish Supreme Being was not◦Prosaic – Because the Jews personified

him He was more like a person than a thing

Evidence against this idea is lacking The claim is more noble than its alternative

He had a single, nature-transcending will

Chaotic – the Jews avoided chaos by embracing monotheism◦The have more than one God is to live a

divided life◦Monotheism is the bedrock of Hebrew

beliefAmoral – the Jews made their God

care about people, especially those who lived in difficult circumstances

Hostile – the Jews made their God’s goodness draw out from “everlasting to everlasting”

Meaning in CreationThe Jews loved the world and its creations

◦ Yahweh (the Supreme Being) saw what he had created and said it was “very good”.

◦ This made the Jews have an advantage because their faith begins with knowing that the world, created by Yahweh, is good

This love/appreciation of what Yahweh created gave them an optimistic outlook on life here on earth◦ Abundance of food made the Promised Land good◦ Marriage was good◦ Death gave way to a bodily resurrection

God gave the Jews, his children, control over the whole world and its creations.

Meaning in Human ExistenceJews wanted to understand human nature so

they could make the most out of lifeJews know humans were weak, but had

good pointsJews didn’t try to make everyone perfect.

They showed how, even with imperfections, one could rise up and be successful

Sin – Jews used this word who’s root actually means “to miss the mark”. Good term because when we sin we do miss the mark.

Jews believed that, sin or no, people are God’s beloved children

Meaning in HistoryJews saw history as being very significant

◦They knew how one lived life affected life in every way

◦Social action is important. People should plan, organize and act together to make things work

◦Nothing in history happened by accident◦Opportunities in history were not spread out even

among people. Some were more important than others

◦The uniqueness of these events and decisions according to the Hebrews involved God’s direct intervention in history as critical points Chosen people as recipients of his unique commissions

The first of God’s chosen people was Abraham because he answered God’s call

God and nature◦God wouldn’t have created it if it wasn’t important◦Since he created it, he can’t be reduced to it

God and history◦God’s will transcends what is happening in history◦Jews saw history as a tension between the will of

Yahweh and man messing things up This laid the groundwork for people developing a social

conscience – the hallmark of Western civilization

Hebrew prophets◦Protected by religious sanctions (laws/rules)◦Reformed the politics of history

Meaning in MoralityHumans are social

◦ Without other people we’re not human◦ With other people be can become barbaric

Morality develops to keep us human and civilJews developed the Rabbinic Law with 613

commandments – the first 4 of the Ten Commandments are probably the most important◦ Don’t kill each other◦ Don’t commit adultery◦ Don’t steal◦ Don’t lie

Don’t kill◦You can argue and fight but we draw the line at

killing each otherDon’t commit adultery

◦What you do when you’re single may not be good, but when you’re married the rules get stricter because your actions impact more lives

Don’t steal◦You can have all you want and work hard and be as

smart as you want in this, but stealing violates the rules of fair play

Don’t lie◦You must always tell the truth. It is most important

to tell the truth when under oath – in courts – so judges can make sound decisions

The Ten Commandments◦Are not totally religious◦They embody social morals and practices

that are universal among society

Meaning in JusticeWestern civilization owes its

convictions to the prophets◦Individuals are responsible not only

for their face-to-face dealings, but for the social structures of their society

◦The future of any people depends in large part on the justice of its social order

In the Biblical sense, a prophet was someone who spoke for God

Three stages of the Prophetic movement1. Prophetic Guilds

a. No individual prophetsb. Prophecy was a form of collective, self-induced

ecstasy where the prophets worked themselves in fever-pitches of possession through music and dancing

c. Ethics was not a concern during this time period

2. Individual Pre-Writing Prophets1. Elijah, Elisha, Nathan, et. al 2. No books are attributed to them3. Divine visitation came to them when they were

alone4. Yahweh voiced his concerns through them

1. Individual justice was a key in these concerns – see the story of Naboth

3. Writing Prophetsa. Amos, Hosea, Jeremiah, Isaiah, et.al b. They were ecstatics tooc. They were more concerned with

pronouncing Yahweh’s disapproval of injustices that were imbedded in the social fabric

d. Lived in a time when there were a lot of blatant inequities, special privileges, & injustices

1) This threatened the international standing of the Jews

2) Yahweh warned this would result in attacks from neighboring countries – clean up your national act or be destroyed!

Prophetic Principle◦The prerequisite for political stability

is social justice◦Injustice will NOT endure◦Theologically:

God has high standards. Divinity will not put up forever with exploitation, corruption, and mediocrity

Prophets of Israel & Judah◦Some of the most amazing people in all

history Were in the middle of moral decline Spoke words the world still reads today Came from all sorts of backgrounds: rich,

poor, middle class.

Central theme from everyone:◦Every human being, simply by virtue

of his or her humanity, is a child of God and therefore in possession of rights that even kings must respect.

Meaning in SufferingThe prophets found meaning in

their predicament by seeing God as serious in demanding that the Jews be just.◦In 721bce, Assyria destroyed the

Northern Kingdom◦In 586 bce, the Babylonians

destroyed the Southern Kingdom.The Jews had had their chance to

change their ways and be just, but had blown it.

The prophets didn’t say “I told you so”, they dug deep and found a new strategy◦Had they used the “I told you so” line, it

would’ve made it look like the victor’s god was stronger than the Jewish God.

◦Biblical faith and the Jewish race would’ve all but vanished.

The Jews said God had not lost to Marduk, but was trying to teach the Israelites a lesson.◦This lesson would serve to redeem the world

too

God was using the Jewish captivity to set in mankind a burning passion for◦Freedom◦Justice

Meaning in MessianismMessianism is the peak of the Jews finding

meaning in their sufferingDuring most of their formative period the

Jews were either oppressed or displaced – the underdogs.◦Underdogs can only look up◦The looked for a better tomorrow

The Jewish hope for a better tomorrow was personified in the coming Messiah

After the temple was destroyed the second time in 70 ce the Messiah was expected to reverse the Diaspora of the Jews

The Messianic Idea◦The two sides of the hope the

Messiah promised Politic-national – foresaw the triumph of

the Jews over their enemies and their elevation to a position of importance in world affairs

Spiritual-universal – their political triumph would be attended by a moral advance of universal proportions

◦How the Messianic Age would arrive An actual Messiah would come God would intervene directly to bring

harmony to the world

◦The restorative and utopian impulses in Judaism Restorative – believed in the re-creation

of the Davidic Monarchy Utopian – the Messianic Age would be a

time of things that never before existed

◦How the End of Days would be Will it be continuous with previous

history? Will it be apocalyptic?

As Jewish power faded and European power expanded the Jews began to favor the apocalyptic view

Messianism crystallized as concept because of the tension caused by its ingredient opposites – the opposing views caused so much discussion it was infectious.

Belief in the Messianic Age has led to◦Christian belief in the Second

Coming of Christ◦17th Century European belief in

historical progress◦Marx’s dream of a classless society

The Messianic Idea led to the overall belief that◦There’s going to be a great day!

The Hallowing of LifeOrthodoxy or Orthopraxis?

◦Judaism is less orthodox because it has no official creed

◦Judaism is more orthopraxis because it relies heavily on ceremonies and rituals Circumcision of males Sabbath supper

Rituals◦Serve functions that nothing can replace◦Eases us through unfamiliar situations◦Extends to death

Scripts our actions Directs our responses Sets death into a framework to help us

understand the larger picture

◦Summon courage◦Turn happy times into celebrations

Weddings Birthdays

Ritual’s place in Judaism◦To hallow life – the principle of whole

life◦Reflects the source of all holiness –

YahwehTalmud

◦If you don’t ask a blessing over a meal you are robbing God of his property

◦Activities like eating, marrying, children, and nature are wonderful but should be hallowed through rituals

Life needs to be grounded in tradition

Tradition should be regularly practiced to keep the human sense of wonder and keep things holy

Holiness and History◦ Jews find these two inseparable

Jews draw nourishment from history – when God’s actions were more visible

◦ Jews find the meaning of life in the Sabbath Eve with candles and cup of sanctification Passover Feast Day of Atonement Ram’s horn sounding at New Year Scroll of the Torah adorned with breastplate and

crown

◦ Jews see these things as proof of God’s great goodness to his people

RevelationRevelation – disclosure

◦Theological Concept means divine disclosure

Yahweh’s disclosures were recorded in the Torah◦God revealed himself through actions◦Most decisive actions were in Exodus

God liberated an unorganized, enslaved people from the mightiest power of the age.

Launched the Israelites as a nation This was the first clear act where Yahweh’s

character was disclosed to them

Jews as a people◦By sociologic law they never should

have become a people◦They never should’ve survived◦They had no real collective identity

The real miracle◦They were loosely organized yet

eluded one of greatest powers of the day

◦Liberation was engineered by God

Sequence of events leading to this liberation/miracle◦Yahweh called Abraham to

Leave his home Father a people of destiny

◦ Isaac and Jacob were providentially protected

◦ Joseph was sold into slavery but exalted to power in Egypt to save his family from starving to death

From the beginning God had been leading, protecting, and shaping his people for the decisive Exodus that made the Israelites a nation

What nature of God did the Exile disclose?◦Yahweh was powerful – He could outdo

the mightiest power and any gods they thought were backing them

◦Yahweh was a God of goodness and love Freedom came to them through the grace

of Yahweh

◦Yahweh was intensely concerned with human affairs He came to them in an historical event

which changed Israel’s agenda forever

God’s power, goodness, and concern for history brought on the other Jewish insights into God◦He was good and he wanted people to be

good = the Ten Commandments◦Society and institutions were held

accountable for injustices◦Suffering carried significance

A God who had miraculously saved his people would NOT abandon them completely

MEANING had been revealed to the Jews – why them?

The Chosen PeopleJews singled themselves out for

responsibilities instead of privileges◦ They were chosen to serve and to suffer the

trials that service would exact◦ Thus, they had a far more demanding morality

than their peers of the day◦ The Jews suffered so all of mankind didn’t have

to suffer Favoritism?????

Theologically this provokes “the scandal of particularity”◦ What led the Jews to accept this and what did

it do for them?

History…◦Slaves break free from a tyrant to be

lifted to a self-respecting people◦God becomes one that was way

above everything else – set the standards for morality and justice

◦They have contributed to civilization out of all proportion to their numbers

◦They still survive today

Credit for all this◦Is it God?◦Is it the Jews themselves?

Jews credit GodBeing Chosen is not arrogant, but

humbling◦They originated, survived, and

contributed to civilization because of God

Historical impact?◦ If relief from oppression were routine, there

would’ve been nothing special about the Jews◦God had to do something big because humans

just weren’t paying enough attention to himHow do the Jews view being the Chosen

One?◦Some believe it has outgrown whatever

usefulness it had◦Others believe that until the world’s

redemption is complete, God still needs people who are set apart to be God’s task force

IsraelJudaism didn’t end in the Bible or in 70 ce

when the temple was destroyed and the Romans dispersed them out of Palestine

Once the temple was gone, the Jews quite focusing on the temple and its traditions

Once the temple was gone, they began to focus on the Torah and its oral traditions◦Academically◦ In Synagogues

It became the rabbis who held Judaism together

Rabbinic Judaism◦Make the study of the Torah a lifelong

endeavor◦This made Judaism become more intellectual

Judaism◦The faith of a people

During the Biblical times Jews needed their identity During the European ghetto period the Jews had an

identity forced on them With their emancipation during the French

Revolution the Jews no longer needed self-identification

How do the Jews identify themselves?◦Some still believe that God chose

them to be unique – that they should stay apart from others

◦Other Jews now believe that cultural diversity enriches society

What constitutes Jewish identity?◦Not doctrine – there’s nothing one has

to BELIEVE to be a JewJudaism is like a circle that is

whole but divisible into sections that converge in a common center.◦The more sections one represents, the

more Jewish one is◦Four sections are extremely important

Faith Observance Culture nation

Hebraic Faith◦ Jews approach faith from intellectual

angels ranging from fundamentalism to ultra-liberalism

Ritualistic Observance◦ Jews vary in their interpretation of the

Sabbath Dietary laws Daily prayer Ritual observances

◦The intent is the same though – to hallow life

Culture for the Jews embodies language, lore, and affinity for land◦Lore – Biblical names and stories

lace Western culture Talmud is a vast compendium of history,

law, folklore, and commentary that is the basis of post-Biblical Judaism

Midrashism supplements the Talmud and is a collection of legend, exegesis, and homily which developed before the Biblical canon was fixed and reached its completion in the late Middle Ages

Language◦ Hebrew◦ Jews conduct all or part of their prayers in Hebrew

Land◦ Israel – Palestine has been restored to the Jews◦ Consciousness of the Holy Land enlivens their

reading of the Torah and their study of Rabbinic Literature

◦ Contributing to the religious pull to the Holy Land and the restoration of Israel were The argument from security – the Holocaust deprived

Jews of security in Europe The psychological argument – it was psychologically

unhealthy for the Jews to be everywhere in minority status

The cultural argument - Judaism was dying so there needed to be a land where it could dominate

The social, utopian argument – somewhere in the world there should be a nation dedicated to the historical realization of prophetic ideals and ethics

Long before the Holocaust, Jews had begun to return to Palestine to forge a life for themselves

Israel became an exciting social experiment20th Century Problems

◦What meaning can the concept of a Chosen People have in the face of a God who permitted the Holocaust?

◦ Jews scripted the ideas of freedom and justice for Western civilization so how can they rightly withhold these from the Palestinians in Israel? Is security a valid argument?

Jews take courage in the fact that al least they are now politically free to confront their problems

The Star of David flies over their spiritual homeland once again.