why observe Jewish law?
Nov. 19th, 2005 11:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cellioA friend asked (in a locked post, so I won't link) why I follow Jewish law. What do I get out of it? I want to record my answer here.
I follow the law because it improves my relationship with God and because it elevates mundane tasks.
Consider eating. Animals eat. Humans need to eat, but we have minds and souls and we don't have to be like animals. The simple act of saying a blessing before ("getting permission") and giving thanks afterwards ("grace") elevates the otherwise-coarse act of eating to a holier status. Now consider actually choosing to restrict what I eat (and how I eat it) because I understand that this is what God asks of us. It's such a simple thing to skip the shellfish and, in return, God might reach out a little to me just as I reach out to God. That's a win!
When I was in the process of becoming more religious (that is, moving from being an apatheist to actually paying attention to God), I found that if I sincerely tried, even with baby steps, I saw positive results. Psychologists might well say that that's because I caused those changes through a more positive outlook; if so, so what? Does that matter if God -- or my God-concept -- was the underlying force? We're supposed to take an active role; if by praying to God I get no direct effect from God, but the act itself causes me to improve my own behavior, isn't that still a win? Well, it's not just prayer that can produce that effect. Keeping Shabbat, eating properly, striving to repair the world, studying torah... it's all bundled up in there.
I follow the law because it improves my relationship with God and because it elevates mundane tasks.
Consider eating. Animals eat. Humans need to eat, but we have minds and souls and we don't have to be like animals. The simple act of saying a blessing before ("getting permission") and giving thanks afterwards ("grace") elevates the otherwise-coarse act of eating to a holier status. Now consider actually choosing to restrict what I eat (and how I eat it) because I understand that this is what God asks of us. It's such a simple thing to skip the shellfish and, in return, God might reach out a little to me just as I reach out to God. That's a win!
When I was in the process of becoming more religious (that is, moving from being an apatheist to actually paying attention to God), I found that if I sincerely tried, even with baby steps, I saw positive results. Psychologists might well say that that's because I caused those changes through a more positive outlook; if so, so what? Does that matter if God -- or my God-concept -- was the underlying force? We're supposed to take an active role; if by praying to God I get no direct effect from God, but the act itself causes me to improve my own behavior, isn't that still a win? Well, it's not just prayer that can produce that effect. Keeping Shabbat, eating properly, striving to repair the world, studying torah... it's all bundled up in there.
What if.....
Date: 2005-11-20 05:30 am (UTC)I've asked myself this question and my answer centers around the fact that I was born into a Jewish family.
Let's say that everyone has their own functions and G-d sorts souls out to be born into the whole gamut of families on this world. If I was born into an Athiest Family with Islamic roots then maybe there's something I can do within my world, in an Athiestic/Islam-influenced way? Might be a bit of heretical notion. Does everyone need to become religious in their own ways? I don't know. What I do know is that if G-d really hated people from other faiths then they wouldn't be here. Everyone must have their function to play.
Maybe there's some function that you were meant to play in a Jewish context? It is easier for you and I to become Jewishly religious. We don't have to contend with our families disowning us (G-d forbid that should happen to anyone) and our friends thinking that we've gone off to world that they completely don't understand (differentiated by geography and culture).
It's confusing but I guess all you can do is constantly examine your ways and ask yourself if what you're doing is really the right thing?
Religiously,
- Inkhorn
Re: What if.....
Date: 2005-11-20 06:00 am (UTC)Re: What if.....
Date: 2005-11-20 03:58 pm (UTC)That is a very relevant piece of information ! :)
What contributed towards your decision to convert?
Re: What if.....
Date: 2005-11-20 05:05 pm (UTC)Re: What if.....
Date: 2005-11-20 07:25 am (UTC)If God really hated evil, then it wouldn't be here.
I don't think statements like that work. Free Will opens the door to a large number of things that exist despite God hating them.
Re: What if.....
Date: 2005-11-20 04:47 pm (UTC)