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Who Needs Religion, If It's the Cause of So Much Violence?
Discuss (64)
Question:
I am Jewish, but cannot embrace Judaism as a religion. Religion is the cause of all wars, and I believe we would be closer to world peace without it. Wouldn't the world be better off if it weren't for religion?
Answer:
Rejecting Judaism because you believe in world peace is like refusing to enter a Japanese restaurant because you like sushi. It just doesn't make sense.
War comes naturally to people. It existed long before any religion. Peace did not. Peace is not natural to the human condition. It had to be taught and learned. And it was a religious idea.
The first and most powerful vision of world peace was presented to mankind by the prophets of ancient Israel. They predicted a time when "one nation will not lift a sword against another nation, and they will no longer learn to wage war." In a world that saw war as an inevitable fact of life, the Jewish religion introduced a radical new concept: that war is ultimately undesirable and peace is the ideal state for which to strive.
Without religion we would find other things to fight about, like parking spots and noise from the neighbors. But without religion, world peace would not have entered the human vocabulary. Whether you are aware if it or not, your dream of world peace is biblically inspired. Ideals do not live in bubbles. Like people, they need parents to give birth to them and a home environment to sustain them. Peace without religion is homeless. It was Judaism that gave birth to the vision of world peace and still provides a framework to implement that vision.
True, religion has been used by some as a pretext for war. But this does not invalidate all religion, just as when football players brawl it does not invalidate the game of football. Ridding the world of all religion would not end war any more than abolishing football would brawls. In fact, religion still provides the strongest argument for peace between people: that we were all created by the same G-d. Without this belief, is there anything that really unites us all?
By Aron Moss
Rabbi Aron Moss teaches Kabbalah, Talmud and practical Judaism in Sydney, Australia, and is a frequent contributor to Chabad.org.
About the artist: Sarah Kranz has been illustrating magazines, webzines and books (including five children’s books) since graduating from the Istituto Europeo di Design, Milan, in 1996. Her clients have included The New York Times and Money Marketing Magazine of London.
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How proud and delighted I am of all of you.
San Ramon, ca
jewishtrivalley.com
South Gate, CA
I need religion, but the religion I need may not exist yet. I'm certain it will someday, hopefully soon. Whether I believe in a man who spoke as though he were a book, or a Book that speaks as a man; it is the same words being spoken. How many can actually hear those words fully in thier completeness and depth? I know that I can't bear to hear them without some kind of dilution. The Truth of those words can burn us if we aren't prepared. Tradition helps with this. Tis too awfully deep to convey. Many have given up the pursuit, still others have decided to try and make money off it. Others attempt to market the mystical tools only for self-gain, rather than the betterment of mankind. There is a power in Torah put there by all who have been martyred, Keeping their sacrifice in active remembrance humbles me greatly, I am not worthy to have suffered what I have as a Jew compared to their pain and suffrage. This is why I will do my utmost for Torah, and Our People, no matter what.
Pasadena, CA
Most questions are answerable through logic, yet I am fairly certain that not all questions can be. There are also questions that have many answers, and there are those, which do not have any. I am of the opinion that; If there is a G-d, or Superior Intellect, then He/She/ It does not need man to do It's/ His/ Her fighting for them what-so-ever. If He/ She/ It did need mere mortal men to fight and kill on It's/ His/ Her behalf, then mankind is a more powerful being than He/ She/ It. Fighting and killing in the name of any g-d, regardless of name is more about the animal world, the infantile and instinctive world man creates for himself rather than any true G-d. My opinion is just that, and I am no one special to be regarded, but logically speaking it is a sound opinion. Man has, as yet, not left behind his primal survival instinctual & beastial side, and therefore; his conceptions of G-d are much to be desired. (G-d? Schmod! As long as we get paid, who cares, right?!)
Pasadena, CA
Riverside, Ca, USA
jewishriverside.com
1. Who needs religion? and
2. Religion is the cause of all wars.
So, to answer this, I'd have to defer to logic. This sentence would read, in logic, as: There was a war in xxx year. The basis of that war was stated as being for religion, There as another war in xxx year. The basis of that war was stated as being for religion. Therefor, ALL wars have the common denominator of being fought for religion. This is a fallacy. It's like saying people kill many cows for their meat, for food. People kill many chickens for their meat, for food. Therefore ALL animals which are killed are for food. This is not correct. Hunters often kill for sport. It is not good, in my estimation, but it happens. They also kill to show who can get the biggest animal, thinking that will make the hunter the best/most talented crackshot with a rifle. So, the question is illogical. Because the question is illogical, all the answers given are moot.
Riverside, CA, USA
jewishriverside.com
The conclusion is assumed out ofa supposition that the question was incomplete? If we divide the question into two parts, we can only conclude one part and not both. However; if we leave the question whole, then both parts of the question may be answered. Part 1) If I divide a child between two women, would it still be alive? Obvious answer; NO. Judaism says that the righteous of all nations shall have a part in the world to come. Catholicism says only Catholics, Protestants, say only Protestants, Islam - only Muslims. There are more than one women claiming sole proprietor of truth. Therefore my reasoning led to this thought thread: Judaism does not lay a claim to be sole proprietor, Truth is the child of G-d. The child is still alive in the Jewish world. Judaism is for the people of Israel, tho' the rest of the women may just fight and kill the child that was given to them. There are those who have surrendered to hope rather than religion. U C, It had 3 parts.
Pasadena, CA
Riverside, CA, USA
jewishriverside.com
Pasadena, CA