Is Religion a Crutch?
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Question:
I think religion is a crutch. G-d is for the weak and the needy. Don't you have the independence to get through life on your own?
Answer:
You're right. Religion is a crutch, a sign of human weakness. And to be
honest, religion is not my only crutch. I am so weak, I need a whole array of support mechanisms to prop me up and keep me going.
I need food. As embarrassing as it is to admit, I am totally dependant on eating. Without food, I would probably not have the strength to do much at all. My body does not nourish itself. It needs outside help. So I eat.
I have an emotional crutch too. I need other people. If it weren't for the support of my family and friends I certainly wouldn't be where I am today. And while we are on the subject, I am also quite dependent on my shoes. My feet would be really sore without them.
The human is a fragile being. We are not self-sufficient. We depend on external sources for our survival. We need to be fed, we need to be loved, and we need shoes. I thank G-d every day, for it is He who provides me with food, family and footwear.
But above all, I thank Him for giving my life purpose. Just as I can't nourish myself without resorting to the outside, I can't give my life real meaning without seeking beyond myself.
Maybe that makes me weak. But I think it gives me strength. Even if I'm hungry, lonely or barefoot, as long as I have divine purpose, I can face any challenge.
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Latest Comments:
You need a crutch. Physically, my own mom said she would NEVER use a crutch, a cane, a walker or wheelchair because she'd rather be dead than crippled. So, when she got old and in need, she hobbled around the house, holding onto walls, chairs, tables and falling. She broke ribs, etc. She KEPT saying she doesn't need anything to help her. Finally, in the end, she ended up in a rest home in a wheelchair and was so angry that she and another wheelchair patron who was bitter had a fist fight in their chairs. So, do we need a crutch? Yes. If you think you don't, you are sadly mistaken. You may be able to get by for a WHILE on your own (with Go-d helping you, without you knowing it), but there will come a time you need help. It may be a 9-1-1 call, or a call to a neighbor or family member. But, you will ask for help one day. ORGANIZED religion is an easy way to have automatic help (depends on where you go). Just don't get brainwashed anywhere by anyone. But, accept help from everywhere
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Or is it a walking stick? Perhaps that depends on whether you think it will take you anywhere worthwhile. I suppose the irreligious would say no; for my part, I think yes.
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Mystical reasons are not excuses; it appears as an excuse to those who don’t understand mysticism.
The Judaic mystical infrastructure is an amazingly complex, yet truly orderly and understandable system. It just takes some learning.
Please find yourself a teacher and learn, learn, learn ….. there more 10,000 Judaic works on mysticism so you’ll have plenty to learn.
Wishing you all the best,
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How do you define religion? The NAME of the religion people have devised or WHAT is IN YOUR HEART? I know people who use religion to RUN AWAY from facing their problems and dealing with them. Using places of religion to FIND STRENGTH is using religion as a "crutch" in a GOOD way.
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Dr. Lester, I think your characterization of religion as an "ancient myth" puts the cart before the horse. Prove to me that it is a myth, your statement was conclusory and lacks foundation. Furtther, you again generalized that you need food to live but not religion. Well, that may apply to you but how many lives have been lived on a moral basis because of religious beliefs? Others unequivocally DO need religion to live. Not you of course because you require empircal proof of what is commonly called "faith." But what harm comes from living life with a crutch and giving one a moral compass as opposed to a rationalization of your stealing, cheating, killing and other random acts of evil? Imagine a society in YOUR world. No thanks.
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You say that religious people say "I never said I was perfect but at least I am saved".
This is misleading because:
1. Judaism doesn’t hold of the Christian “I am saved” concept – on the contrary each person is responsible for their actions
2. This logic is not only prevalent among atheists – it’s fundamental to their belief; i.e. for they don’t believe in any Divine reward or punishment hence they’re always “saved” from their wrongdoings.
With regards to the “little tribal god” you mention; the atheists say that Man evolved from a “primordial soup” at the odds of 1 in 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,etc…etc…etc….
If only I had as much belief as the Evolutionists!
G-D bless,
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Unfortunately, the words of Plonker will be hotly denied by those who are frightened by their truth. You need food to live. You don't need to believe in ancient myths to live. I'm not an atheist - and all religions think the very recognition of right and wrong somehow proves their little tribal god - but I still see religion as mainly a crutch and also a valuable excuse when people are going to do something undeniably wrong. "I never said I was perfect but at least I am saved" etc.
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A crutch is evidence of being broken and "still mobile", at least its not a kickstand. Answer to some comments... Religion is not a good word, I like denomination. I feel if someone washes one hand before the other is their business! It is petty pointing and bottling faith for examination. I am just happy knowing one washes his hands. These are splinters in the eye. You can't pick out the splinter in ones eye, if you have a plank in your own first remove the plank in order to see ones splinter. I am perfectly happy with the Rabbi's answer I read. I don't completely agree thats how I would put religion. But I know that all is broken and we need God to put us back together and if that means I have to walk with crutches its better than bedridden."Religion a word that describes a race where God is the finishline and everyone runs backwards looking at each other getting farther away from the goal." Kinda like a finger pointing match but no one wins. "Just love thy neighbor."
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The Torah is not a simplistic work.
Please, dear “Captain Kirk”, don’t think that G-D created the universe in the most wondrous and intelligent fashion and then created His Torah with no wisdom G-D forbid.
Enter into the orchard of Torah and taste its bliss; have you already learned and lived the literally millions of Jewish books of wisdom? Chumash, Nach, Midrash, Zohar, Mishnah, Talmud, Geonim, Rishinom, Acharonim, Kabbalah, Chakirah, Chassidus, Sha’alos Ve’Teshuvos, etc……. etc… etc…
I don’t mean to G-D forbid be “holier than thou” on the contrary my knowledge of Torah is less than an ant’s egg compared to the universe. All I’m trying to say is give an honest open minded look at the Torah; learn learn learn …… you’ll love it!
(….keep in mind it might take a year itself just to finish one tractate of Gemara …)
Wishing you all the best,
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Wow. Some pretty delusional replies here. Please do not confuse belief in a fantasy with the very real needs we have to live. If you have no food you will die. If you have no emotional connections you will not die but be severely psychologically damaged. If you don't believe ancient myths which served to explain what people didn't understand, you will not be missing out on anything (except for the feelings of superiority which are displayed by several posters here). Of COURSE religion is a crutch, but a crutch which is defended by those who are afraid of life without it.
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