Is Religion Still Relevant?

Of course. Because it is science that needs to catch up with H’ (B”H). Reply

There are many Orthodox that reconcile their understanding from science that the Earth is probably 14 million years old with Torah. I am certainly interested in following what they say. However in Chabad, the emphasis is on literal truth of Genesis:

" ... one cannot exclude the possibility that dinosaurs existed 5722 years ago, and became fossilized under terrific natural cataclysms in the course of a few years rather than in millions of years ... "

" ... If you are still troubled by the theory of evolution, I can tell you without fear of contradiction that it has not a shred of evidence to support it. ... "

Google on "Theories of Evolution " Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson Reply

Relevant These are the subject matters that need to be explored ! Shalom. I love Chabad ! Reply

Re: The Validity of Orthodox Guidance I'm Orthodox, and I gladly accept the scientific evidence that the universe is ~14 billion year old. I don't know who Mr. Weisberg talks to. Before the Big Bang theory, astronomers believed in an eternal Steady State universe. They were exceedingly upset to discover that the universe had a beginning: that it was, in a word, created.

Mr. Weisberg is not aware of the increasing abundance of archaeological evidence confirming the Hebrew Bible's narrative. The Ipuwer Papyrus is a notable example. Ancient mikvehs and tefillin are kosher by every standard. The Dead Sea Scrolls are ancient manuscripts of the Tanakh.

There are ways of life that reject the Torah's commandments: for example, communism, fascism, and jihadism, which have collectively killed over 100 million people in the past century. I'll stick with the Torah - it gives a much healthier society. Reply

Tradition The religion in it self seemes to have been outdated by science, but if we look at ourselfes as Carriers of tradition and memories of those who has been Before us, it gives some Comfort obout an uncertain future. Reply

There is no denying it: we live in a new age. Science fiction has become scientific fact. Two thoughts come to mind. It seems to me that G-D actually made two genesis's. The first one is distinct and ended with end of Eden, the other one is the immediate period following the end of the Great Flood and the opening of the door of the Ark.

The method G-D used to repopulate our planet would still be viewed as "science fiction." today. Reply

Religion is definitely relevant but is our understanding of religion relevant?

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Ditto to Anonymous of North Bergen! We are at the lowest rung from our forefathers. We will only merit the Geulah because we are standing on the shoulders of our greats from throughout the millenia. In fact, we have sunk practically to the bottom. We must return and try to reach their heights. Not by all the technology or materialism will we get there, that's for sure, because that has brought us down thinking that we have no need for G-D, c'v, but instead it will all prove to be worthless. Reply

roof caving in The Ten Commandments were, I say were, the pillars of a sane society.
We have been knocking them down one by one. what happens when the pillars of a house are knocked down? The roof caves in! So that's what's happening in our modern society. Reply

When we start travelling over the galaxy will be very hard to keep Shabbat. Reply

I am not a part of the Jewish faith or scene but I agree with the article, the issues are with people, the pace and complexity and pace of the modern age may exabyte some, the same issues.
Man has not changed since he was put on this earth. Reply

How right you are. I for still favor the Commandments. People have not changed for 350000 years. Only technology has. Reply

I think we have it a little backward I liked your article very much. But here's a thought...I think that we are still trying to catch up on the wisdom of our law. Everything we discover only proves how far behind we are in so many ways. Thank you again. Reply

religion Maybe we don't know or accept God consciously, but maybe God's laws are written within us. Science brings this out.
I also agree with Tolstoy who said we should develop our practical and moral side. This as more and more people cry out for "justice." Reply

Is Religion still Revelent? Once, a question was asked; can there be morality without G-d? The answer is no. Can life have meaning and purpose without religion? The answer is no.

The more comlpex and sophisticated humankind becomes, we need to become "intergalatic toddlers" and ask the why's of our existence. This is where understanding and technology comes from.

G-d created us to master our environment so we could dare to socially interact with Him. It is this interaction with G-d and keeping the laws, evil and war would become a rare thing among men.

Sometimes like the toddler, we yell "me" entirely too much. Reply

Science I think that scientific discoveries are here in part to help people who don't believe in G-d or religion, to come closer, through the gateway of science, that supports religion through its discoveries. Some people don't require this, but perhaps it's a message to humankind, that if we still need help to get the point, here's science to support the evidence. It does clarify things at another level, sometimes even deeper, and has its important place in the big picture. I think there's a reason why science is so prolific. Today, physiological proof of the negative effects of jealousy, hatred, etc., can be measured scientifically, to the precision of resultant activity of an atom in the molecule, or the resultant effect on the brain or a person's DNA. So for those who may be skeptical about the relevance of the 10 commandments, or any other religious observances or commandments, science is very helpful. Maybe it's G-d's way of saying, "You can have as many chances as you need." Reply

Relevance Today I seem to responding to titles....

I haven't even read the article yet. As soon as I saw the title, "Is Religion Still Relevant" my first response was:

Are We Still Breathing?

Now I'll read the article............... Reply

The Validity of Orthodox Guidance It’s clear that modern science and philosophy fail to provide answers to many important questions. To lead a good life, we need those answers, and most religions offer their versions of answers
.
The interesting question today is, given the Enlightenment and the tremendous progress that has been made in the physical and biological sciences, history, anthropology, and linguistics, why guide our lives by medieval ways of thinking that hardly have changed in the last 1,000 years? For me, it’s not really a question, because I just can’t. I know pretty much for certain that the universe is about 2,000,000 times older than orthodox Jews say it is, that there never were talking donkeys, and that the idea that the Torah today is letter for letter identical with any document that existed 3,000 years ago is laughable. How can I take spiritual guidance from people that operate within such a system? Reply

Moral scientific category It is true that science has no moral category, scientists do not provide or build any, not one that lasts. Religions perform this duty, on the basis of results in the future rather then analysis of the past. Perhaps not unlike "the Jews observed the Torah, even before understanding it." But one can look at Darwinian natural evolution and factor technology into it. That yields a scientific moral category. Perhaps an understanding and scientific foundation for the Torah. However, to want to think this way, one needs a moral inclination. Reply

But I agree wholeheartedly and would use a MLK quote to supportthis point. My question lies in laws regarding slaves and handmaids, stoning insolent children and homosexuality being an abomination. The quote I was thinking of was "When we look at modern man, we have to face the fact that modern man suffers from a kind of poverty of the spirit which stands in glaring contrast to his scientific and technological abundance. We’ve learned to fly the air like birds, we’ve learned to swim the seas like fish; and yet we haven’t learned to walk the earth as brothers and sisters." Reply