2 ms·

In my opinion (not a Jew) the good in religion cannot be boiled down to its moral guidance nor its stabilizing effects. Religion is not therapy and is not a rep

In my opinion (not a Jew) the good in religion cannot be boiled down to its moral guidance nor its stabilizing effects. Religion is not therapy and is not a replacement for therapy either. Following a set of rules, even arbitrary rules, can be a part of a tradition. For example, one of the rules that my family follows is putting up a Christmas tree around the beginning of December and decorating it. This is work, in some sense "stupid" and "irrelevant" work: my hands have gone numb while trying to cut with a handheld saw at the base of at tree before. The needles make a mess everywhere. Cutting down trees is probably not great for the environment. But, if my (American, Protestant) culture weren't so hellbent on seeing religion a matter of individual belief, we'd probably recognize that this is a religious practice. It's a unique set of weird things we do that sets us apart and brings us together. Other practices seem connected to holding a sense of wonder for the world we live in. My experience with Sabbath-remembrance is that it is an attempt to commemorate life itself (as a creative act) by choosing to rest (not creating) on that day. (I can't speak for Jews, my background was Christian.) As someone who's now a religious "none/other", I think there's something still work respecting in these practices, even if they sometimes seem badly aligned with the modern fast-moving world.

Freak_NL 5y ago
A Christmas tree has aesthetic value, and the decorated tree brings cheer in a time of year where darkness, cold, and late fall, early winter gloom affects many people. This tradition has so many redeeming factors, that it is embraced by religious and non-religious people alike. Following a set of arbitrary rules can create tradition and community, and if these are harmless this is fine, but this example of finding workarounds for your own religion comes across as keeping up appearances for others who subscribe to it; not actual religious adherence. I mean, most gods I've read about don't look to kindly on interpreting their principles to the letter (“Look! I'm not touching the switch, but if I say ‘Alexa, I feel gloomy’ the light comes just happens to come on!”) rather than to the spirit.
- bscphil 5y ago
  > I mean, most gods I've read about don't look to kindly on interpreting their principles to the letter ... rather than to the spirit. "Israel" is literally defined in Genesis to mean "the one who strives with God", so this kind of argumentative approach to one's own religion might not be approved by "most gods", but that doesn't mean it can't be part of some religions. I would also note that some Jews who have replied to this thread have indicated that they do endeavor to follow both the letter and spirit of the law.
chrischen 5y ago
We sometimes do this, sometimes don't, and if we do, it's not because of our own cultural traditions. We're doing, as sibling post pointed out, for aesthetic reasons.

Freak_NL 5y ago

A Christmas tree has aesthetic value, and the decorated tree brings cheer in a time of year where darkness, cold, and late fall, early winter gloom affects many people. This tradition has so many redeeming factors, that it is embraced by religious and non-religious people alike. Following a set of arbitrary rules can create tradition and community, and if these are harmless this is fine, but this example of finding workarounds for your own religion comes across as keeping up appearances for others who subscribe to it; not actual religious adherence. I mean, most gods I've read about don't look to kindly on interpreting their principles to the letter (“Look! I'm not touching the switch, but if I say ‘Alexa, I feel gloomy’ the light comes just happens to come on!”) rather than to the spirit.

bscphil 5y ago
> I mean, most gods I've read about don't look to kindly on interpreting their principles to the letter ... rather than to the spirit. "Israel" is literally defined in Genesis to mean "the one who strives with God", so this kind of argumentative approach to one's own religion might not be approved by "most gods", but that doesn't mean it can't be part of some religions. I would also note that some Jews who have replied to this thread have indicated that they do endeavor to follow both the letter and spirit of the law.

chrischen 5y ago

We sometimes do this, sometimes don't, and if we do, it's not because of our own cultural traditions. We're doing, as sibling post pointed out, for aesthetic reasons.