Many times during chumash class we come up with interesting ideas and topics to discuss, and some recurring themes are how sometimes people feel that Judaism is oppressive and how we might be wasting our lives doing things for no reason because in the end, there might not be G-d or punishment or our religion might be wrong (for eating non-kosher or something).
Last year with Mrs. Perl's navi class we discussed Pascal's Wager, and I thought it would be interesting to introduce it to those who have doubts about certain things and cannot find satisfactory answers.
Pascal's Wager is the argument that it is in one's own best interest to behave as if G-d exists, since the possibility of eternal punishment/hell outweighs any advantage of believing otherwise.
Ask yourself: even if in the end we are the wrong religion or everyone just goes to heaven or nothing happens, will it be so bad if you live a Jewish life? You will live morally and you can still have fun. Judaism, as Mrs. Perl pointed out, is about the collective and not individuals, which is good. You won't be centered on only what pleases you (not that you are if you aren't Jewish).
Is it worth the risk?
*PS- i really like how Mrs. Perl pointed out that people are all about themselves now and it used to be about everyone as a whole. If people could function as one unit I feel that life would be somehow nicer...
Last year with Mrs. Perl's navi class we discussed Pascal's Wager, and I thought it would be interesting to introduce it to those who have doubts about certain things and cannot find satisfactory answers.
Pascal's Wager is the argument that it is in one's own best interest to behave as if G-d exists, since the possibility of eternal punishment/hell outweighs any advantage of believing otherwise.
Ask yourself: even if in the end we are the wrong religion or everyone just goes to heaven or nothing happens, will it be so bad if you live a Jewish life? You will live morally and you can still have fun. Judaism, as Mrs. Perl pointed out, is about the collective and not individuals, which is good. You won't be centered on only what pleases you (not that you are if you aren't Jewish).
Is it worth the risk?
*PS- i really like how Mrs. Perl pointed out that people are all about themselves now and it used to be about everyone as a whole. If people could function as one unit I feel that life would be somehow nicer...
Zahava I think it's really cool and interesting that you brought up Pascal's wager in regard to everything that we have been learning and discussing in chumash class recently. I think it makes a lot of sense to live life as if there is a G-d/hell/heaven even if you do not believe in any of it. For me personally it is worth the risk. We may find many flaws in Judaism or several things that we don't agree with, but I think it's really important for us to remember that there is a reason that Judaism hasn't died out, like pagan religions. It is because there is value in leading a Jewish life, whether you choose to be ultra orthodox or perhaps more secular and involved in the secular world. If there are so many problems with Judaism, why is it still around? It's not a perfect religion because there is no such thing. But it is around for a reason and we have to remember that.
ReplyDeleteZahava-
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this post! You don't understand how much I think about that. I remember last year in Navi class, Rabbi Goldberg posed that same question. I remember it really got me thinking. However, after a few weeks, I came to the conclusion that I would never regret keeping the laws and striving to follow in G-d's ways. This is because I am happy! Yes, at times it is hard, but it is always worth it in the end. This is kind of a cheesy example but whatever. Almost every shabbos morning, I wake up not wanting to go to shul. However, I push myself out of bed and I usually go. I always come home from shul in such a happy, satisfied mood. Everything in Judaism is just so meaningful and that makes me feel like I have a purpose in life, I'm not just on this earth for nothing. This whole idea reminds me when Mrs. Perl was telling us that statistically Jewish people live happier lives. For example, they have the lowest rate of divorce. When people find meaning and purpose they are happy, and Judausm does just that.