Religion is often criticized for being dogmatic and resisting the change. Religious people find their inspiration in the great images of the past, and are often told to look up at them as role models for today. " If previous generations were like angels, we are like humans. But if they are deemed humans, than we are compared to donkeys "- famous and popular Talmudic quote.
Such mindset of looking back into the past naturally brings with it little desire to search for new ways of expression and generate new creative thoughts and ideas. Does it mean, that religion will always be "stuck in the past", only reacting to changes in the world - usually resisting them, and never initiating anything new?
If we examine this phenomena in a historical context,we should see that this was not always the case.
Judaism started with the great revolution of monotheism- and our forefather Avraham was certainly not looking into the past to keep the status quo - he became almost a synonym of a new type of religious leader- not your typical "yes-man", simply following the instructions, he had enough hutzpah to argue with G-d, standing for his ideals and principles- even if it meant defending those evil-doers of Sodom.
What kind of world would we be living in, if Avraham remained just a loyal servant of G-d, and not his sincere partner?
We would have been robbed I believe, and our religion would not teach humanity great ideals and concepts, that lately became known as "Judeo-Christian values "-
Individual Freedom, Sacred nature of humanity , Social justice,
Pursuit of Truth and Harmony - both in the world and in personal life- these ideas are so fundamental that should you take them away, and you will decent into abyss of darkness, where "might is right" of human greed is the only language
So why is it that today's Judaism is so often seen as an obstacle to progress ?
While there could be many answers to this difficult question, let me suggest mine.
We became self-assured that we "have all the answers".
And if you have all the answers, you don't need to grow, and you will resist any change.
Rav Kook gives very innovative definition of "Teshuvah"- usually translated as repentance and understood as a process of personal transformation from a "sinner" into a "righteous person". He says, that the energy of such transformation is an all-encompassing Divine yearning for perfection which is constantly changing and renewing this world. So when an individual "sins" he simply detaches himself from this Divine Source- and when he realizes his solitude and detachment, strong desire to reconnect to the Source of Life brings him back!
In this beautiful picture of the world portrayed to us by Rav Kook we cannot escape one clear observation- G-d WANTS CHANGE! In fact, He is the Eternal Change himself!
People of different faiths, Judaism including, saw G-d for a very long time as Static Big Father (SBF) - such G-d demands obedience, and encourages all sorts of dogmatic beliefs, that would never change- as change is the very opposite of the SBF!
Nowadays such concept of the Divine is seen as archaic and cannot attract any following- using the language of Ken Wilber, our understanding of the Divine evolved to a higher level - and we can't accept limited vision of the past anymore.
In other words, we have all the right to look into future and embrace change that makes us more aware of the Divine Presence in the world . Dare I say, this is our calling and religious responsibility !
However, we must establish clear criteria to distinguish "change for the sake of Heaven", one that will bring more Divinity into this world, and "change not for the sake of Heaven"- motivated by our egoistic desires ( greed, lust and power ) . Even as we cannot objectively see "the whole picture", we can test ourselves and others with a simple question-
Should you or anyone in your circle come to an idea of change- ask yourself ( or that person) - " Where is G-d in all of this? "
Ego always keeps G-d out of equation. Communism promised people equality, freedom and justice- and brought them terrible slavery and injustice of the Gulags! How could it happen? Maybe because G-d was never considered a factor!
Even religious institutions often fail the test, but in a more subtle way- think of the Crusades or modern day Islamic terrorism- both done in the name of G-d, and both pretend to put Him on the throne - so how are they wrong?
When we fail to listen to the subtle voice of G-d speaking to us in nature and history, and also in our own mind - it's because we are obsessed with Ego ( greed, lust and honor) And Ego of the religious person would wear very religious clothing, and would look super religious! Back then and now, Ego wants control and power, and it would use all instruments to get it- that's how religion can turn into monster!
Our task, it seems, is to bring the change that G-d wants us to bring- more Love, Unity and Harmony in this broken world, full of suffering and human tragedy.
Such mindset of looking back into the past naturally brings with it little desire to search for new ways of expression and generate new creative thoughts and ideas. Does it mean, that religion will always be "stuck in the past", only reacting to changes in the world - usually resisting them, and never initiating anything new?
If we examine this phenomena in a historical context,we should see that this was not always the case.
Judaism started with the great revolution of monotheism- and our forefather Avraham was certainly not looking into the past to keep the status quo - he became almost a synonym of a new type of religious leader- not your typical "yes-man", simply following the instructions, he had enough hutzpah to argue with G-d, standing for his ideals and principles- even if it meant defending those evil-doers of Sodom.
What kind of world would we be living in, if Avraham remained just a loyal servant of G-d, and not his sincere partner?
We would have been robbed I believe, and our religion would not teach humanity great ideals and concepts, that lately became known as "Judeo-Christian values "-
Individual Freedom, Sacred nature of humanity , Social justice,
Pursuit of Truth and Harmony - both in the world and in personal life- these ideas are so fundamental that should you take them away, and you will decent into abyss of darkness, where "might is right" of human greed is the only language
So why is it that today's Judaism is so often seen as an obstacle to progress ?
While there could be many answers to this difficult question, let me suggest mine.
We became self-assured that we "have all the answers".
And if you have all the answers, you don't need to grow, and you will resist any change.
Rav Kook gives very innovative definition of "Teshuvah"- usually translated as repentance and understood as a process of personal transformation from a "sinner" into a "righteous person". He says, that the energy of such transformation is an all-encompassing Divine yearning for perfection which is constantly changing and renewing this world. So when an individual "sins" he simply detaches himself from this Divine Source- and when he realizes his solitude and detachment, strong desire to reconnect to the Source of Life brings him back!
In this beautiful picture of the world portrayed to us by Rav Kook we cannot escape one clear observation- G-d WANTS CHANGE! In fact, He is the Eternal Change himself!
People of different faiths, Judaism including, saw G-d for a very long time as Static Big Father (SBF) - such G-d demands obedience, and encourages all sorts of dogmatic beliefs, that would never change- as change is the very opposite of the SBF!
Nowadays such concept of the Divine is seen as archaic and cannot attract any following- using the language of Ken Wilber, our understanding of the Divine evolved to a higher level - and we can't accept limited vision of the past anymore.
In other words, we have all the right to look into future and embrace change that makes us more aware of the Divine Presence in the world . Dare I say, this is our calling and religious responsibility !
However, we must establish clear criteria to distinguish "change for the sake of Heaven", one that will bring more Divinity into this world, and "change not for the sake of Heaven"- motivated by our egoistic desires ( greed, lust and power ) . Even as we cannot objectively see "the whole picture", we can test ourselves and others with a simple question-
Should you or anyone in your circle come to an idea of change- ask yourself ( or that person) - " Where is G-d in all of this? "
Ego always keeps G-d out of equation. Communism promised people equality, freedom and justice- and brought them terrible slavery and injustice of the Gulags! How could it happen? Maybe because G-d was never considered a factor!
Even religious institutions often fail the test, but in a more subtle way- think of the Crusades or modern day Islamic terrorism- both done in the name of G-d, and both pretend to put Him on the throne - so how are they wrong?
When we fail to listen to the subtle voice of G-d speaking to us in nature and history, and also in our own mind - it's because we are obsessed with Ego ( greed, lust and honor) And Ego of the religious person would wear very religious clothing, and would look super religious! Back then and now, Ego wants control and power, and it would use all instruments to get it- that's how religion can turn into monster!
Our task, it seems, is to bring the change that G-d wants us to bring- more Love, Unity and Harmony in this broken world, full of suffering and human tragedy.
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