Judaism the Choice of Promise and Covenant - Essay Example

RELIGION Badar Almarshad 0337632 Laurentian Judaism the choice of Promise and covenant Specifically, there is a relation of religious principles with other religions and other diversities of other cultural, racial, national, and ethnic and origins in terms of language. In principle there are social and cultural diversities which bring to the front the issue and aspect of religious similarities with the Jews communities. This argument, logic and line of thought stems from the fact that there are several Jews who are scattered in different parts of the world and are thus bound to conform to the cultural tenets of those specific places. For instance in this modern day and age, there are many Jews living in the United States of America than they are in the nation of Israel which is supposed to be the country or nation of origin for the Jews. Thus there would be some form of conformity for the Jews in their various places of residences as they would be alive to the cultural and societal requirements of that specific place. For example, in Israel, there is the official recognition of Orthodox Judaism as the legitimate religion or form of Jew religion. The Orthodox Jews only eat food considered to be religiously holy and acceptable such as kosher food (Mathew, 2005, p. 50). The also keep the Sabbath-which is Saturday holy and strictly observe the Mosaic laws. However, the same does not suffice for the reformed Jews who include the Jews who reside in other places outside of Israel. The orthodox Jews on their part have applied and strictly applied the positive or direct interpretation of the Mosaic laws such as the Torah. It is their core belief and line of faith that the ethical connotations and standards on faith, discipline are supposed to be observed and approached or viewed according to the direct interpretation and meaning of the Mosaic laws which are God-given in all aspects and standards. There is a clear line of ancestral lineage which starts from Abraham who was initially called Abram who was born in Ur. After some time, Abraham and his wife and Lot their nephew set out to another Land in Haran (Mathew, 2005, p. 51). This was in obedience to the instruction and the call of God which directed them to leave their ancestral land. God-Elshaddai which means the highest God then made a covenant with Abraham to the effect that if they remained faithful and obedient to Him then He would give them the land of Canaan. Moses is another treasured leader regarded by the Israelites who was charged with the duty of passing the laws of God to the people and act as a liberator of the people from the oppressive rules of the leader Pharaoh. It is widely held and believed that he was the first leader since he authored the first chronological books of the Hebrew Bible. Later on he died before entering the Promised Land and Joshua instead took the realms of leadership and led the people thereafter. David also played a critical role in the life and the Israelites by being a benevolent and candid musician and a poet. Most of his time was spent on prayers and strict dedication to the Lord with the aim of winning His heart and favor. It is important to note and mention that Torah serves as the legal framework or religious guidelines to the lives of the people of Israel. These are the Ten Commandments r the laws which the Israelites were supposed to observe (Mathew, 2005). In brief, they are centered and skewed towards the life and service of the Israelites towards God-Jehovah and the service or relationship to their fellow men. Personal view However, it got my attention when Chapter nine mentioned that the human wisdom on aspects and notions of humanism, ethics, morality and all other human values had their origin earlier in the ancient human societies. It goes without mentioning or stressing that religion is in itself concerned with such issues and how to guide the human race to moral paths. Thus, understanding that these notions of values existed long before the conventional religion even began is a surprising fact. In principle, I was fascinated by the thought that religious principles and moralities began a long time ago I also find it specifically intriguing that the Zoroastrianism played a major role in the development and growth of the mainstream religions as we know them today. For instance, it is particularly surprising that the message of the end of time as is written in the Bible in the book of Revelation has a bearing and basis from Zoroastrianism specifically borrowing from the religious basis of Zoroastrianism relative to the matter. It was my understanding that Christianity began way before other religions took root or even started. Thus, to know that Zoroastrianism also articulated the eschatological principles is a concept I would cherish since it interests me. Similarly, Islam and Judaism also draw bearings and basis from Zoroastrianism given the fact that it (Zoroastrianism) contributed to the religious patterns and implications of other religions in the world. In the same line of thought and argument, it interests to try to contextualize the Jews based on the place of residence and the cultural connotation or implications alive at any particular place at any given time. For instance, the Jews in Israel are perceived to be the most original and authentic or strict in their way of worship and life. Prior to reading the text, I usually believed and held that all the Jews in the world operated in the same way and manner such as in their lifestyle and patterns of worship. However, it is critical to mention and appreciate the fact that in other parts of the world, the Jews haves scaled down their line of worship and do not follow the strict requirement of the Mosaic laws as held in the Torah or the laws of God. However, in the recent past, there has come a crop of Reconstructionist Jews who wish to change the traditional laws and perceptions of the Mosaic laws. For instance, it is their perception and opinion that Judaism is supposed to be some form of cultural dispositions or a basic way of life for the people who draw their origin in the Abraham-Jacob lineage. References Mathew, John T. Religious Paths to God: Communities of Faith Traditions of Beliefs Ways of Life. Huntington University in Laurentian University, Ontario, Canada, September 2005. Read More