Is a Rational Faith Possible?
In the established religions of our times, Holy books written by scholars of those religions outline the obligations of observant devotees that profess to be followers of this faith. There is very little if any individual thinking allowed. And what of the Bible, which is claimed as an anchor and basis in the case of Judaism and Christianity? Wouldn’t individual study of the Bible lead to a rational, logical faith on most accounts?–Especially the foundational truths of the Tenakh or Old Testament? Is there anything logical about these ancient writings? And what of other ancient writings? Do they pass the test of common sense? Does even the Bible pass the test of common sense? I hope so!
In my quest for a satisfying religion and the right path to God, I have set aside the writings of man when they conflict with what the Bible says. In fact, they usually do conflict in one way or another. I do not include the New Testament as part of authentic Scripture in this statement. Why?
Because, seriously studied, in most cases, it does not line up with what is stated as foundational truth in Tenakh.
Some, perhaps once “burned” by organized religion, have doubted the authenticity of any part of the Bible and seek to throw out most of it. It seems that too many rules make the temptation greater to throw out the baby with the bath water, but let’s walk slowly here, not all that we have learned is bad. And if one chooses to follow something that is not commanded for his own health and happiness, that should be his choice. But there needs to be a clear separation between the Bible and the commentaries of sages and clergy.
Perhaps we could all agree that the 10 words spoken from Sinai are the bottom line for humanity. Do they make sense? Perhaps some would argue that keeping the Sabbath is not a logical commandment, even though in its true sense, it provides rest from an otherwise exhausting routine in a dog-eat-dog world.
Some, who do not believe in a literal God who created the Universe, may throw out the first couple of commands, which deal with worshiping only one God and the third which speaks against blasphemy. Ok, but what about stealing, cheating, adultery, murder, coveting, honoring one’s parents? Aren’t these the universal foundation of moral laws adopted by the more stable governments in this world? It is interesting to follow what happens when a nation chooses to disregard these moral precepts. We remember France and the anarchy that reigned there during the French Revolution. We see the decline of morality in great nations such as England and America and many other places today. Will these nations survive? Probably not for long.
“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psa 11:3).
Many have followed age-old organizations whose leaders have written volumes on their own views of the Bible and its simple laws, and some whom I know, once religious, have thrown their caution to the wind, and left everything lock stock and barrel, denying even the foundational truths of the Bible. Why? Why not? Could it be because they are tired of following rules that do not make sense? Which rules? Man-made rules, for the most part. And because they have equated both Biblical and man-made doctrine as stemming from the same source, they trash the whole thing. Some have left Mormonism because they want to drink Coffee. Some have left the J. W’s because of the prohibition of blood transfusions, some have stepped away from the SDA church because of it’s focus on Veganism and the avoidance of all things alcoholic. But coffee is not prohibited by the Bible, the view of blood transfusions is an extrapolation of the command to abstain from blood and the view on vegetarianism is not biblical. There is nothing that prohibits a person from practicing these things personally, but they were never meant to replace the Law of YHVH.
Unfortunately, these people have been brainwashed to think that their prophets and leaders can change what the Bible says at will.
Orthodox Jews when they get tired of the rules, throw off the head covering or begin to use electricity on Shabbat or start eating Treif (food that is not rabbinically kosher). But these rules have been taken a long ways from what the Torah really commands.
People are tired of leading a heavily regulated life–one that they can hardly bear and for which they will be humiliated by their peers if they do not comply, one which makes little logical sense but guarantees the member’s place in the elite club they belong to.
And some really go off the derech when they start embracing Evolution and other fallacies just to get rid of God. So what about science? A close look often shows major problems with scientific discoveries. Some will swear that science proves the Bible wrong, that man really did come from a monkey and that the world is 4 billion years old. That there was no universal flood. This science as been around for a while, but it is not logical if it is closely examined. If we take God as our Creator, and accept that mankind was made in His image, then we are elevated above something that evolved from something inferior. The first man, according to scripture, was not a cave man. Adam was created in the Image of God, and today, mankind has, if anything, deteriorated in his reflection of this image. One argument that shouts to be heard is; Why do we still have monkeys and why do we not see any in the process of evolving, none! Absolutely none. There should be some small examples somewhere. But people don’t want to delve into it. But just think further, if the original monkey evolved to create mankind, then why are there still fully formed monkeys? Why single celled organisms that show no sign of evolving?
Science appears to have an agenda to destroy God in our thinking and thus remove all faith and all obedience except obedience to elite oligarchies, which are happy to subjugate us all and eliminate those who do not follow their expectations.
What about a Creator God who has set up a few basic rules to follow which ensure the harmony of mankind on earth? Should we have a rational faith in this God? Can we see or feel him? Some say no, but when I look at the complexities of life, the many different animal species and even strange things that exist on the bottom of the ocean, plant life and animal life that exist by themselves with no obvious maintenance by man, complex ecosystems that some think they can change and make better, while they end up destroying the balance of nature, I say that I have seen God in his creation.
Who actually is more unscientific? Yet, I have known scores of people who have thrown out religion for the dirty rag of nothingness, which usually turns into selfish narcissistic pleasure seeking and lack of purpose. And when there is a purpose, it us usually based on golden-calf worship which is, in our day, the race for money and security.
Then there are those who stick with the system. They may believe in it because their parents did, or to get along with their peers, but what about their faith? Do they even have faith? Or are they going along to get along, doing everything to lead a comfortable life, going through the expected routines and fulfilling religious duties even when they don’t make sense, but keeping kosher to impress kosher friends, when maybe it is all a heavily masked ritual that keeps them in the club, a very expensive club that rewards rabbis with millions of dollars skimmed off the top of hechshered products that none of the true and faithful would even question?
For those who don’t know:
“A hechsher or hekhsher (/hɛxʃər/; Hebrew: הֶכְשֵׁר [(h)eχˈʃeʁ] “prior approval”; plural: hechsherim) is a rabbinical product certification, qualifying items (usually foods) that conform to the requirements of Jewish religious law.” Wikipedia
Basically, it is pretty simple (some would say naive) to trust that the foods that carry the right Hechsher really qualify (and there are different levels of Hechshers, some for the simple and some for the more observant), so that people know they are not eating anything Biblically unclean or rabbinically unclean. (Believe me, there is a difference!) Some who have researched the koshering process find that it is not always trustworthy anyway, but it makes a lot of money for those who dedicate themselves to this business, and it helps create security for the faithful in trusting that their food is passable and that they can serve it with confidence to their peers.
But kosher or not, few people are willing to face the loneliness of thinking for themselves, leaving organized religion and following the few rules in the Good Book.
It seems to me that every religion in the world creates a hierarchy which must be respected, rules that are designated by that hierarchy, and boundaries as to what will or will not be accepted by congregants. Sometimes those who separate themselves from religion find their only companions among those who do not even believe in God or the Good Book. It’s not an easy road and mostly those who try to stay in congregations of their former systems of faith, are considered heretics or apostates.
But, of those who think and choose differently, shall they remain in these congregations or shall they stand alone? It is hard to stand alone, but equally hard to stand for something and live with the pressure.
“I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert. I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.” (Psa 102:6-7)
There may be a reason to stay although it is difficult. Maybe it is time to recognize that even though no man is an island, expression of individual thinking may lead others to the same path. There are those who are waiting for hope and sick and tired of going along to get along. When they see people who are solid in their walk, who choose a logical faith to guide them, may they find strength to stand for something.
Time to shake off some chains!
Ariella
