Thursday, February 7, 2019
Moses Mendelssohn: A New Jewish Faith :: Religion Jew Judaism Essays
Moses Mendelssohn A New Jewish organized righteousnessAmong the precepts and statues of the Mosaic law there is no(prenominal) saying gee shalt confide or Thou shalt not confide all say Thou shalt do or not do. Faith accepts no com art objectds it accepts only what comes to it by panache of undercoated conviction. All command ments of the forebode law are addressed to the will, to mans capacity to act. (Glatzer 511).In considering who is a Jew, one must first gather a concrete conception of Judaism. Moses Mendelssohn offers some helpful material in A commentary of Judaism, which can be found in The Judaic Tradition. Mendelssohns reading agrees with the opinions of certain political philosophers, in his discussion of Judaism as a morality based primarily on reason. His belief that revelation pertains to precepts of conduct and laws of run make Judaism appear as a very different worship from its relatives. Mendelssohns characterization of faith as an idea arrived at done reason and understanding reveals a great deal about individual Jews.Among the precepts and statues of the Mosaic law there is none saying Thou shalt believe or Thou shalt not believe all say Thou shalt do or not do (Glatzer 511). Mendelssohns first intent with this passage is to develop a definition of Judaism as a religion with a different form than that of Christianity. Christianity, a religion deeply root in the traditional notion of faith, asks primarily that its followers believe in Jesus Christ as their savior and reaffirm this belief through custom. Mendelssohn rejects this concept of faith outright, arguing true faith is based on reason alone and thus is equally accessible to all men (Glatzer 509). Action and conscious thought in Judaism are held in high regard than passive belief. Those who question their beliefs and begin to arrive at the reason for divine legislation develop a stronger conception of Judaism and move encompassing(prenominal) to God.In saying that Fai th accepts no commands Mendelssohn intimates that those who develop their faith as a result of a forceful command (e.g. Believe) fall away the meaning of the concept. A Jews faith accepts only what comes to it by way of reasoned conviction. Mendelssohn highlights an integral part of what it means to be a Jew by discussing the acquisition of faith through reason. Moses delivered the Jews the Lords commandments of divine law without specific instruction to believe, but rather law addressed to the will, to mans capacity to act.
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