Religious Pluralism

Question 1

Which three disasters have be fallen the Jewish people?

Answer 1

1) Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of the temple and defeat of Judea in 587 BCE.
2) The fall of Jersulaem to the Romans in 70CE
3) The holocaust

Question 2

What did these 3 disasters cause?

Answer 2

These forced a great migration and the need to engage with another culture and religious practice.

Question 3

What have Jews always looked to do because of these atrocities?

Answer 3

They have always looked to preserve their religion and identitiy as a whole.

Question 4

What are some of the ways Jews try to preserve their religion (( 3 ways)?

Answer 4

1) Fulfilling their covenants with God and the Mitzvots
2) Practicing Tikkun Olam
3) Being a light upon for other nations.

Question 5

What doesn’t the Torah discuss

Answer 5

It doesn’t discuss the prevention of God having a relationship with other peoples, and that Non-Jews ( like Jews) have a relationship with God. Therefore each nation has its own unique relationship with God.

Question 6

What do Traditional Jews believe everyone should adhere to?

Answer 6

Noachide laws ( 7 laws)

Question 7

What are 2 noachide laws?

Answer 7

1) Belief in God

2) Creation of a Judaical system.

Question 8

Jews therefore come to the Conclusion that what?

Answer 8

God’s laws are for everyone, meaning that Jews should be able to work in harmony with other religious beliefs and laws systems.

Question 9

What does Religious Pluralism mean?

Answer 9

The attitude or policy regarding the diversity of religious belief systems co-existing in society.

Question 10

What types of Jews encourage interfaith dialogue?

Answer 10

Conservative, reform, re-constructionist and a few modern orthodox rabbis engage in interfaith dialogue, while most Orthodox do not. ( Link to Mendelssohn)

Question 11

What is Maimonides attitudes to other faiths?

Answer 11

He explains in detail why Jews was wrong to create Christianity and why Muhammad was wrong to create Islam. He laments the pain Jews have suffered in persecution from followers of these new faiths as they attempted to suppliant.

Question 12

However, what does Maimondies say that the creation of different faiths is seen as?

Answer 12

He says that these faiths can be considered to be a positive part of Gods plan to redeem the world.

Question 13

Do Traditional rabbis encourage a new Jew to convert?

Answer 13

No

Question 14

Do Reform Jews encourage conversion?

Answer 14

Yes for purposes of marriage. They are more open to those who want to convert from a secular society.

Question 15

Do Orthodox Jews accept conversion from Reform or conservative Jews?

Answer 15

They refuse to accept reform or conservative conversions as it has not taken lace in line with the Halakah.

Question 16

What do Orthodox Jews believe Non -Jews should be aware off, before converting?

Answer 16

the possibility of conversion and accepting the mitzvots.

Question 17

What do Traditional Jews believe how you are considered a Jew from birth?

Answer 17

A child who has Jewish descent on their maternal side ( matrililneal descent ( female line) is considered a Jew.

Question 18

What do Reform Jews believe about the how you are considered a Jew from birth?

Answer 18

They accept that a child is a Jew can be one where there child is born to a Jewish father and non - Jewish mother who is religiously observant, without undergoing conversion.

Question 19

Orthodox Jews believe that Patrililneal descent ( from father) is what?

Answer 19

They believe this undermines the Halakah and the concept of the Kelal Yisrael ( belief that all Jews are apart of a communal body)

Question 20

What is the quote stated in Talmudic law about your son?

Answer 20

‘Your son by an Israeliete women is called your son’, but your son by a heathen women is not called your son’

Question 21

What is Exclusivism?

Answer 21

Belief that only one particular religion or belief system is true.

Question 22

What is Inclusivism?

Answer 22

While one set of beliefs is absolutely true, other sets of beliefs are at least partially true.

Question 23

What is Particularism?

Answer 23

belief in the exclusive authenticity (legitimacy) of one’s own religious tradition. They are likely to believe that salvation is confined to rather narrowly defined groups of believers.

Question 24

What are 2 scholarly responses to Religious Pluralism?

Answer 24

Rabbi sacks

J. Hick

Question 25

What was Rabbi sacks response?

Answer 25

He is critical of the idea of Incluvism. He didn’t attend the funeral of Reform Hugo Gryn. Sacks described him as’ among those who destroy the faith’

Question 26

What does John Hick believe about Religious experience?

Answer 26

It provides a justification for adopting religious belief. As it is rational for a person to follow the religious belief in accordance to experience.

Question 27

What is Hick’s response to other religions?

Answer 27

He beliefs that all religions are partially correct with no religion being completely correct, this is because any human interpretation of reality is only limited.

Question 28

What would be your 6 points for the question ‘Evaluate Jewish attitudes to other faiths ( 30 marks)?

Answer 28

1) Exclusivism ( Orthodox Jews opposing secularisation/ intergration into other societies)
2) Inclusivism ( Reform Jews. Support this intergration in secular society ( due to the 3 attrocties)
3) Interfaith dialogue Maimondies
4) Maimondies attidues to different faiths
5) Covenants ( chosen people)
6) Disapora/anti-seminitsm

Question 29

What example could you use for Exclusivsm?

Answer 29

Rabbi sacks who believes Jewish culture and western culture are incompatible. This is because western schools do not teach morals and traditions. Meaning Jewish culture not ingrained from Young. This is why he didn’t go to the funeral of a reform Rabbi.

Question 30

What Links could you make with Exclusivism?

Answer 30

Language games by Wittengstein. We have different language games and rules, which we shouldn’t intervene, similarly Jews should not intervene with the western culture.

Question 31

What could be an evaluation for Exclusivism?

Answer 31

Many Jews argue that to achieve and protect Tikkum Olam we must immerse ourselves in other religions, and be the ‘light onto other nations’

Question 32

What could be an example of Incluvism?

Answer 32

Intergration has helped to progress Judaism, as men and women in secular socieites are seen as equal, which reform Jews have adopted. E.G Rabbi regina Jonaes was the first women to be ordanied as a rabbi.

Question 33

What Links could you make with Incluisvism?

Answer 33

Augustianian theodicy, tries to give a solution to the problem of evil and suffering. Similarly pluralism, attempts to better society making it better for everyone, in order to understand the religion so there is no questions to faith.

Question 34

What could be an evaluation for Evaluation?

Answer 34

Orthodox Jews do not agree with having female rabbis, as it goes against literal interpretation of the law. A women’s role is to be at home and look after children, so they do not have time to be a rabbi and look after children.

Question 35

What could be an example of interfaith dialogue?

Answer 35

Due to his critique on traditional rabbinical Judaism, he thought that truth is indispensable. This is because it determines their lives. This is significant as you are embracing freedom of thought and tolerance to other faiths.

Question 36

What Links could you make with Interfaith dialogue?

Answer 36

1) Links to what Aquinas calls beneficial order in the universe. The universe could not happen by chance, since many objects do not have the intelligence to move towards a goal or a purpose. Similarly. God has given beneficial order to Jews for the universe to work towards a purpose.
2) Could link to free will

Question 37

What would be an evaluation of interfaith dialogue?

Answer 37

Orthodox Jews believe that this will encourage conversion not a traditional sense ( e,g, a non Jew)

Question 38

What could be an example of Maimondies disregard to Pluralism?

Answer 38

He believes that there is only one truth and this is the truth of God, therefore he considers Jesus was wrong to create christanitity and Muhmmaad was wrong to create Islam. This is disrespect because it claims Judaism is not correct. God can only be explained within a paradigm ( tenakh)

Question 39

What links could you make with Maimonidies disregard to Pluralism?

Answer 39

Links to Flew critque of Religious language, this is the idea that religious ppl qualify their beliefs. Simlarly Maimondies is not open to progress Judaism and share ideas with other faiths.

Question 40

What could be an Evaluation of Maimondies disregard to Pluralism?

Answer 40

John Hick states that all religions are partially correct with no religion being completely correct. This is because any human interpretation of reality is only limited.

Question 41

What does the covenant mean in answering the question Evaluate Jewish attitudes to Jewish faith?

Answer 41

Jews have an agreement between God and Jews, in which should only be cherished by Jews, not any other religion. If God wanted integration with other faiths, he would of made everyone nation the chosen people.

Question 42

What could be an example of the idea of covenants disregarding integration?

Answer 42

Radowsky says that other faiths acts as a test of faith to Jews. Jews should fight for Supremacy within society, by not indulging with other society. Otherwise this will reflect negatively on your afterlife.

Question 43

What links could you make for the idea of covenants disregarding integration?

Answer 43

Tillich symbols, symbols provide a meaning towards something deeper such as star of David. Similarly, the covenants are a symbol of God’s love to choose Jews to preserve the covenants but also a symbol og hard work a Jew must abide by.

Question 44

What could be an evaluation for the idea of covenants disregarding integration?

Answer 44

However, Elie wisel would argue that the covenant between Jews and God is broken down due to the Holocaust, therefore Jews do not have a duty.