Being A Religious Skeptic

For some years I have been thinking about religious believers and whether it is a good thing that they get along with each other.  Many would say, of course it is. These days, the fear of inter religious conflict and violence makes us want to have everybody get along.  Let’s emphasize what unites us rather than what divides us. Let’s realize that all religions want us to be nice to each other.  The ecumenical movement of the last century was convinced that getting along was better than arguing about the truth.  But I think all this overlooks what religion is really about.

Every religion promotes and  believes in a distinct set of truths about the way the world works. And let’s be honest, there are important differences between your religious way of thinking and mine.  For example, in my religious tradition arguing with and questioning God’s methodology is considered an act of faith and devotion to God.  Some of my students tell me, in their Christian tradition, arguing and questioning is a sign they have a weak or distrustful faith. In some Christian traditions, you are taught that you ought forgive people that hurt you, seventy times seven.  But in Jewish tradition, forgiveness cannot be given until a person repents and changes their behavior. Some Christians spend a great deal of time trying to convince others to become Christian.  Jews do not actively pursue non-Jews; they actually work to discourage people from converting. 

A religion is created when people believe a fundamental truth has been revealed to them.  They have no option except to bear witness to that truth.  They gather together.  They proclaim the truth and try to get others to see the truth that has been revealed.  There are believers and unbelievers, those who respect the truth and those who disagree.  You see, religions are not created to get along with each other.  They are there to proclaim their truths. When religious truths collide people may feel threatened.  Some resort to verbal or physical violence to defend their revealed truths.

Instead of getting along or getting violent, which merely diminishes each of our truth claims, we religious people would do better to be honest with each other.  All these different religious and theological perspectives are a good thing.  Let’s listen and engage each other.  Let’s talk honestly about where we agree and where we disagree.  Let’s not just respectfully disagree.  Let’s learn to argue creatively.  Let’s come to grips with what works and what doesn’t work in the truths and traditions that we follow.  Let’s take the risk to trust each other enough to sit down and engage another revelation.  We all have much to learn.

But here is the real secret.  The point of religion is not believe but to pursue the truth wherever it can be found, no holds or questions barred.  When the data of life tell us that our beliefs are misguided, we cannot just ignore the facts, we must pursue them.  Faith is never frightened of the questions that call faith itself into question.  Being a religious skeptic can be the most religious statement a person can make.  If you are religious or not religious, remember, you could be wrong.  Our five senses allow us and deny us the ability to see what is real and actually there.  So, let’s listen, respectfully engage and argue with each others beliefs.  The truth about everything is out there and in here.  Keep looking!!!

Thanksgiving Wish

My wife and I are planning a Thanksgiving ritual that concentrates on rest and gratitude. The plan is get up late, make a fine pancake breakfast, later in the day, have "eight hour meat" and sesame coleslaw, stay in our pajamas, watch Aaron Sorkin shows all day. And be grateful that we can do all of that in a safe and warm place.

I hope you have a ritual that allows you to feel the contentment I am feeling today. The contentment of living in a place where you feel grateful for life and air to breath, trees and grass and birds and snow and wind and all that comes with being alive on this planet at this time. And then, eat well, plop down on the couch, enjoy being bored, talk to your relatives, watch your favorite movies and count yourself a lucky person.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

A Few Words About Jesus

Most Jews do not spend a great deal of time thinking about Jesus. But, given the decisions I have made in my life, Jesus has always been someone I have had to address.  In the gospels, Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?”  This is a fine question.  Here is my response.

I teach Religion at Augustana University because I respect the Christian tradition.  I also teach there and respectfully disagree with that tradition.  So, who do I say Jesus was?

First of all, let me state the obvious: Jesus was Jewish.  Jesus was not a Christian.  He was Jewish.  He was an apocalyptic  Rabbi. His message was very similar to the Jewish prophets.  He got in people’s faces and spoke the truth to them as he saw it.  He called on people to repent and turn their lives around. He urged people to trust in God and stand with the poor, the outcasts and the neighbor in pain.  He came to teach Jews and non-Jews what it meant to live like a human being, a mensch.  He came to make non-Jews as Jewish as possible.  The letter writer, Paul, says non-Jews have been grafted into the Jewish covenants and traditions. (Romans 9-11)

Jesus’ early followers were also Jewish.  The writers of the gospels were Jewish.  The apostle Paul was Jewish.  I may be wrong here but it seems important to remind ourselves that Christianity was invented after Jesus.  For Christians it is less important that Jesus was Jewish, then he was and is the Christ, the messiah that came to save the world.  According to the gospels and Paul, the cross and resurrection are central and they proclaim Jesus is the long awaited messiah. This is their faith. I respect that faith.  I understand it. I respectfully disagree. 

From a Jewish perspective, when the messiah returns, he will accomplish four things: the Jerusalem temple will be rebuilt, all Jews will move to the land of Israel,  there will be peace all over the world and non-Jews will flock to Jerusalem to study Torah with Jews.  Since this has not happened most Jews who think about such things have a problem talking about Jesus as the messiah.  As for me,  I agree with Wiesel, when he says, it’s  a bit late for messiahs.  Too many people, including so many children, have been murdered. I like the idea of someone coming and fixing everything but I'm afraid it’s too late for messiahs!

Many Christians might respond by saying that these Jewish expectations and opinions are not binding on God.  And they would assert, God can do whatever God wants even if it does not meet Jewish expectations.  They assert that Jesus is the incarnation of God.  This is the Christian faith. I respect that faith and I respectfully disagree.

Let’s be honest with each other.  This is what we know about Jesus.  He was a prophet.  He was killed by the Romans.  His followers believed God raised him from the dead and one day he will return to complete his work.  Near as I can tell, after this happened, all sorts of beliefs, creeds, doctrines, and traditions have been cast upon this man.  I am not sure what he would think of all this but I do understand it.  In human history, for good and for bad, Jesus has become the messiah for many non-Jews. I respect that faith and respectfully disagree. 

So, could I be wrong?  Of course.  Can you admit, you could be wrong?  I assume I am justifying my opinions as best I can.  After all, that is what we all do.  We have our beliefs and we work at justifying why we are right.  I may be blind to the truth. I know only this:  I am Jewish because I could not run away from who I am.  But, I will say this.  I would not and could not turn my back on Jesus.  Jesus was Jewish, a Jewish prophet, a Rabbi, a brother in the tribe, one of our boys.  I have returned to the religion Jesus himself practiced.  For all of this, I am at peace with God, my community and myself. 

Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Trump???

We are a few days from the election.  The people who will vote for Mr. Trump are convinced that he, despite his many flaws, erratic temperament, and treatment of women is the man who can bring needed change to Washington and our democracy.  Some of these votes for Mr. Trump will be out of confidence and conviction in the man, many out of fear or dislike of Mrs. Clinton, some out of frustration and anger at the economic and immigration decisions made by the politicians of both parties, some for fear of future Supreme Court appointments, and finally some will vote for Mr. Trump because that is what we do.  After eight years of one party we like to mix it up by voting in someone from the other party.

Those voting for Mrs. Clinton will do so because they think she, despite her flaws and ethical problems, has the experience and skills to be President; others will vote for her because they fear Mr. Trump is temperamentally and morally unqualified and will do damage to the republic, a number of people think it is time for a woman to be President, still more think President Obama has done a good job and wish to continue his policies, finally there are many who would have preferred Mr. Sanders but will hold their noses and vote for Mrs. Clinton.

Is this a strange election with strange candidates?  I do not think so.  Is it a matter of the lesser of two evils?  No.  Hitler was evil. Stalin was evil. The Holocaust is evil.  Let’s be careful about our language.  Over the past 220 years of our republic, candidates for office have sometimes been more or less qualified.  Some were of high purpose and integrity, some of low character and not much wisdom.  Such is the nature of our democracy.  The best qualified do not always run or win.  And by the way, “less qualified” is in the eyes of the voter.  The question is qualified for what??? 

And why are so many people so angry these days?  It should not come as a surprise.  They have been angry for many years.  This is called populism, the common people raising their angry voices against political and media elites and the intelligentsia.  Between the Tea Party on the right and the anti Wall Street people on the left, we should not be surprised that people are unhappy with government.  Think about it.  Even before the corruption and resignation of Richard Nixon in 1972, George Wallace carried five states in 1968.  And After Nixon, for good or for bad, most people were and are less and less naive about politics in Washington.  Think about it.  They have tried again and again to send outsiders and mavericks to the Capitol to save us all from corruption and the so called elites.  There was Jimmy Carter from Georgia in 1976, Ronald Reagan elected in 1980 as the one who would fix the problems of large and corrupt government; independent candidates such as, Ross Perot, Steve Forbes, and let’s not forget the Newt Gingrich Republicans in 1993 elected to oppose Bill Clinton and finally fix what is wrong; George W. Bush was elected to keep us out of foreign entanglements and avoid bad trade deals, Barack Obama was elected as someone new, the first African American, who would change the world, and now Mr. Trump or Mrs. Clinton. 

I must admit I am concerned and somewhat frightened of these two candidates and the state of our country.  We seem, as a culture, to be in decline and that is sad.  But I keep reminding myself, democracy is a messy, incremental, imprecise, sometimes ineffective process no matter who is elected.  That is the nature of democracy.  For all our messianic hopes every four years, we are electing people who are quite human, doing what they can in an increasingly complex and dangerous world.  Mr. Churchill was right and perhaps we need to learn/hear it again and again:  “Democracy is the worst form of government but better than all the others”  And whether Mr. Trump or Mrs. Clinton is elected, we can vote them out in four years and correct our mistakes.  Anyway, either of them will probably not be able to get through most of what they propose since the Congress and the courts will stand in the way, as they should, checks and balances being at the heart of our system.  At least, we hope so.

And, since this blog is about religion, what does God have to do with our election?  I certainly do not know.  But after all these years, I suspect God, whatever that word means, is well aware of the nature and character of democratic politics and is not surprised. God will do what God will do.  What can I tell you?  Vote and stay sane out there.  This too shall pass.