Encountering Judaism: The Way of God’s People as well as the other readings for the week, you have gained a better understanding of central themes of Judaism. As you learned more about the religion, you may have noticed the many similarities that Judaism shares with Christianity as the relationship between the two religions rather unique. Christianity is rooted in Judaism historically, scripturally, liturgically, and even theologically. No two major world religions have so much in common. Below are a handful of the common elements shared by these two religions, however it is important to note that even though these religions share several common elements, they articulate them differently. Last week, we expounded upon how some of these themes are understood in the context of Catholicism and now you will describe how they are understood in Judaism.
Select two themes from the list below and present the Jewish teaching on the chosen theme.
Jewish Understanding of God
Salvation
Creation
Eschatology
Pain and Suffering
Freedom and Free Will
Virtues
Sin
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Encountering Judaism: Exploring Shared Themes
The interconnectedness of Judaism and Christianity is undeniable. Both faiths share a common ancestry, drawing from the same sacred texts and grappling with similar theological questions. However, their interpretations and articulations of these themes can diverge significantly.
Here, we will explore two central themes of Judaism – God and Sin – and how they are understood within this faith:
1. Jewish Understanding of God
-
Monotheism: Judaism, like Christianity, is a monotheistic religion, believing in one God who is the creator and sustainer of all.
-
Transcendence: God is understood as both immanent (present in the world) and transcendent (beyond human comprehension). This tension between God’s presence and mystery is reflected in the Jewish tradition of avoiding the use of God’s name and employing descriptive terms like “the Holy One” or “the Eternal One.”
-
Moral Imperative: God is a God of justice and righteousness, demanding ethical conduct and social responsibility from His people. The Torah (first five books of the Hebrew Bible) outlines a moral code emphasizing fairness, compassion, and care for the vulnerable.
-
Relationship: God is not just a distant deity but desires a relationship with His people. This relationship is characterized by covenant – a two-way agreement between God and the Jewish people, marked by blessings and responsibilities.
-
Immanence: God is present in the world, actively involved in the lives of individuals and communities. This immanence is demonstrated through miracles, answered prayers, and God’s ongoing interaction with His people.
Key Differences:
-
Trinity: Judaism does not believe in the Trinity, a concept central to Christianity. While God is understood as possessing multiple attributes and roles, there is no concept of a divine three-in-one.
-
Incarnation: The Christian belief in the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ is not accepted in Judaism. God is seen as distinct from creation and does not take on human form.
2. Sin in Judaism
-
Transgression of Torah: Sin is primarily understood as a violation of the Torah’s laws and commandments. These commandments encompass a range of ethical and ritual practices, aiming to guide the Jewish people toward a just and righteous life.
-
Personal and Collective Responsibility: Sin is not only an individual act but can also impact the community as a whole. For example, social injustice and mistreatment of the vulnerable are seen as collective sins.
-
Repentance and Forgiveness: Judaism emphasizes the importance of repentance (teshuvah) as a path to forgiveness. This involves acknowledging the wrongdoing, taking steps to make amends, and striving to avoid repeating the sin.
-
Justice and Redemption: God’s justice is not solely punitive; it is ultimately aimed at restoring righteousness and bringing redemption.
Key Differences:
-
Original Sin: The Christian doctrine of original sin, inherited from Adam, is not a central concept in Judaism. Judaism emphasizes individual responsibility for one’s actions and the potential for redemption through repentance.
-
Atonement: While both faiths recognize the need for atonement for sin, the Jewish understanding of atonement focuses on personal responsibility and actions, while Christian atonement is often linked to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion:
While Judaism and Christianity share a common heritage and grapple with similar theological themes, their interpretations and articulations of these concepts often diverge. Understanding these differences is crucial for fostering dialogue, appreciating the richness of both faiths, and fostering respectful interfaith relationships.