Judaism: The Seven Dimensions Of Religion

Followers of monotheistic religions such as Islam, Judaism, and Christianity they demand in their sacred doctrine that followers spread their religion to others. The also requires that they change the human culture around them. When Judaism as a worldview is examined they constantly are trying to reform human culture, for example, Moses only has to get the Ten Commandments because mankind could not culturally conform to Gods commands so God had to tell Moses these essential rules so that mankind can conform to an Israel cultural code of ethics. In Christianity, the Christ gives his followers the great commission and tells crowds numerous times about the laws, social norms, how to treat people, how to heal and build up one another. In

1:6 How are the political aspirations of Judaism given a spiritual fulfillment in Acts? What two interrelated traditions echo in question of the disciples about restoration of the kingdom to Israel? How does Acts confirm the hopes of the disciples?

The dynamic nature of Judaism offers a successful living religion as a result of its strongly withheld characteristics. Through essential characteristics such as central beliefs, sacred texts, writings, ethical teachings and rituals and ceremonies, Judaism offers a dynamic nature and liveable religion that connects an individual and society with its roots. The way this living religion advances and grows is because of its dynamic characteristics as a whole. Importantly, these characteristics combined form the true nature of the religion rather than separately.

According to Ninian Smart, the seven dimensions of religion include practical and ritual, emotional and experiential, narrative and mythical, ethical and legal, doctrinal and philosophical, social and institutional, and material. The practical and ritual dimension involves rituals and practices that provide spiritual awareness of adherents. The emotional and experiential dimension includes the life changing experiences that either the leaders or followers of a religion go through. Narrative and mythical dimension are the stories and past records that preserve tradition and culture in the religion. Ethical and legal dimension of the religion are basically the codes of behavior that are followed

Since the beginning of time humans have endeavoured to explain the causes and reasons behind their existence. As a result of this thirst for knowledge many different beliefs and values have been formulated with the aim of explaining this age-old question. Most of these beliefs are prevalent today in the form of institutionalised religions. In order to gain an understanding of the word 'religion', we need to fully analyse and compare the components of religions in order to gain a more cultivated understanding of this enigmatic term. An extremely valuable way of classifying religion and its many aspects is through the Seven Dimensions, developed by Ninian Smart. (See Appendix 1) These dimensions explore the many aspects of religion in a

Divine command theory is a theory that believes that what is willed by God is morally right. Another portion of this is that in order for a belief to be morally right a knowledge of God is required. This knowledge of God being required can be seen as a weakness due to atheists and agnostics not being able to be morally right. Some of the more notable philosophers that brought about various forms of divine commandment Theory have been Saint Augustine, John Calvin, and William of ockham. A prime example of divine command theory in modern practice is The Ten Commandments among Christians. The Ten Commandments are from the Old Testament in the Bible and are a basic set of rules to follow. This basic set of rules that was set forth by the divine is commonly what this theory is based on.

Judaism, which originated in the middle east, is one of the oldest religions in the world. Judaism is the religion from where Catholicism and Islam have their roots. The main difference between Judaism and the previously mentioned religions is that Judaism is based on the old testament entirely excluding the new testaments in its teachings. Jews believe that they are the people chosen by God and that because of the covenant they have the duty, more than any other group of people, to keep the law of God. The law of God in Judaism comes in the form of the Torah. The books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, which are said to have been written by Moses, form the Torah.

What is the Great Tradition, and what two key elements make up this tradition within the different groups; is there any resemblance or inequality as to one’s religious preference. So, what is the Great Tradition, “it refers to the sectors of culture that are codified or systematized by a literate elite” (Scupin, 2012. Pg. 158). Therefore, stating that Judaism is a religion that is controlled through others powerful sphere’s, while applying the ultimate decisions as to how they will enforce obedience; through their administrator’s religious ways. “In Judaism, the Great Tradition includes a body of sacred texts, prayers, liturgy, rituals, and a cycle of holy day observances determined by a lunar calendar” (Scupin, 2012, pg. 158). In addition,

Additionally, the Jewish tradition appeals to me as the Catholic faith’s earliest traditions are rooted in Judaism. From studying the Jewish tradition in both my world religions and introduction to biblical studies courses at Notre Dame of Maryland, I

Something I find interesting is the stages of development and sacred writings of Judaism and the Jewish worldview, nothing where there has been reinterpretation of traditional teachings by some Jews today. The distinctive characteristics of this worldview are a shared belief in a single, personal, supreme God, creator and judge of all that is. A belief that humans have a special, spiritual status and are at the center of God’s creation. A view of time as linear, with a beginning and an end; a belief in reward or punishment after death; and an emphasis on God’s revelation of a way of ethical living.

Religion as seen by many is a set of principles which gives you a purpose to live and lead your life. For others it is a force and a law which restricts their freedom and their choice of living their life. Despite how it appears to be and how it may be defined, there are several religions in the world such as Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and more. Each one of them may differ in the set of beliefs and the principles which they lay but all of these world religions preach some universal truths; spreading the message of love, abstaining from crime and doing no harm to the others. Since every religion has a whole new concept of dimensions worth studying, this paper focuses the religion followed by the Jews; Judaism.

“The law that God gave to Moses had many aspects – e.g., civil, dealing with the legal system of the people of God considered as a state, with courts and penalties; moral, the law of holy living; and religious, the law of the ceremonies and sacrifices.” These laws set the stage for Christ’s Law and eventually a new covenant made by Christ.

Jews believe in one God (often referred to as Adonai or Yahweh in Jewish texts). God chose the Jewish people to carry out his laws and beliefs and to share them with the rest of the world. God sought the Jews for an ongoing relationship of rewards in return for recognizing the sovereignty of God—a relationship known as a covenant. It is believed that the Jews were not chosen because they were perfect above other peoples, rather that they were chosen because they agreed to take on the burden of faithful service to God. This relationship has proven to be a source of strength and hope through the most turbulent times of Jewish history.

Judaism is practiced by almost half of the country and is one of the oldest and biggest monistic religions. The laws they follow come from the Torah which comes straight from the Hebrew bible. This paper will consist of Jewish traditions regarding food preferences and avoidances, death/dying, communication, and grieving.

It is estimated that around 3.8 billion people in the world follow a religion that has either branched off of or has been significantly influenced by Judaism. Judaism is an ancient religion from the Middle East based off of the Hebrew Torah that teaches devotion to an all-powerful monotheistic God and the reality of an afterlife. Although only accounting for a tiny percent of the world’s religious followers, Judaism has had a greater impact on the world than any other religion in the history of mankind. The foundations of Judaism teach truths held by the world’s most prominent religions.