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The Influence of Human Conduct on Belief in God Essay example

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The Influence of Human Conduct on Belief in God

Jewish ethics are not systematic, but organic, and the term ethics is not to be found in literature. They grew out of different situations; Jewish literature does not mention ethics. Judaism is often described as an ethical monotheism -- a religion worshipping one God, with strong concern for issues of right and wrong in the world. For Judaism, all ethical issues ultimately flow from the nature of God -- his righteousness, his holiness, and his love. The dominant concern of Judaism has always been the question, 'And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you?' (Deuteronomy 10:12) The bible and rabbinic literature all strive for an …show more content…

Within Judaism today some say Jews have to keep all the traditional Jewish law. Orthodox Jews say they can add rulings concerning modern conditions, but change no past ruling. Reform say that it is for each individual to choose what rituals are personally meaningful, while all should accept ethical principles. Conservative, say that we can change past Halacha to meet modern conditions, but only with agreement by community leaders or agreement within each synagogue. In practice, only in Israel does this civil law carry any real weight, thought the ethical ideas that it symbolize remain important.

The prophets are an important source of ethical principals:

"Take away from Me the noise of your songs:

to the melody of your harps I will not listen.

But let justice roll down like waters.

And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." (Amos 5:21- 24)

All the passages suggest that right conduct is of as much importance as ritual observance. It is not saying that cultic worship, sacrificial etc is a bad thing, or even that it is unimportant, but that it is not as valuable as right of conduct. The rabbis did not make a distinction, ' Be meticulous in observing a minor precept as a major

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