Attitude towards other beliefs
Hello Rabbi,
Towards the end of the first book in the trilogy (the first book), two possible perspectives on other beliefs are presented:
A. Multiple Revelations
B. Fair treatment (of God to those who hold them in common)
I have several questions about this:
- Is there an ancient source (Tanaim, Rishonim, etc.) for this opinion, or is it your original suggestion?
- If we accept the second option, there are two problems (as I understand it): A. All religions are reasonable – if a person who holds a different faith performs the logical process you did in your book and succeeds in proving the reasonableness of his belief, then how can we decide between the different beliefs (without resorting to option A)? on. If we succeed in proving that the Jewish tradition is the most reliable, we will be left with a general question of faith: Why did God create a world in which only a fraction of the living (the Jews) have the opportunity to live according to His will (because they are not forced to believe otherwise), while the rest of the people are forced to live in a way that is not in accordance with His will (while believing that it is His will)?
- I’m not familiar with it. Some version is found in Rabbi Kook’s book “The Embarrassments of the Generation.”
- Who said it was possible to decide? Everyone is supposed to decide to the best of their understanding, and will be treated accordingly (even if they were wrong).
Regarding answer 2: “We are left with a general question of faith: Why did God create a world in which only a fraction of the living (the Jews) have the opportunity to live according to His will (because they are not forced to believe otherwise), while the rest of the people are forced to live in a way that is not in accordance with His will (while they believe that it is His will)?”
First, people have a choice, and the opportunity to choose was given to everyone. To the same extent, you could ask why God created the evil inclination and gave us freedom of choice.
But beyond that, who said that someone who chooses a different religion is wrong? He worships God in his own way.
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