The difference between Christian and Jewish dogmatism

שו”ת › Category: philosophy › The difference between Christian and Jewish dogmatism

asked 8 years ago

Hello Rabbi.

I assume that the opening about the Pope was only used as background and an illustration, and that the issue is the set of rules. But allow me to address it specifically.
I have always been amazed by the Catholic dogma system and the great flexibility with which the Pope changes decisions that have been in place for many years.
It seems that in order to hunt down a broad modern audience, he is willing to slaughter any sacred cow: he is changing his attitude towards women, homosexuals, Jews, and more. I read that: Two years ago, the current Pope issued a declaration document in which he states that “God never canceled his covenant with the Jewish people,” and that the Catholic Church no longer supports any missionary activity directed towards Jews and “Christians should no longer try to convert Jews to Christianity.”

So from a theological-sociological perspective:

How is their system structured differently? Why is it not possible for us to have a situation where the great men of Israel would accept homosexual tendencies? How is the Catholic DNA different from its Jewish counterpart, which allows for relatively great flexibility in the principles of faith, and nods to the spirit of the generation? And of course, we are talking about the senior figure, not a marginal and fringe movement.

So, although this is not the purpose of the article, I would be happy if the Rabbi could enlighten me, or direct me to articles on the subject.

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מיכי Staff answered 8 years ago

The opening is not just an example. It’s a very interesting discussion in itself. The question of changes always raises a difficulty: how much can we change and it will still be the same system. When are you a reformist and when are you already an infidel? In the post I pointed out that it is not right to judge this question in terms of exceptions to the rules because the rules reflect essence. You judge him by his duty to do it to hunt people. I judge him by his right to do it because he thinks it’s right (and maybe the fact that it’s useful to hunt people is just a consequence of the fact that it’s right). The comparison with us is problematic. They do not have a law formulated from a binding source like the Torah and Toshabap, and therefore the processes of change are easier. Hence the decision that what the Pope determines is the truth (there is really nothing to compare). We have binding sources and any change must be made by way of interpretation. See here: https://mikyab.net/%D7%9B%D7%AA%D7%91%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%94%D7%90%D7%9D-%D7%99%D7%A9-%D7%A2%D7%91%D7%95%D7% 93%D7%94-%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%94-%D7%A0%D7%90%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%94-%D7%A2%D7%9 C-%D7%94%D7%99%D7%97%D7%A1-%D7%9C%D7%92%D7%95%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%95/ And more details here:

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חיים replied 8 years ago

Without discussing whether these changes are correct and reflect the source of the tradition, or not.

I am using your parable about those walking in the desert, but are conservative in continuing to wear swimsuits, and not conservative in clothing that is appropriate for the weather.
So it is true that they do not have a meticulously laid table like we do, and there are no laws that make a ‘fir tree’ placed more than twenty cubits long invalid as a canopy and as a canopy, as you wrote in the past. But it is clear that they also have a tradition.
The Pope knows the tradition, and knows the opinion of his predecessors regarding the attitude towards Jews, homosexuals and women.

So how did it happen that with us the mainstream advocates simplistic conservatism, and with them, a midrashic conservatism?

They are always seen as dogmatic, so how can they adapt their clothing to the weather, and we continue to wear swimsuits?

Regardless of who is right, where does this tendency stem from?

מיכי Staff replied 8 years ago

This is a baseless distinction. The ethos of both ours and theirs is simplistic conservative. The practice of both ours and theirs is midrashic conservatism.