“Victim of Reason”
Hello Rabbi,
There is an approach according to which God or the Torah demands from us the “sacrifice of reason” by commanding us things that we cannot understand with our minds.
I read that this is also a position of Christianity, but Rabbi Soloveitchik (and there are probably others) also writes in his article Genius and Humility: “What does man value more than reason, which is the focus of the consciousness of human dignity? And it is precisely because of this supremacy of reason in human life that the Torah sometimes demands a suspension of logical authority. Man subjugates himself by responding to instructions that reason does not know how to adapt to his system of values… Man, the rational creature, ignores reason and carries on in a world of laws that he cannot achieve the rational taste of… That which is most desirable and most precious of all, is precisely what man is called upon to give up.”
What do you think of this approach? Do you agree with it?
On the one hand, according to this, this could also be a justification for the workers of the Jewish state. Although it seems like the stupidest thing to do, it is actually a sublime act because we put reason aside…
On the other hand, we do believe that there are things beyond our intellectual understanding, and it is an interesting perspective to see things this way.
Thanks in advance.
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With a doctor, it is different, because there are past observations that show that he is right, and even if there is no 100 percent certainty, there is a high probability that the diagnosis is correct and the treatment he suggests will help. In contrast, with God, it does not seem that a person has a reward and punishment according to the observance or non-observance of the commandments.
This is another question that is not related to the discussion.
If this is your opinion then don't listen to him. As far as I am concerned, commitment to the divine commandment is not related to the question of results. It is true that regardless of that, I also have faith that the actions he demands bring good results. I have faith in him and therefore it is similar to a doctor. If you don't have faith then it really is not similar and don't listen. But this is a question that is not related to the discussion here.
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