Q&A: Other Religions
Other Religions
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Do you think that Judaism is the true religion and that all other religions are false?
If so—do you think that this claim is completely disconnected from the fact that you were born into a Jewish family, or is there a connection? And do you think all non-Jews need to abandon their religion and convert to Judaism or become observers of the Seven Noahide Commandments?
If not—do you see any objection to converting to another religion?
Thank you very much!
Answer
I’m not sure whether this exclusive discourse is not really an internal discourse meant to strengthen the faith and confidence of Jews. It may be that other people, who were born elsewhere, can believe in and practice other religions. It’s hard for me to believe that an innocent Polish non-Jew who was born in a village and faithfully does everything the priest tells him will be punished for idol worship. The Torah was not given to ministering angels. After all, most Jewish believers also are not prepared to reconsider their beliefs and truly examine them, so why should he do so?
There is no relativism or postmodernism here, because we are not talking about facts but about norms—and not even moral norms, but religious norms. In that sense, the difference between a non-Jew and a Jew may be like the difference between an Israelite and a priest. Each person has his own norms.
I didn’t understand the question about converting religions. And if I do see an objection, would someone who has decided to do it ask me? Don’t tell anyone, but I personally am not considering it and don’t think it’s right for me. My heresy doesn’t go that far (see Column 74).
Discussion on Answer
I don’t know whether there were revelations to others (from what I know of their traditions, it sounds unlikely to me, but I can’t rule it out, especially since I don’t know enough). I’m only saying that at least on the principled level it is possible that there were (by the way, Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook writes this in his "Perplexed of the Generation") and there is no contradiction in that. That is their mission, and for them that is the truth.
There is no moral flaw in converting religions, regardless of my view. What is morally problematic about changing religions? At most there is a religious problem here. But morally? Even if the Jewish religion is preferable to other religions, that is on the religious plane, not the moral one. If there is a religion that advocates distorted morality, then there is a moral problem. But assuming they all hold the same morality and the difference is only religious, I don’t see a moral problem in it. The question whether it is right to do so is of course something else. In my opinion, it is not.
Thank you for the answer!
I wasn’t able to understand why there is no relativism here. On the factual level, was there a revelation of God to other nations like the revelation at Mount Sinai?
Regarding conversion to another religion, I meant: do you see in it some kind of moral/religious flaw? If the Jewish religion is not preferable to other religions, then a Jewish person who wants to become Christian (for example) shouldn’t there be anything wrong with that, right?