Question

To Rabbi Doctor Michael Abraham,
Many thanks.
Last night we corresponded by email, and at your request I am continuing the discussion here. I will briefly restate the main points:
I presented my view that physics and religion are two approaches that are inherently contradictory with regard to the question of how the world works, and that they cannot be reconciled in any way.
Your answer was that you do indeed agree, but precisely for that reason it is incorrect to identify a religious outlook with an alternative explanation of reality. You wrote: "In several places on my site I have argued that the scientific view of reality implies that the world operates deterministically according to the laws of nature (perhaps aside from sporadic exceptions whose existence cannot be ruled out). Therefore, religiosity nowadays should focus on observing Jewish law and studying it, and not on interaction with the Holy One, blessed be He, through reality."
First of all, thank you for your clear and sharp response.
But allow me to disagree with you.
In my opinion, it is impossible to base a religious outlook solely on observance of Jewish law and its study, detached from a view of the physical world. Because the question immediately arises: why is Jewish law binding? If this is nothing more than a system of laws and morality, there is no reason for me to subject myself דווקא to this system; it would make more sense for me to formulate the Jewish law as I see fit, according to my own morality.
As is well known, at the beginning of the Kuzari the Jewish sage presents Judaism to the king of the Khazars as a religion based mainly on specific miracles that happened to our ancestors. And he explains there to the king that only in this way can religion be grounded. In fact, even the king initially argued that religion should be based on belief in a Creator who rules the world. In other words, it is clear that religion cannot be only Jewish law; if it is not accompanied by some conception of the physical world, then there is no reason for Jewish law to have any more special status than any other legal system.
According to your approach, there is nothing in Judaism (at least in this period) beyond a set of values. In that state of affairs, you will not be able to present a convincing argument for why I should hold this particular set of values.
I would be happy to hear your opinion.