Q&A: Divine Morality and Human Morality
Divine Morality and Human Morality
Question
Hello Rabbi Abraham,
An idea occurred to me over the Sabbath regarding religious obligation versus moral obligation.
I know that I have a moral obligation toward human beings, not toward animals, plants, or inanimate objects.
Is there room to say that the obligation toward God is greater than the obligation toward human beings, because He (God) belongs to a higher category of existence than human beings? To illustrate: fulfilling an obligation toward Him is equivalent to fulfilling an obligation toward 'billions of people,' since He is 'worth' far more than they are, categorically; He is 'something other' than they are.
A practical implication would follow from this: if it turns out that an obligation toward God conflicts with an obligation toward a person—'religion versus morality'—I would prefer the religious command over the moral command. Just as one should prefer the value of saving a life over the value of gratitude, for example, because it is a greater value than it.
That is the idea. I’m interested in whether the Rabbi agrees with it or whether there is some problem with it.
And now a question: why does the obligation toward God specifically have to be realized through the duties He gave at Mount Sinai, rather than through an intellectual act on my part? Why specifically commandment? Why shouldn’t we fulfill religious obligation through a rational command, like human morality?
Answer
I don’t see any significant gain in this consideration. Maybe it is correct, but at most it adds a layer of understanding for someone who already finds that sense of obligation within himself. Someone who does not find it there will not be persuaded by this.
The implication can also be debated. First, because He Himself commanded respect for human beings (a consideration somewhat like this appears regarding honoring parents).
If you do something because it is logical, then this is not service of God. That does not mean the command has to be illogical, but rather that the motivation for doing it cannot be logic alone. See the last post about altruistic actions. Otherwise, what is the difference between a rational secular person and a religious, committed person?