Q&A: Brainwashing
Brainwashing
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I feel that if I begin by sincerely studying those who disagree with us, then at first I too will become someone who sees our world in a fragmented way, and afterward when I come to listen to Judaism I’ll say that it’s stupid. And if so, then even a systematic and straightforward study of Jewish thought will tilt my life toward its own position only because those are the data that reached me first. So what value is there in study at all? It would be nothing more than self-induced brainwashing.
Answer
If in your estimation that’s what awaits you, then overcome it. After all, this isn’t something essential, just a psychological bias.
By the way, in my view studying Jewish thought is fairly worthless. But clarifying for yourself what you think does have value. In short: don’t study thought—think.
Discussion on Answer
If you want to know what Jews say, study Jewish thought. If you want to know what is true—think. At most, after you form a picture, it will become part of Jewish thought (because it will be a thought that a Jew thinks).
I don’t see any value in learning something someone said just because he is Jewish or Christian or Tanzanian. Moreover, in my view there is no such thing as Jewish thought. There is correct thought and incorrect thought. Correct thought is correct even if it comes from non-Jews, and incorrect thought is not correct even if it comes from Moses our teacher. Therefore the source of ideas is of no importance, and that should not be the criterion for what to study.
Of course, in order to get inspiration you can study all kinds of ideas from all kinds of people, and if you specifically want Jews—good for you. I don’t see that as invalid, just unnecessary. There are people who think that if they studied the Kuzari or Maimonides, they studied Torah or did something of value. In my opinion, no. At most these are sources of inspiration for forming a picture of your own, no different from Kant, Descartes, Freud, Newton, or Aristotle.
Why is studying Jewish thought worthless in your opinion?
As part of clarifying and forming my views, don’t I need to study what the Jews say?