Q&A: Commitment
Commitment
Question
Hello, honorable Rabbi,
why should I do God’s will? What does it mean to do things because they are true?
Suppose I reached the conclusion that God is evil—would I still have a reason to do His will? (I still don’t think that, but I’m on the way there.)
If you could answer me here, even briefly,
or refer me to your articles on the subject,
I’d be happy and very grateful.
Answer
I have no further explanation for your question. The fact that something is true is sufficient reason to act accordingly. If that is not a sufficient reason, then for any explanation I offer you could ask what the explanation for that explanation is.
It’s like asking: even if act X is moral, why should I do it? Or if act Y is immoral, why should I not do it? The very determination that an act is moral or not is enough to establish that there is an obligation to do it or refrain from it.
“God is evil” is an oxymoron. But beyond that, if God were evil, I assume we too would think differently and would perceive/judge morality differently, so your question cannot really be answered.