Q&A: Obligation
Obligation
Question
Hi Rabbi, I got a bit confused about the concept of obligation. You wrote, and I also heard a bit on YouTube, that according to the atheist-materialist view there is no permitted and forbidden, and a collection of molecules cannot be obligated to do anything. But we are in fact obligated to obey the law, for example. Where did I miss something? I’d be happy if you could point me to things you’ve written.
Answer
Did you understand the question? Because I didn’t.
Discussion on Answer
Are you serious? I sent you to think about the question again. If you want to discuss it, please lay out exactly what your assumptions are and explain to me where the question is and what it is.
He’s asking why, according to atheists, the obligation toward morality would not have the same force as the obligation toward law, where everyone agrees there is no divine command.
That is not his question, and that question too is bizarre.
Why am I obligated to obey the law? Regarding morality, you argue that morality has no validity without God. Why does law have validity? The question arises because on YouTube, in the playlist on Jewish law and morality, you said, “How can a collection of molecules be obligated to do anything at all?” Well, here it is obligated to obey the law. So what did you mean?