Q&A: The Seven Noahide Commandments
The Seven Noahide Commandments
Question
Judaism has 7 commandments that it obligates all non-Jews to keep, and the role of the Jews in the world is to lead all non-Jews to observe these commandments, to be a light unto the nations.
One of these commandments is the prohibition of idolatry — a large portion of non-Jews believe in idolatry; in fact, most non-Jews believe in it. So Judaism essentially wants to act in a missionary way in order to promote the Noahide commandments and forbid idolatry, which is the accepted belief in the world today.
If so, how can one claim that Judaism is a religion of morality and peace if Judaism obligates non-Jews to change their beliefs?
How can one reconcile the contradiction between various commandments in Judaism that speak about morality and a good life, and missionary activity aimed at changing the popular way of life of non-Jews?
Answer
It is not true that idolatry is the accepted belief in the world today. Nor is it true that this is the role of the Jews. At most, it is one of their roles, and not necessarily the main one.
Who said this is a Judaism of morality and peace? Is this the only contradiction you found to the claim that it is a religion of morality and peace? What about executing Sabbath desecrators? Mamzerim? Discrimination against women? For more detail, search here on the site for columns on Jewish law and morality.
Discussion on Answer
You’ve gone way overboard.
Aside from Muslims and heretics, most of the world still practices idolatry.
And as for the question itself, Judaism is almost the opposite of a religion of morality and peace (certainly in the modern sense of those terms). Anyone who claims otherwise is either ignorant or a liar.