Q&A: Conservatism and Holy Lies
Conservatism and Holy Lies
Question
Hello, Rabbi.
The Rabbi (from here on, “you,” forgive me in advance) argues that when talking about theology, one should divide things into two issues: what is true, and what is useful. After we discover what is true (which is of course the default), we then need to see whether it is more useful to speak specifically in favor of broad conservative theology or דווקא to narrow it.
I very much identify with the first point you make, that there is truth and that my default is to say it. But I do not identify with what follows in your words, that you found conservatism more harmful. I think one should honestly say that, however much conservatism is covered in holy lies, it succeeds in preserving its believers and students, producing Torah scholars and upright, good people—more so, in my view, than the approach that harms things that seem sacred to others.
This is a psychological question, less a philosophical one, so it would really be appropriate for me to back up my words with data. To my embarrassment, I can only say what my eyes see. A conservative, dark-minded, naive, and simple person as he may be, there is a high chance that he will be more careful about Jewish law and keep the commandments more than the person who starts using his intellect on these issues, and starts filtering and expressing his own opinions.
Again, I don’t know whether one should lie at all; the discussion is about benefit and harm.
I would be happy to hear the Rabbi’s opinion on the matter. Thank you.
Answer
I don’t know where you got your opening from. What matters is to examine what is correct, period. The question of what is useful is not on the same plane. The question whether conservatism is harmful or not is an entirely different question and is unrelated to the unfamiliar distinctions you mentioned in my name at the beginning. I do not evaluate things through usefulness but through truth, and since conservatism is not true, I reject it. Beyond that, I am also very doubtful about the question of usefulness. Conservatism leads to mistaken and distorted worship of God, so what good does it do me that it is preserved? What is being preserved is not what the Holy One, blessed be He, wants. Beyond that, in the long term, in my opinion, conservatism will also be harmful even in your sense. It is useful in the short term (that same unimportant usefulness you are talking about), but harmful in the long term.
I’ll divide up what I want to say. Where I got what I got from—what is meant by conservatism—conservatism in my sense and what you meant in the original question—the will of God.
I took these things from one of your videos on the Third Path website. I don’t remember whether it was in the video “A Third Perspective — Da’at Torah? On Autonomy and Authority in Jewish Law and in General — Rabbi Michael Abraham” or in the video “A Third Perspective — Conservatism and Innovation — Rabbi Michael Abraham,” but it was in one of them. You said there that for many years you too hid the truth because you thought it would be beneficial. But one could certainly argue that I didn’t understand correctly, and that you said it in the sense of “according to your approach,” that one may lie—even then, it brings more benefit than harm.
As for the matter itself, when you say conservatism, do you mean a broad theology that brings many things into Judaism as if they were principles, even though they are not true at all or are not essential to it? If not, I’d be happy to hear what conservatism does mean from your perspective.
If you do mean conservatism as I described it, then I understand you, but I still think it isn’t right. I think many people are capable of living in a state of “I believe and I don’t believe”; I live a Torah life and believe in it broadly, but quietly disagree with many things I don’t accept. That way they remain within the safe conservative world.
As for the will of God, here I truly do not know.
Thank you very much!