Q&A: Practical Obligation
Practical Obligation
Question
According to what I understand, the reason for your religious obligation probably stems from God. And God's will is that each person should progress according to what he has— a Jew through Judaism, a Christian through Christianity, etc.
I’d be happy if you could explain to me why the God you chose is not like Aristotle’s God, and not like the various kinds of gods that don’t really obligate human action. As it were, a God who deals with trivialities…
In addition, where do you think the borderline lies between “I tried to look for the desired course of action—apparently God was satisfied with that”? How does one evaluate such a thing?
And does it really sit right on your heart that that divine being wants us to keep commandments and undergo suffering (and receive reward for it? if on that you agree…).
Answer
No. As I understand it, God's will is that we do what is right. But He is forgiving toward someone who does not understand what is right, at least so long as he has clarified the matter in a reasonable way.
I don’t have a universal line that determines when the inquiry is reasonable. Decide for yourself, and the heart knows whether it is for honesty or for crookedness.
I devoted a book to my choices, The First Being, and you can read everything there.
I don’t think what sits right on my heart is relevant. There are quite a few things I do not understand about the Holy One’s conduct. But there are good considerations in favor of being obligated to His will, and that this is indeed His will. If I do not understand, that depends on no one but me.