How do differing concepts of revelation affect the process of decision-making in Jewish law?
Until very recently, there was only one concept of revelation and that was as stated in the Torah–namely, that between two and three million people witnessed the revelation of the Torah, initially from God Himself, and then through Moses. All of Jewish law that has been codified to date (with the exception of those who in more recent years have broken with that tradition) has been in the context that the Torah is God’s word. Frankly, your question is precisely the reason why these break-off groups continue to struggle with establishing an identity. Without a strong belief in the centrality of the Torah, Judaism becomes quite arbitrary and subject to the fashion of the day.
Sincerely,
R’ Daniel Fleksher