We respond to every follow-up question submitted, but only publish selected ones.
In order to be considered for publication, questions must be on-topic, polite, and address ideas rather than
personalities.
Question: Why is the concept of God being “one” so important in Judaism?
Answer: Thank you for your recent inquiry regarding monotheism.
The belief in God reflects beliefs in reality and morality. For example, modern man typically does not believe in God, but rather in science (without God). This reflects a belief that happiness, death and other related issues, while partially caused by some laws, are not morally based and happen haphazardly.
Similarly, a belief in 2 or 3 gods would represent two to three forces in the world—not one of which is ever supreme. For example, a dualistic belief in a god of evil and a god of good would represent a belief that evil and good cyclically govern the world, and that neither can ever be defeated. By contrast, if good and evil come from one God who is eternal and good, then we infer that, eventually, good will triumph over evil—as the prophets say, “There will no more death and I will wipe tears from every face.”
That’s it in a nutshell: If you want a society that hopes to avoid cyclicalism, and evolve into one without evil, then you must believe in one God—the Divine entity that utilizes all these forces, but, in the end, will arrange the world in a just manner, governed by moral law.
Respectfully
Russell Jay Hendel
I would like to read more books on the Five Books of Moses. Other than the Stone Chumash can you recommend titles and authors so I can pursue my interest?
If you want other books on the Bible I would suggest Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch’s commentary on the Bible. It is very extensive and covers a wide variety of topics. Rabbi Hirsch was a major thinker who helped mold the shape of modern orthodoxy.
Respectfully
Dr. Russell Jay Hendel;
Comment by ATR — July 27, 2008 @ 5:06 pm