The conceptualisation of morality in Judaism
This article dealt with the irony that confronts any investigation into the conceptualisation of morality in Judaism: much of contemporary scholarship promotes the Strong Dependence Theory where God is considered the prime source of morality − yet an empirical analysis of classical rabbinic literatu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Afrikaans |
| Published: |
AOSIS
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Verbum et Ecclesia |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/2863 |
| _version_ | 1827366343228260352 |
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| author | Gavin Michal |
| author_facet | Gavin Michal |
| author_sort | Gavin Michal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article dealt with the irony that confronts any investigation into the conceptualisation of morality in Judaism: much of contemporary scholarship promotes the Strong Dependence Theory where God is considered the prime source of morality − yet an empirical analysis of classical rabbinic literature indicates a leaning more towards the Weak Dependence Theory which considers human beings the source for morality. Somehow, scholarship seems to overlook this textual evidence. On the other hand, that same contemporary scholarship has no problem in accepting absolute and complete human autonomy in the area of Jewish religious law or Halacha. This study questioned why humans are comfortably accepted as the primary determinants of religious law but not of morality – and argued for a return to the original Weak Dependence Theory to maintain moral efficacy. It included an examination of an extreme historical test case for rabbinic morality concerning how the rabbinic world dealt internally with the moral implications of major rabbis who had fled the Holocaust.
Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: While this literature study was conducted from an orthodox rabbinic perspective, it adopted a descriptive and evaluative methodology based on academic, rabbinic and historical sources. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:48:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b4ae0e68cb584357b678a44abde3f9a0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1609-9982 2074-7705 |
| language | Afrikaans |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T08:48:37Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Verbum et Ecclesia |
| spelling | doaj.art-b4ae0e68cb584357b678a44abde3f9a02024-02-01T12:51:17ZafrAOSISVerbum et Ecclesia1609-99822074-77052024-01-01451e1e710.4102/ve.v45i1.28631908The conceptualisation of morality in JudaismGavin Michal0Department of Old Testament and Hebrew Scriptures, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, PretoriaThis article dealt with the irony that confronts any investigation into the conceptualisation of morality in Judaism: much of contemporary scholarship promotes the Strong Dependence Theory where God is considered the prime source of morality − yet an empirical analysis of classical rabbinic literature indicates a leaning more towards the Weak Dependence Theory which considers human beings the source for morality. Somehow, scholarship seems to overlook this textual evidence. On the other hand, that same contemporary scholarship has no problem in accepting absolute and complete human autonomy in the area of Jewish religious law or Halacha. This study questioned why humans are comfortably accepted as the primary determinants of religious law but not of morality – and argued for a return to the original Weak Dependence Theory to maintain moral efficacy. It included an examination of an extreme historical test case for rabbinic morality concerning how the rabbinic world dealt internally with the moral implications of major rabbis who had fled the Holocaust. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: While this literature study was conducted from an orthodox rabbinic perspective, it adopted a descriptive and evaluative methodology based on academic, rabbinic and historical sources.https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/2863moralitystrong and weak dependence theoriesdivine command moralityrabbinic leadership during the holocausttheodicyjewish ritual law (halacha). |
| spellingShingle | Gavin Michal The conceptualisation of morality in Judaism Verbum et Ecclesia morality strong and weak dependence theories divine command morality rabbinic leadership during the holocaust theodicy jewish ritual law (halacha). |
| title | The conceptualisation of morality in Judaism |
| title_full | The conceptualisation of morality in Judaism |
| title_fullStr | The conceptualisation of morality in Judaism |
| title_full_unstemmed | The conceptualisation of morality in Judaism |
| title_short | The conceptualisation of morality in Judaism |
| title_sort | conceptualisation of morality in judaism |
| topic | morality strong and weak dependence theories divine command morality rabbinic leadership during the holocaust theodicy jewish ritual law (halacha). |
| url | https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/2863 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gavinmichal theconceptualisationofmoralityinjudaism AT gavinmichal conceptualisationofmoralityinjudaism |