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The paper analyzes different aspects of the modernity in Judaism and distinguishes the crucial characteristics of the branches of the contemporary approach of Judaism people. Moreover, the paper highlights the challenges of the in Judaism and the ways by which the traditional approach pertain to the involvement in the religious activities can be alerted significantly.
Judaism is the Philosophy of the Jewish people that reflects their religion as well as their way of living. It can be defined a monotheistic religion that was originated in Tanakh and examined later in Talmud. The underlying concept of the Judaism supports the covenantal bond that GOD ascertained with the children of Israel. Judaism is a diverse religion that embraces variety of beliefs as well as interpretation of Jewish Law. The concept of the contemporary Judaism is the result of some crucial movements or divisions that have different practice but all of them are adherent to the same belief. The main branches of the Contemporary Judaism are described as follow: Orthodoxy is the branch of the contemporary Judaism follows the tradition approaches of the religion. The adherents of the Orthodox Judaism are greatly attached to the old impressions of Judaism enduring by all the law of Torah.
Reform Judaism reflects Liberalism as well as progressiveness. It was originated under the European illumination in the 19th century Germany. This branch is the result of the reforms crucial to assimilate the concept of reforming into the larger society. The practices of the Reform Judaism have some reflections of the Christianity although the branch never adopted the beliefs of the Christianity. However, Reform Jews are adherent to their ancient tradition and they celebrate Orthodox Holidays in a liberal way.
Century religious or atomic age are these characteristics of the modern world, slogans, or curse, hide a deeper focus. In spite of all the violence and madness, which played out in front of us, we live in an era of philosophy. People in their activities support the belief that they act reasonably, are in agreement with the incalculable forces actual events; moving March of history. To clear their conscience is enough. Not only the progress of science, revealing predictable play of forces in matter, but the very human freedom (and even thinking, aware of this game) supposedly governed by rational order. Hidden in the depths of Genesis, it is opened and exposed to light through the chaos of modern history, through the suffering of individuals, their desire, passion and victory. This is the angel, who, according to the Midrash, was the only way to sing a song before the throne of the Eternal only belongs only to him, a moment in all eternity God.
In the last millennium, there has been quite a conflict between two extremely opposing views regarding life and the society. As from the beginning to mid of this millennia the fundamentalist point of view had no competition at all, Churches and Kings were the sole rulers. There was nobody to question the authority of churches. Then a new perspective emerged popularly known as “Enlightenment”. Enlightenment forms the foundation of this modern world we are living in, commonly known as “the modern society”. The very concept of enlightenment has many positive effects on the society, and so we shall be discussing these effects in the later parts.
Now days so called “cultural wars” are taking toll again, it is the conflict between two mutually exclusive views about how societies should be living. The fundamentalism is completely based on the divine scriptures and their interpretations by different religions, which were revealed many centuries ago on the humankind through messengers of God. While the philosophy behind enlightenment is reality, only what we observe and deduce by our observations and intelligence. Enlightenment claims its foundation relying only on science, reasons and our observations.
The beliefs of fundamentalists contradict with scientific knowledge to know its reason. We need to understand that fundamentalism; it is theory of “sticking strictly to what God has manifested on us through revelations or in other words, the unveiling of the mystery”. In other words, religions consisting of fundamental concept believe in theophany. Fundamentalists believe that divine scriptures only, gives the eternal and complete form of truth, and anything conflicting them is false or devious. The belief of fundamentalists tied them to the literal interpretation of divine scriptures.
While it will not be wrong if we relate the concept of enlightenment to the very first, enlighten movement led by European countries like Germany, France and England. Enlighten movement was extensively based on intellect, culture, philosophy and culture. This movement started roughly in the eighteenth century. This movement was enabled by the scientific revolution took place in the mid of the millennia. In addition, this movement put an end to the reign of fundamentalism.
The period before Enlighten movement is regarded as unfathomably cruel, and of unwavering religious devotion. In addition, the harsh and autonomous power of the churches and wars like crusades changed the mind of European and pursued them to appreciate the knowledge of science and it was encouraged to study science as regarded as appreciation of god’s creation. Still whenever somebody tried to explain the matters of faith and miracles with reasoning and rational arguments faced a fierce punishment. In addition, such deeds were regarded as heresy. Society in those days was extremely hierarchical. Seldom had it happened that rights of people were granted to them. There existed no such concept of personal liberty and rights. People started fearing religion; rather religion is an act of love towards the divine Supreme Being.
Age of enlightenment opened the doors of innovative independent thoughts. Societies started flourishing and prospering, studies about different natural phenomenon started yielding results, and they were beneficial for the humankind. Progress was made in many fields like, mathematics, physics, economics, philosophy, astronomy and medicine. In addition, society started developing and expanding using these tools. After being suppressed by the churches so much, people unanimously accepted the idea of enlightenment with enthusiasm. Clubs and societies of intellectuals formed, to explore the ways of upgrading the lifestyle of a common person. Philosophers started interacting with each other, sharing ideas and debating over concepts. Which resulted in the education of people in common, they started reading books and the rate of literacy increased dramatically.
During this newly emerged era of enlightenment, the phenomenon of enlightenment penetrated in almost every field of civilized life. Of course, in the beginning participation of every single person was not possible, as many of him or her were not educated. In addition, people from rural areas were unable to participate in the league of enlightened world. However, at later stages of its course, enlightenment reached to every single individual via “industrial revolution” prompted after enlightenment successfully stood on its feet. Another positive impact or step towards the well-being of humankind i.e. democracy is also due to this era of enlightenment. The very foundation of the world’s first and largest democracy was built on the concepts of enlightenment. The United States of America is a real-life example of the positive impacts enlightenment has made on living being. If we look more closely, nearly each theory evolved or still evolving in the modern science has its linkage with enlightenment and freedom of thought concept.
However, good thing is that the message was sent i.e. undisputedly, innovative thoughts and imagination has the real power to uplift and change the conditions of society. In addition, it was enlightenment, which brought you the scientific ideas like calculus and free trade on one hand, and on the other, we were gifted from the morally vital idea of “freedom of expression”.
New political theories and attitudes emerged during the era of enlightenment. John Locke strongly advocated against the monarch system, as according to him old system would be inappropriate to ensure the liberties, lives and properties of common English people. In addition, power should not alone be handled by any single individual, instead, a system should be structured to ensure the safety and prosperity of the people, said Baron de Montesquieu. Who believes that system should be maintained which can distribute the power between legislative, judicial and executive departments. Intellectuals from America bought this idea. In addition, the delegation, which took independence from Britain, employed these arguments in their policies. In fact, the “Declaration of Independence” was actually Thomas Jefferson’s version of John Locke’s perception. The constitution of US reflects the ideology of Enlightenment overall. In addition, Benjamin Franklin played a huge role, to propagate the idea of enlightenment to public.
It is though very difficult to summarize the role of enlightenment to give birth to the concept of democracy. However, it is not a disputed fact that the very basic idea of Democracy and the modern society comes through theories, which were inspired by enlightenment.
Civilization is another gift that our society attained from Enlightenment, of we can say that word “civilization” is another legacy of the era of Enlightenment. Actually, in late eighteenth century French and English people incorporated this word in their dictionaries, which meant “the refined behavior or manner and the increment of wealth”. Therefore, the concept of degree of civilization came into existence. After the establishment of such civilizations like Europe or America, the thinkers of enlightenment claimed that, the Western Europe that included states like France, Germany and Britain were the most enlightened and thus the most enlightened countries of the modern world. As some of the European people began, believe that these concepts of enlightenment are attacking their culture and traditions. In addition, enlightenment is trying to induce anarchy. It took some time, before people could actually see through the horizon of positivity, and appreciate the benefits that enlightenment had yielded.
Modern Jews have a few stereotypes of Progressive Judaism, which are without any reason, but nonetheless very tenacious. One stereotype causes the unprecedented in its scale assimilation of Jews in the 19th century. Many people somehow believe that it is Progressive Judaism once loosened rigid system of mitzvot and this gave the Jews the opportunity gradually to move away from Judaism. Very offensive stereotype, because there confused cause and effect. Everything was different. Assimilation began much earlier than any first communities Progressive Judaism did. Creation of the first progressive communities provoked a strong reaction from the traditionalists, who organized violent resistance. From that moment, the traditionalists and started calling themselves orthodox direction, the meaning of which is the desire to preserve the tradition and resist its constant reform.
Bibliography
Mendes-Flohr, Paul R., and Jehuda Reinharz, eds. The Jew in the modern world: A documentary history. Oxford University Press, 1995, pp.155-206.
Neusner, Jacob, William Scott Green, and Ernest S. Frerichs, eds. Judaisms and their Messiahs at the Turn of the Christian Era. Cambridge University Press, 1987, pp. 485-525.
Mendes-Flohr. P: Law and Sacrament: Ritual Observance in Twentieth Century Jewish Thought in Green, A (ed) Jewish Spirituality from the Sixteenth Century Revival to the Present (RKP, 1987) pp. 317-345.
