Yes, we do. One
that is based on human reason and rationality, and considers the universe as
is.
But
what does the word “religion” mean? The term “religion” is much wider than
“observance.” The second one deals with
practices, the first refers to one’s attitude towards life in general. Furthermore,
even though most religious people are moral individuals, “religion” and
“morality” are not one and the same, because plenty of people who claim to be
religious, continue to engage in unethical behavior.
Many thinkers derive the
word “religion” from the Latin religare meaning to connect (with God). But,
what does it mean to connect with God?
Hebrew does not have a proper word for
“religion.” In post-exilic biblical texts, like the Book of Esther (1:19; 3:8
etc.), we find the word dat, which can mean law, decree or custom. In
modern Hebrew a dati is a religiously observant individual.
Of the various definitions
of religion that exist in the western world literature, I believe, it is Erich
Fromm (1900-1980), a Jewish social psychologist, who has provided the broadest one. He argued
that religion gives the individual a “frame of orientation” as well as “an
object of devotion.” That is, each of us has a “frame of orientation” through
which we view the world, and “an object of devotion” to which we pledge
ultimate loyalty. The question is how to identify these “frames” and
“objects?”
The medieval Jewish
philosopher, Maimonides (d. 1204) defined religion as “to know God
(intellectually).” For Mordecai Kaplan (1991-1983) “the essence of every
religion is the human quest for salvation (i.e.., self-realization).” In
Abraham J. Heschel’s (1907-1972) view, “Religion is an answer to man’s ultimate
questions.” Roland Gittelsohn (1910-1995) proposed one in line with his
religious naturalism: it is “the study of the mutual spiritual relations
between human organisms and their total cosmic environment.” Alvin Reines (1926-2004) suggested: “Religion is the human person’s
response to the conflict of finitude;” namely, how do we deal with the
realization that we are all limited and are destined to die one day?
In an attempt to understand
the scope of religion within a liberal and rational framework, I prefer to look
at the wider picture of our universe that operates in a wondrous ways, and yet acknowledging the
reality of some of the problems we face in our daily life; namely, the
limitations of our bodies, the unfairness
we encounter in our dealings with others, and even the natural disasters we
face not of our own making. We do not live in a perfect world, and certainly do
not know all the intricacies of the universe. But every day we discover a new
angle and overcome a new mystery. Life, we soon realize, is unpredictable,
requiring a wholesome perspective. For me, it is religion that tells us how to
relate to the world outside.
I maintain that religion
needs to be defined broadly as a way to help us find our place in the world,
with all its limitations and possibilities. In this sense, I consider everyone
religious because we all have similar concerns and expectations, yet with
different outlooks on life. Whether we are Jewish, Christian, Muslim (or
other), how we personally respond to our existential questions becomes our
religion. For me, Judaism, provides a wholesome interpretation of human life,
with its plusses and minuses, and that is why, in addition to being part of the
Jewish people, I choose to identify myself not only as an ethnic Jew but as a
religious Jew.
June 14, 2020
Rabbi Rifat Sonsino, Ph.D.
Rabbi Emeritus, Temple Beth Shalom, Needham. MA.
Framingham State University, Dept. of Psychology and
Philosophy
