Religious Literacy Blog Post #4

Guidelines 1 and 2 of teaching religion are as follows:

1. "Religions are internally diverse, not homogeneous."

2. "Religions are dynamic and changing, not static and fixed."

I think the above guidelines were extremely evident today on our trip to the Beth Shalom synagogue in Northbrook.  Rabbi Ari guided us through our visit.  We were given the opportunity to ask questions of Rabbi Ari, and it was not only enlightening to learn more about the Jewish faith, but it was evident that this young Rabbi was also battling with some of the answers to our group’s poignant questions. 

He talked about the three major divisions in his faith, and he qualified almost every answer with the notion that his thoughts were his own and that we would get different answers from almost any and every other Jew.  He discussed political issues in his community, arguments over proper etiquette and tradition, changing policies over time and his own internal strife over some of these issues.

Rabbi Ari was very open with us, and it is refreshing to see the human side of a religious leader.  Religion, faith, and even life itself is ever-changing, and we grow and learn from those around us.  This goes back to my original post, and I think it would be a theme for the week.  People are people. We naturally struggle with different ideas in different ways, and we grow and adapt to what happens in our communities.

I have always thought of Western religions as more rigid that those of the East.  It was clear today that this is not true.  I am left with the feeling that religious literacy (as I’ve said before) is the same thing as human literacy.  As long as we respect the traditions, rites, and behaviors of others, most of the rest doesn’t matter.  Rabbi Ari continually came back to this idea, whether explicitly or implicitly.

Of particular interest to me today was his discussion about marriage rites.  Someone asked about rules in his faith about inter-religious marriage.  In his tradition he is not allowed to officiate such ceremonies, yet he see both sides of this issue.  He wants to be part of a special moment for a couple, but he also understands that his Jewish blessings might be lost on a non-Jew.  I had a similar debate when I got married.  Without going into details, there was disagreement among my family and my wife and I as to best hold the ceremony.  We talked, debated, even argued, and in the end, came to an “agreement.”  It was not easy, but again, it was good to see someone in so prominent a position battling with some of the same issues.  Nothing is static, nothing is homogeneous, and cultural and religious decisions are not easy.