tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7898782635470765614.post8910998078998694545..comments2023-09-11T17:58:13.764-04:00Comments on The Rebbetzin's Husband: Jewish parents - How do you feel about these cartoons?The Rebbetzin's Husbandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14977193945074906534noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7898782635470765614.post-68739489211168933302013-02-13T13:19:54.997-05:002013-02-13T13:19:54.997-05:00Neil - Indeed.
Shmuel - Hadn't heard that one...Neil - Indeed.<br /><br />Shmuel - Hadn't heard that one before, thanks.The Rebbetzin's Husbandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14977193945074906534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7898782635470765614.post-77451938015914618122013-02-13T10:02:06.755-05:002013-02-13T10:02:06.755-05:00Like Rav Wolbe used to say:
"There's no ...Like Rav Wolbe used to say:<br /><br />"There's no apikorus question...only apikorus answers."Shmuelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08623549507370220071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7898782635470765614.post-20998200664172573022013-02-12T23:45:38.628-05:002013-02-12T23:45:38.628-05:00Interesting. It's important not to discount a...Interesting. It's important not to discount any questions that kids have, yet frame an answer (if we have one) rooted in mesorah.Neil Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12797772082427806345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7898782635470765614.post-947580040476491752013-02-11T23:29:05.957-05:002013-02-11T23:29:05.957-05:00Daniel-
You haven't, but good thoughts nonethe...Daniel-<br />You haven't, but good thoughts nonetheless. And the key, I believe, is that "at an appropriate age" qualification.<br /><br />Shmuel-<br />To me, it's yes and no. It's not about religion, but it does speak to a phenomenon which occurs among religious people.The Rebbetzin's Husbandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14977193945074906534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7898782635470765614.post-10180985564838427012013-02-11T19:01:54.245-05:002013-02-11T19:01:54.245-05:00I don't find these kinds of things interesting...I don't find these kinds of things interesting or provocative. It reminds me of the kind of anti-religious caricatures that Christopher Hitchens used to write. If you already don't like religion, you think it's a real zinger. But it's not an intelligent expression of any ideas about religion.shmuelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7898782635470765614.post-180990795148334292013-02-11T06:35:36.881-05:002013-02-11T06:35:36.881-05:00With the caveat that I’m not a parent:
1) The car...With the caveat that I’m not a parent:<br /><br />1) The cartoon falls into a common anti-religious trap of thinking that deep down religious people think their beliefs are as subjective as atheists think they are. Someone with strong afterlife beliefs wouldn’t think those beliefs are as subjective as a choice of favourite colour, so the criticism, valid or not, is ignored. So even if it is an accurate criticism (which I’m not saying it is) it’s badly presented.<br /><br />2) We want to pass on our <i>mesorah</i> to our children. At the same time, sooner or later our children are going to encounter people who don’t share our beliefs (non-Orthodox Jews, members of other religions, atheists) many of whom will be sincere, moral people. If we denigrate these people’s beliefs, we simply make it more likely that, on encountering moral people who are not Orthodox, our children will feel deceived and angry and assume that Orthodoxy is unnecessary and hypocritical. If we demand unquestioning adherence to our beliefs we increase the likelihood of outright rebellion. If we present other beliefs too attractively or open-mindedly, we run the risk of presenting Judaism as one equally valid option among many.<br /><br />I am not sure what the solution is. I certainly do not think Orthodox beliefs should be taught as one equally valid idea among many, but at the same time respect for those who do not share our beliefs must be instilled from a young age. The grounds for our beliefs must be taught too, and halakhically-legitimate differences of opinion acknowledged (at an appropriate age).<br /><br />(Not quite sure if I've really answered your question here.)Daniel Saundershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07087956908558706584noreply@blogger.com