RS - Unit 2

• Theories on the origins of the world

  • G-d created the world
  • It has always existed
  • The big bang theory
• 1. d's creation of the world

  1. G-d said "let there be light and it was so"

  2. G-d created the world in 6 days, rested on 7th day

  3. G-d has a detailed plan for creation

  4. G-d personally oversaw creation

  5. The world was created as perfect

  6. G-d created the world from nothing
• We can't understand creation
• Big bang theory


  Atoms collided and caused the world to be created
• Big bang theory


  Opposes Judaism's belief that G-d created the world, but they can work together as G-d may have caused the big bang to happen
• Darwin's theory of evolution


  Opposes Judaism's belief that we were all put on here for a reason, but they can work together as G-d may have set off evolution
• Talmud - "The centre of the world is exactly where you stand"


  The world was created for our benefit, so we have the ability to change the world around us
• Mishnah - "Every individual is obligated to say 'for my sake the world was created'"


  Everyone is important and we should be putting ourselves before others
• Torah - "G-d took man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, to work it and guard it"


  1st example of Tikkun Olam, we have a duty to look after the world as it was loaned to us. Stewardship - we are meant to look after the world
• Talmud - "Man was created on the sixth day. If ever he is filled with pride, it can be said to him: A flea preceded you in creation"


  Don't be arrogant as a flea, which is a tiny creature, was made before us
• Jewish teachings on treatment of animals

  • A person is prohibited to eat until he first feeds his animals
  • G-d said that Man should dominate every animal on land and sea
  • G-d has given enough for both humans and animals, so we should not take too much and respect animals
  • Do not plough with an ox and donkey together
• Reasons why people believe in a soul

  • Upbringing
  • Religious texts/teachings
  • Miracles
  • Comfort of knowing life has a purpose (Secular view)
• Reasons why people don't believe in a soul

  • No physical evidence
  • It is just your consciousness based on how society has shaped you
  • Rational explanations for things that are supposedly evidence of a soul
• The body and the soul


  The body and soul work with each other, they need each other to function and the body is the physical part holding the spiritual soul
• The soul could be considered more important, as it was created first. Also, the soul gives the body life. The soul is divine, whereas the body is physical
• Without the soul, there is no life. Therefore the soul is more important as it is the spiritual connection with G-d
• Being made "in the image of G-d"

  • According to Rashi, it means that we can understand things
  • According to Rambam, it means that we can perceive things using our intellect
• Yetzer Ra and Yetzer Tov


  The Yetzer Ra is bad and Yetzer Tov is good, they tell us to choose between good and bad
• Potential impacts of the Yetzer Ra and Yetzer Tov

  • People may struggle to make decisions
  • Cause inner conflict
  • Live in fear
  • Might encourage us to think twice
  • Might want to cut out all evil
  • Might not make a difference
• Reasons why people might not believe in the Yetzer Ra and Yetzer Tov

  • There is no physical evidence
  • Why would G-d tempt us into sinning
  • Why would G-d want us to worry
  • How do we have freewill
• Selfishness


  Self interest and concern with individual needs/wants which excludes considering those of others
• Greed


  An excessive desire for things, such as wealth or food, which bears no relations to actual needs
• Ignorance (in relation to wrongdoing)


  Not knowing or understanding the difference between right or wrong, or what makes actions wrong
• Sin


  Behaviour which is against the law of G-d
• Consumerism


  Protection or promotion of the interests of consumers
• Distribution of wealth


  The way in which wealth is divided among the population or among nations
• Productivity


  The state or quality of being productive
• Reasons why people are selfish

  • Psychological difficulties
  • Peer pressure
  • Greed
  • Revenge
  • Jealous
  • Upbringing
• What can be done to overcome selfishness

  • Rules - consequences
  • Education
  • Intervention
  • Religion
  • Direct those that need help
• Reasons why Judaism agrees with selfishness

  • We are selfish by human nature
  • Need to look after ourselves before looking after others
  • If you are selfless your whole life then you will burn out
  • Amidah is full of praying for things that we want
• Reasons why Judaism disagrees with selfishness

  • We are taught to love our neighbour as ourselves (respect everyone)
  • Tzedakah
  • Tikkun Olam
  • "Olam Chesed Yibaneh" (a world built on kindness)
  • Various laws saying to put others before ourselves
  • Social responsibility
• Reasons why selfishness may be acceptable

  • Based on Darwin's theory of evolution, human nature is all about survival of the fittest so in order to survive we need to be selfish. Therefore, it is simply human nature
• Reasons why greed is unacceptable

  • It causes people to take more than their fair share of the worlds resources
  • Greed for power, land and wealth can lead to war
• Reasons why greed may be acceptable

  • If people were not greedy, then they would have no incentive to work and the economy would collapse as no one would be working
  • Society depends on greed
  • Charity disincentivises people to work and can make people dependent on aid
• Free will


  The belief that the human will is free and human beings can choose to act freely
• Determinism


  Every event has a cause and so means that free will may not exist as human being's choices and actions have a cause
• Predestination


  1. d has planned and stated that everything will happen in the future
• Arguments against free will

  • God has pre planned everything
  • Concept of reward and punishment
  • Problem of evil (why would God allow evil to happen)
• If we have freewill then we should be punished for doing evil. If we don't have freewill and everything is predetermined then we should not be punished for doing evil
• Inconsistent triad


  God cannot be all loving, all knowing and evil can exist all at once