My intention with this post is not to offend anyone. I am Jewish and I’m genuinely curious to hear various perspectives on this topic.
For those who believe that the Torah was originally written by a group of people and not passed down from God, why do we still read it every week? The content of the Torah is filled with stories that often have questionable morals and ethics, violence, slaughter, outdated rituals, customs, and laws, and a personified view of God who is often shown as a controlling and vengeful being. There are childrens books written less than 50 years ago that people choose to no longer read to their kids because of the stories’ outdated themes around misogyny and racism, yet the stories of the Torah are somehow seen as okay to teach to children (and adults) because it’s something we’re “supposed” to do.
I understand that there are those who see the Torah as something to not be taken literally. Instead, they use its content as a starting point and then interpret it in a way that’s relevant to them. Yet in these cases, if we’re ending up in an entirely different place from what was originally written, wouldn’t it be a better use of time and energy to start with a story or topic that teaches good morals and/or is relevant to our lives?
Taking all of this into account, I am genuinely confused why a section of the Torah continues to be read every week. I have appreciation for it as historical writing as well as a calligraphic work of art, yet fail to see the necessity of making it a central focus of every sect of Judaism I have encountered.
Do you agree? Disagree? What is your perspective on this topic?
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Source: Reditt
