The Background:
There was an article running in the travel section of Sydney Morning Herald’s online edition a few months ago asking whether or not tourists should climb the largest single rock in the southern hemisphere (if not the world).
The question arises because the local tribes of Aborigines revere it as a god they call Uluru. Perhaps they would rather say it is a spirit if not a god, but reverence and worship lead us to consider it the same thing in context.
The Problem:
Now, where would Judaism sit with this question? The purpose of a Jew is to guide the world to a relationship with the sole G-d/Creator through the example of our own. The oft cited imperative to be an Ohr LaGoyim – a light to G-d’s other children, the nations of the world, make this purpose clear.
Many Jews and Jewesses are ‘celibate’, in this regard, which, when out of intentional ignorance (rare – because it’s not often fully informed intentional ignorance) or due to a lack of decent Jewish education, is a tremendous shame. Besides, we don’t espouse celibacy in our physical relationships – why should we in regards to our spiritual one? Would that more Jews understood what they were meant to do instead of floating around eating kreplach and bagels (the caricatured ‘cultural Jew’), leading lives otherwise indistinguishable from those of our brother nations. Fact remains, 90% of Jewish people today (even amongst the ultra religious, if I may be so bold) pay little or no attention to our overriding responsibilities as G-d’s firstborn.
Most (especially secular) Jews never hear that wonderfully phrased statement ‘you cannot represent the Jews until you know what the Jews represent’. But this is not the topic.
The Myth and the Repugnance of “Toleration”:
What does Jewish law say about respecting other religions’ false gods and idols? Would we not promote harmony by catering to the needs of the Wicca, orthodox cannibals, and indeed any and every cult, sect or full-blown religion that pops up?
Mine is not to affirm monotheism over polytheism at any length. It is self evident that each god comes with his, her or its own code of morality, thereby offering the human a choice of moral code – whichever suits him and his lifestyle best. Absolute morality allows (in principle) for no fragmentation of morality, no dissonance and confusion.
It should be noted, however, that I am a complete novice in the religion of the Aborigines; my greatest exposure was at primary school, learning about their Dreamtime creation stories. So I am ready to be corrected on the statements I make (based on what I believe the Jewish legal code requires us to do – in which I am also a relative novice).
In fact, tolerance can be an unpalatable word, as my controversial take on the matter might be to many – including a great many Jews themselves. Tolerance has the connotation ‘your actions make me physically sick, BUT in the name of the ‘enlightened’ age I will allow you to continue as you do, and even sit next to you.’
It is tolerance that sees righteous nations seated next to violently criminal, despotic regimes at the fundamentally flawed United Nations.
Rather, let’s talk it out- your ideas versus mine, at the dining table with a nice meal in a respectful but unwaveringly truth-seeking manner. Not an easy thing by any stretch, but brotherhood is obviously superior to mere toleration.
If one is to tolerate every other concept of morality without challenge, there really is no morality, in the same way that all colours spun around on a wheel = no colour (white). Judaism cannot ultimately tolerate false spiritual paths because that is in direct conflict with one of, if not the, major objectives. To maintain the pretense is exactly that- intellectually dishonest.
And we see, that Judaism requires us to mock polytheism (NOT polytheists- that distinction is of course crucial) wherever it is found. Just as the prophets did (Elijah openly mocked the priests of Baal all afternoon, in front of the entire nation, and other prophets describe how ludicrous it is that a man chops down a tree, burns half of it into ashes to cook dinner, finishes eating, turns around and bows to the other half saying ‘you made me’).
Open-Ended:
Actually, I think I’ve provided enough data. The question is open, therefore: does Judaism oblige its adherents to march up Ayers Rock if it’s in front of us, to demonstrate that it is nothing but a rock? Or is it less confrontational?
Are we shirking our purpose if we refrain from climbing it? Are we attributing honour and reverence to it if we don’t, thus contradicting this purpose?
