Educational Resources on Ethics
Dating someone with anxiety can be challenging on your part, especially if you are not familiar with the disorder associated with this. Take note that the challenges come from the difficulty in understanding how the other person thinks, moves and reacts because of the presence of anxiety. However, this does not mean that the relationship will no longer work if the person you are dating has an anxiety disorder.
Symbols are very significant as they are used to express specific ideas, structures, and characteristic of a particular culture. The meaning of a symbol differs depending on the cultural background. Different religions use different symbols, but there is one symbol that is very common to many religions, the Star of David (for the Jewish) which to other beliefs is known as the Star of Creation (Christianity).
Meaning of the Jewish Star of David Continue reading “The Hexagram, Star Of David, Magen David, Or Star Of Creation”
About 60 countries support women’s access to abortion today. Some consider a gestational limit or the maturity of the fetus. Some consider it legal depending on reasons, while some are entirely against it.
Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (Maimonides) also known as “The Rambam,” a Jewish scholar, decoded the 613 commandments or the “Taryag mitzvot” into 13 fundamental principles of Judaism faith. The Thirteen Principles of Faith or the “Shloshah Asar Ikkarim” is the summary of the 613 commandments filtered to understand the core meaning of them all.
It is a Jewish custom to recite these principles of faith every day after their morning prayer or what they call “Shacharit.” The 13 principles of faith are recited every day so that the Jews will never forget them. This way, they can always observe their faith and help them be grounded in their message.
1. Faith that God alone is the creator.
Maimonides stated that “There is a Being, perfect in every possible way, who is the ultimate cause of all existence. All existence depends on God and is derived from God.”
2. Faith that God is unique and one.
Maimonides stated that “If one even allows himself to think that there is another deity other than God, then he violates the commandment, ‘You shall have no other gods before me.’”
3. Faith that God is incorporeal and incomparable.
Maimonides explained that God has no physical body and cannot be compared to any other creations.
4. Faith that God is first and last.
Maimonides explains that God is eternal and boundless. Nothing else that was created comes equally to His eternal unity.
5. Faith that we should pray to God alone.
Maimonides believed that we should pray to God alone. Jewish faith doesn’t believe in mediators such as priests, saints, prophets or angels. God should be the only one we praise and treat as such.
6. Faith that the words of the prophets are true.
The faith of Judaism is rooted in the words of the Hebrew prophets, and they have complete faith that their words are the truth and should be preserved.
7. Faith that Moses is the chief prophet.
The Jewish faith believes that Moses is the “father of all prophets.” He, among anyone else, was the closest to ever communicate with God. Other prophets needed an intermediary but Moses did not. It is indicated in the Torah that God said, “Mouth to mouth, I will speak to him.”
8. Faith in the divinity of the Torah.
The Jewish faith believes that the Torah is the same Torah that was given to Moses in Mount Sinai and that it has been preserved and passed down to guide us and the future generations to come.
9. Faith that the Torah cannot be changed.
The Torah cannot be changed in any way. No words shall be added or changed as it is obsolete.
10. Faith that God knows all things.
The Jewish faith believes that God is all-knowing. He sees and hears all, even our thoughts.
11. Faith that God will reward the righteous and punish the trespassers.
The Jewish faith believes that God will reward those who follow his commandment and punish those who defy Him.
12. Faith that the Messiah will come.
The Jewish faith believes that the “Maschiach” or the Messiah will come and bring Israel to greatness once more.
13. Faith in the resurrection of the dead.
Lastly, Maimonides explains that the Jewish faith believes the dead will rise again when God wills.
Maimonides believed in the Taryag mitzvoth of Torah, and he made the fundamental principles it is based upon. These principles are sacred. They are observed up to this very day and will be up until the end of time as it was stated.
Judaism is a religious belief or faith that originated from the early people of Israel some four thousand years ago. The foundation of their religion is based on the covenant God made with Abraham and his people. God said they are “the chosen people” and that they would inherit a holy land.
The Jews or the people observing Judaism refer to the bible as Tanakh, and their belief and faith are built upon the religious, philosophical and ethical laws stated in the Torah also known as the first five books in the Hebrew Bible.
Jews share the same land which is Israel, a universal religion which is Judaism, and shared beliefs and traditions rooted from the time of Abraham.
Religion is the most influential denomination of the human race. It doesn’t matter where you, as long as you have the same faith, you can be brothers with someone from across the world. Religion influences how a person lives his life and basically molds his foundation as a human being. That’s why religion is a vital aspect of our lives. It is our core, and it is what defines our existence and purpose.
With about 4,300 religions all over the world, Judaism is one of the major religions that are widely practiced. It has around 14 million followers, and its faith is based on the covenant of God with the Children of Israel at the time of Abraham.
Judaism believes that we are all created by one God and one God alone. People who practice Judaism are called Jews.They are guided by the Hebrew Bible also known as the Tanakh, specifically the first five books also called Torah.
Buddhism
Buddhism is entirely different from Judaism. It is rooted in the teachings of Siddhartha Gotama, popularly known as Buddha. Their core is a philosophy of life rather than a superior being. They focus on enhancing life by encouraging joy, peace, and vitality and eradicating our sufferings.
Buddhism began in India and stretched mostly over Asia. They don’t believe in God but also don’t deny the existence of spiritual elements. They are about life balance and how important it is to our well-being.
Christianity
Christianity has similarities to Judaism. They are both monotheistic and Abrahamic religions who believe in one God, the God of Abraham. They both have scriptures which are the Christian Bible and the Tanakh for Judaism. The Tanakh is like the Old Testament in the Christian Bible.
Christianity, being the widely practiced religion in the world, has over 2 billion followers and believes in Jesus as the Messiah. Although Jews believe in the Messiah, they don’t believe Jesus to be the Him. They don’t believe Him to be the Son of God, although they consider Him a prophet.
Islam
Islam, similar to Judaism and Christianity, is also a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion. Members of the Islam believe in one God who they call Allah. With over 1.5 billion followers, Islam is the second widely practiced religion.
Their sacred book is called the Quran, and they observe Muslim faith and traditions solemnly. Muslims believe in Muhammad to be the messenger of God and the last and final prophet.
Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam are four of the most widely-practiced religion and comprise about a half of the 7.5 billion world population. They have differences in terms of almost every aspect of their belief but share a similarity.
Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam all believe in good and evil. They are for the goodness of mankind and renounce those that are bad. They all respect the meaning and value of life.
Judaism is monotheistic Abrahamic religion that believes in one God and the covenant between Him and men. Their faith is guided by the commandments that had been given to Moses on Mount Sinai. According to the Talmud or the study of Jewish beliefs and traditions, there are 613 mitzvot or the Jewish commandments.
Their laws and teachings are written in the Torah, or the first five books of the Jewish sacred book, Tanakh. One of the 13 principles of Judaism is that the Torah is divine. They have faith in its sanctity and forbids any form of alteration in it.
Just like all other religions, Judaism is for the preservation of life and goodness of men. Some of the laws could be in conflict with the modern world where goodness seemed to have focused on the perception and happiness of men. “Contrary to popular belief, Judaism is pro-life,” Mitchell Rocklin, Ph.D. and co-author said.
What does Judaism think of euthanasia which appears to be acceptable in some places nowadays?
Euthanasia is ending a person’s pain and suffering by ending that person’s life. It is also known as “mercy killing.” It is used when there is no chance of survival and death is certain. People who approve of euthanasia believe that a person who already has imminent death can and should be spared from the agony.
“Assisted voluntary euthanasia—when a patient intentionally brings about their own death with the help of a physician—is a complex, emotionally charged issue. Many people are against its legalization because of their religious, cultural or ethical beliefs,”
Jenni Ogden Ph.D. wrote.
When is euthanasia used?
The emotional pain of seeing the patient suffer is much more unbearable to the family. Euthanasia aims to the end the pain and suffering of both parties.
Judaism, like most religions, considers taking one’s own life suicide, and to ask others to end your life is like asking them to commit murder. Likewise, allowing a person to commit suicide or euthanasia is like permitting him to commit a sin.
“The message of Judaism is that one must struggle until the last breath of life. Until the last moment, one has to live and rejoice and give thanks to the Creator,” Rachamim Melamed-Cohen, Ph.D. points out.
This applies to doctors and those who have the knowledge to cure diseases and lengthen lives. Judaism believes that people are allowed to this certain kind of knowledge to be able to help in prolonging life, and denying anyone of it is also like ending his life.
Judaism respects all forms of life until the last breath, and anything that causes death is treated as murder. Their faith is in the preservation of life, and pain is a part of it and not to be treated as a reason to end it. The pain can be removed as long as one is alive, and even if it does not disappear, performing euthanasia should be not an option as it is considered murder.