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How can Judaism be legally proven? - Soptimist2025 - 09-26-2025
I chanced upon a book that really got me interested in my Jewish heritage. I haven't really been so observant for a good portion of my life but I still could never justify opting out of Judaism altogether. After all, we have really suffered for keeping and observing the same beliefs that today we often take for granted in a world that pushes for questioning religion and being a skeptic while simply ignoring the fact that indeed questioning science is also something that must be done. I don't want to put myself entirely in the believer camp yet, but all I have understood from this book is that if we must be iconoclasts then let us equally scrutinize everything.
Here is a brief summary of the book below and the link to the book for anyone that is interested in reading further. - (This is a 4 part series)
https://www.amazon.com/Atheism-Real-Judaism-Non-faith-Religion/dp/1568717059/ref=pd_bxgy_thbs_d_sccl_1/133-9282192-2034443?pd_rd_w=fZJWq&content-id=amzn1.sym.dcf559c6-d374-405e-a13e-133e852d81e1&pf_rd_p=dcf559c6-d374-405e-a13e-133e852d81e1&pf_rd_r=GQE4GH95ZW7NQ9K6KBMX&pd_rd_wg=UJtFy&pd_rd_r=aeb809f4-d355-4d5e-861d-d10d8ea03984&pd_rd_i=1568717059&psc=1
This four-volume judicial review, addressed to the skeptical, non-religious Jewish mind, delivers a shocking verdict: "Real Judaism" is a proven, non-faith religion, vindicated by cold logic and unavoidable evidence, not sentiment or superstition. The implication is clear: rejecting your heritage is intellectually dishonest and leads directly to Jewish self-annihilation.
Here is a short, compelling summary of the case presented across the four books:
- Let's Really Try to Disprove Judaism: This volume establishes the uniqueness of Judaism's core claim: a mass, simultaneous, public Revelation at Sinai in 1312 BCE, unlike other faiths based on unwitnessed, private revelations. The mathematical force of the Law of Probability proves that the survival of this story for over 3,000 years is impossible if it were a lie. The odds were against survival by roughly 50,000 to 1. Your existence as a Jew today is presented as the living, inexplicable proof that the claim must be true.
- Judaism on Trial: The case is strengthened by irrefutable non-Jewish evidence—including archaeology, history, DNA findings, and ancient texts from enemies like the Samarians. This confirms the unbroken, generational chain of testimony (the Sinai Argument). The ultimate objective witness, Sir Isaac Newton, is cited as having examined and intellectually embraced the Sinai argument, rejecting both atheism and faith religions for lack of judicial certainty.
- Mutation: Schmutation: This volume contrasts the proven nature of Real Judaism with the secular atheist worldview, often rooted in the "Faith of Immaculate Mutation" (evolution). It argues that the secular framework, which rational Jews embrace, fails every legal and logical test that Judaism passes beyond a reasonable doubt. This irrational rejection of a proven heritage is attributed to a preference for a life of amoral freedom and intellectual laziness.
- Why Bad Things Happen to Good People: The Hidden Book Answers: Having judicially established the Creator's existence, this final volume draws on the profound wisdom found in the Talmud (the encyclopaedic Oral Law). The Talmud is presented as the only source that provides robust, logical answers to the ultimate questions of existence, suffering, and justice. It explains that life is designed as an ultimate test of Freewill, proving that knowledgeable observance leads to emotional security and contentment, making the choice to assimilate the self-inflicted final solution.
RE: How can Judaism be legally proven? - RabbiO - 09-26-2025
From the description of the series given above it appears that the author is pushing an ultraOrthodox, fundamentalist, Judaism. If you and/or others find that path compelling, meaningful, and want to follow it, that is your decision.
Personally? I do not.
RE: How can Judaism be legally proven? - Soptimist2025 - 09-28-2025
Stop being so judgmental and at least read the book yourself. When you put Jews in categories that is when you give antisemites the boost to persecute us.
RE: How can Judaism be legally proven? - RabbiO - 09-28-2025
(09-28-2025, 10:45 AM)Soptimist2025 Wrote: Stop being so judgmental and at least read the book yourself. When you put Jews in categories that is when you give antisemites the boost to persecute us.
If I came across as overly harsh, that was not my intent. Instead of “that is your decision” I should have said if you find the path laid out in the book to be mobing and/or compelling, then follow that path.
For the record, I am a religious Jew and I am a rabbi.
RE: How can Judaism be legally proven? - Soptimist2025 - 09-28-2025
(09-28-2025, 11:46 AM)RabbiO Wrote:(09-28-2025, 10:45 AM)Soptimist2025 Wrote: Stop being so judgmental and at least read the book yourself. When you put Jews in categories that is when you give antisemites the boost to persecute us.
If I came across as overly harsh, that was not my intent. Instead of “that is your decision” I should have said if you find the path laid out in the book to be mobing and/or compelling, then follow that path.
For the record, I am a religious Jew and I am a rabbi.
So maybe you can give me your opinion about that book after reading it. I want to learn more about Judaism and get more knowledge. Here is another breakdown from the last book by the author, which seems to be the best selling one. It answers the most fundamental question that every Jew has, which is that why bad things happen to good people. Tell me what do you think.
The detailed review of why bad things happen to good people is drawn primarily from the section dedicated to the Talmud's ultimate answers concerning Freewill and "Senseless" Suffering. This complex problem, which the text refers to as unfathomable suffering, is addressed by Real Judaism using logical and metaphysical concepts rooted in the Oral Law (the Talmud).
The Foundation: Sinai and the Freewill Imperative
The entire explanation for suffering rests upon the irrefutable judicial proof of the Creator's existence established at Mount Sinai. Real Judaism asserts that it is not based on blind faith.
The primary purpose of existence, derived from this foundational proof, is the testing of Man's Freewill. This Freewill imperative is the stage setting upon which mankind can truly exercise choice, earning spiritual rewards. The ultimate 'good' is realized through Man's ability to come to the right decision.
Because the entire universe is designed as an inescapable testing ground, the system must remain constantly challenging, regardless of individual wishes or decisions.
The Necessity and Function of Suffering
The traditional Jewish perspective holds that the universe was never created to be a world of happiness or justice. Instead, Real Judaism concludes that "Life must be harsh". The system is designed this way because complexity, contradictions, and unfathomable pain are necessary elements to challenge human choice effectively.
- Challenging Certainty: If existence were black and white, or if rewards and punishments were immediately and obviously evident, Freewill would be destroyed, as certainty would enforce mechanical obedience. The capacity for the thinking Jew to wonder and rebel against apparent injustice is crucial to the test.
- Addressing Natural Evil: Suffering caused by non-human agencies (such as tsunamis, disease, or famine) further tests the individual's acceptance of the system and prevents individuals from simply blaming mankind.
- The Good of Effort: True achievement and spiritual reward require effort and challenge, otherwise receiving spiritual benefits would be analogous to receiving "the 'bread of shame'"—unearned handouts.
Perception and the Inexplicable
The difference between living a fulfilling life amidst tragedy and becoming bitter is fundamentally a matter of perception. The educated Jew understands that Life's purpose changes their perception of everything, framing existence as an arduous mission or battle regiment.
The Talmud notes that it would have been "more comfortable" for man not to have been created, given the difficulty of existence, but since we are here, we must make the right choices and embrace the opportunity for spiritual gain.
The Book of Job is presented as the quintessential text dealing with undeserved pain. Job's ultimate realization, which came only after agonizing debate, was that if he understood the reason for his suffering, the system would collapse because the challenge would disappear.
In a final act of kindness, the Creator confirms to Job that humans were literally designed not to know the ultimate reasons for suffering. Just as the physical complexities of the universe are beyond human comprehension, so too are the complexities of the spiritual and moral universe. This confirmation relieves us of the need to struggle for an answer that we are not equipped to understand.
The Suffering of the Innocent: The Soul and Gilgul
To explain why the truly good or innocent suffer, the text introduces the Kabbalistic concept of Gilgul (revolving or revisiting soul).
- The Soul as Host: Every person is a temporary host for a soul, which is either purified or damaged by the host's responses to life's challenges.
- Healing Through Suffering: A wounded or polluted soul, resulting from the failure of a previous host (or gilgul), requires healing. This healing can occur either through the current host's exemplary behavior or through intense physical or mental suffering.
- Ancient Sin: The suffering experienced by a saintly person or innocent child is sometimes due to the need to atone for an ancient sin committed by a prior personality connected to that soul. Although the current person may be entirely innocent and cannot recall the sin, they are inexorably linked to the soul's spiritual journey, similar to a criminal who develops total amnesia but must still serve their sentence.
RE: How can Judaism be legally proven? - RabbiO - 09-29-2025
After the holy days. I have other, more pressing, responsibilities during this time.