Civil Religion in Israel Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Civil Religion in Israel - Essay Example Indeed, De Lange argues that, â€Å"Jews today are more deeply divided than at any time in the past on the theory and practice of their religion. The divisions are visible in the existence of a multiplicity of synagogues in some towns, all proclaiming that they hold the key to true Judaism† (De Lange, pg. 67). In recent history one of the crucial periods of the Judaic tradition was the time immediately surrounding the pre-state and post-state periods. During this period in Jewish history the religion experienced tremendous internal strife and influence from political elements within Judaism that sought that co-opt the traditional Jewish religion for a civil religion that would promote and eventually realize the development of a Jewish state, Israel. This essay argues that during this period the Jewish religion, later civil religion, went through a series of evolutionary patterns in terms of influence and change. The essay explores this evolutionary development from the pre-sta te period, wherein Zionist elements shifted elements of the religious structure to emphasize statehood; it then considers the statism period wherein Judaism was fully co-opted by the state; and finally, the post-statism period where in a struggle for legitimacy the civil religion was forced to shift back to more traditional values. Throughout this examination of the shifting nature of the civil religion, a number of observations are made, with the overarching contention being that Jewish leaders consciously re-interpreted scripture in accord with political aims. Background One of the primary elements in the evolution of the Jewish religion considers it in relation to the emancipatory movements of the 18th and 19th centuries. In these regards, it’s been indicated that these movements presented a great amount of pressure of Jewish collective identity, having a corresponding effect on Jewish religious practices. In these regards, emphasis on balaka changed considerably, with the emancipation process deemphasizing many of these aspects of Jewish law (Dowty 2001). The main point in these concerns regards was the extent that the Jewish religion in Israel should conform to Western culture and values. In terms of altering Jewish religious practices, the main changes proposed related to whether the Jewish religion should be changed to conform to national standards, or if Judaism should continue to follow its standard tradition. While this had been a long-standing element of concern within Judaism the emancipation movement constituted a pivotal element in this regard. In consider essential elements related to Judaism in the 20th century, this essay argues that one of the primary thematic elements is the dynamic relation between political concerns and religious identity, resulting in philosophic fluctuations regarding Jewish spiritual practices. Early thinkers considered the questions that would later play pivotal roles in terms of the Jewish religion in Israel. I n these regards, it’s noted that Haim Yosef Brenner, â€Å"denied that Judaism was defined by specific patterns of life or values, or that the Jewish people had any special mission. He refused to recognize secular nationalism as a legitimate transformation of the Jewish traditional and eschewed ‘any ideology offering itself as equivalent to religious belief† (Liebman, pg. 27). This is a view of Judaism that ran counter to Zionist beliefs in a sort of secular nationalism. One must consider the intentions of the Zionist movement in regards to that of traditional Judaism when understanding the divergent patterns. It’s argued that the Zionist concern with attracting supporters and adherents