Judaism is a Jewish religion where members believe in a single deity who is the creator and redeemer of human beings, all forms of life on earth, and everything in the Universe. It is one of the oldest monotheistic religions in history, said to have begun with Abraham in Canaan. Judaism calls for strictly adhering to laws provided by God and following the values of practices documented in the Hebrew Bible, also known as Torah, and subsequent sacred writings. This essay describes how Judaism has both negative and positive impacts on society as it is associated with violence but encourages human values and taking care of the environment.
Even though most Judaism doctrines support peace and understanding, the religion and its history are associated with extreme violence. The Hebrew Bible’s narrative about the development of Canaan and obeying God’s laws are highly conditioned, leading to an upsurge in violent activities. Judaism supports the excessive use of force, corporal punishment, and even warfare to exterminate practices like idol worshiping and disobedience to God’s laws (Avalos, 2019). This notion has led to increased extremist organizations that sometimes quote the Hebrew Bible to justify their acts of terror on individuals globally. However, the religion also supports positive human values and taking care of the environment.
One of the most outstanding principles of Judaism is its respect for the environment. Jews recognize God as a creator who placed them on earth to cultivate the land. Therefore, they have made it their mission to rebuke wilderness. Jews believe that man should take care of the environment to honor their duty with God. Judaism’s values have helped individuals to develop innovations that focus on improving the environment. Jews have perfected several forms of agriculture, mechanization, and land development that guide other parts of the globe (Katz, 2021). Even though some extremist groups facilitate criticism, it is crucial to focus on the good and find ways to spread awareness and eradicate negative values for positive human development.
References
Avalos, H. (2019). The reality of religious violence: from biblical to modern times. Sheffield Phoenix Press.
Katz, Y. (2021). Judaism and human geography. Academic Studies Press.