Criticism of Judaism
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Criticism of Judaism has existed since Judaism's formative stages, as with many other religions, on philosophical, scientific, ethical, political and theological grounds.
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[edit] Former and present members
In many religions ex-members and excommunicates became known for criticism of their former faith. In Judaism a process similar to excommunication is called Cherem. The process is a form of ecclesiastical censure that states the person is not to be listened to by the community. Among people declared cherem there were a few critics of Judaism.
The most famous might be Baruch Spinoza who was excommunicated primarily for rejecting the orthodox understanding of the Torah and its view of God. His Theologico-Political Treatise in particular rejected the idea of the Jews as a chosen people and saw the Torah as merely a kind of Jewish constitution. He further felt that Judaism allowed for little in the way of speculation or internal reflection. That the religion was "to them rather a bondage than the true liberty, the gift and grace of Deity."[1] An earlier convert of Jewish ancestry, Uriel da Costa, largely agreed and felt Judaism to be a human invention devoid of spirituality.
[edit] Claims by Muhammad
The Qur'an claims that the Jews called Ezra the son of God and by doing so they are "deluded away from the Truth". [Qur'an 9:30]. No Jewish text makes the claim that Ezra is the son of God and no branch of Judaism makes Ezra a son of God. Moreover, Abraham Geiger, a Jewish theologian said Muhammad misunderstood the Jewish text.[1] The American historian and archaeologist, Charles Cutler Torrey maintains that Muhammad made this assertion so as to claim pure monotheism for the Muslims alone, in his day.[2]The New Encyclopedia of Islam on page 467, states, "The reference to Ezra as the "son of God" is obscure, and can not be explained by anything in the Bible or from other sources." However, the Encyclopaedia Judaica mentions an assumption, based on the words of the Muslim scholar Ibn Hazm, that a sect that was living in Yemen was known to say that he was the son of God. According to other Muslim sources there were some Yemenite Jews who believed that Ezra was the messiah. For Muhammad the Jewish view of the messiah could be seen in the same light as the Christian saw Jesus, the messiah, the son of God.[3] An Introduction to the Qur'an for Bible Readers page 273, states, "This is the only text in the Quran which levels shirk against the Jews. The reference of their worship of Ezra as Allah is obscure and a mystery. Some (Muslim) commentators claim that this was a belief among the Jews of Medina, but there is no solid evidence to support this...".Edward Henry Palmer, an expert on Eastern studies stated that, "There is no Jewish tradition whatever in support of this accusation of Muhammed's, which was probably due to his own invention of misinformation."[4]
[edit] Kosher slaughter
Kosher slaughter as a practice has attracted widespread criticism from animal welfare groups who claim that the absence of any form of anesthesia or stunning prior to the severance of the animal’s jugular vein entails prolonged and unnecessary pain. The British Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC), an independent body which advises the British Government in matters of animal welfare, has demanded that kosher slaughter no longer be exempted under relevant legislation, demanding that animals be subjected to stunning before slaughter. FAWC Chairwoman, Dr Judy MacArthur (herself a farmer and qualified veterinarian) has defended the organization’s stance, criticizing her detractors by claiming that "(kosher slaughter involves) a major incision into the animal and to say that it doesn't suffer is quite ridiculous." [2] This claim is contrary to those made by supporters of kosher slaughter, who claim that the extreme blood loss caused in the process results in a rapid loss of consciousness and therefore an absence of pain.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ Abraham Geiger's book Judaism and Islam chapter 2 part 4
- ^ Torrey, Charles Cutler [1933] (1967). "Allah and Islam in Ancient History", The Jewish foundation of Islam, Introd. by Franz Rosenthal, New York: KTAV, 72. LCCN 67-018817. OCLC 921947.
- ^ Encyclopaedia Judaica, p. 1108. "H Z Hirschberg proposed another assumption, based on the words of Ibn Hazm, namely, that the 'righteous who live in Yemen believed that 'Uzayr was indeed the son of Allah. According to other Muslim sources, there were some Yemenite Jews who had converted to Islam who believed that Ezra was the messiah. For Muhammad, Ezra, the apostle (!) of messiah, can be seen in the same light as the Christian saw Jesus, the messiah, the son of Allah."
- ^ http://www.sacred-texts.com/isl/sbe06/009.htm#fn_288
[edit] See also
- Anti-Judaism
- Antisemitism
- Blood libel against Jews
- Criticism of religion
- Philosemitism
- On the Jewish Question by Karl Marx
[edit] External links
- Hofesh organization - The largest Jewish secular web site.
