If the Abrahamic faiths are culturally designated, where do I fit in?

[Tumah]

As humans we all have some capacity to know right from wrong, truth from error. If we have no capacity for discerning truth, whatever investigation we initiate will be fruitless.

Is that true, or do we simply absorb the values of the society we live in? And if we are simply absorbing those values, does that mean what we have is an innate capacity to know right from wrong or an innate capacity to know what it acceptable and what is not acceptable?

 

[metis]

IMO, learning right from wrong is likely both cultural and genetic, so I don't tend to think if it in either/or terms.

We are "social animals", and as such there tends to be sort of genetic "pecking order" that is likely in our genes, but it's likely "vague" enough whereas there can be a lot of leeway.

 

[Muffled]

And by "I," I mean those who are inquiring about a particular religion among the Abrahamic umbrella. Realizing that all three faiths including their sub sects all relate to the origin of the people in a particular region of the world, where do I the observer belong considering the doctrinal traditions tends to favor the people of those regions? Some Judeo-Christian traditions say the cradle of civilization began in Ur (although scholars have differing criteria for what they determine to be a civilization). Some say the language of "heaven" is Arabic (some even said Hebrew), more importantly all things are related to the people that existed in that time in those specific regions. With that being said, how does a skeptic approach a supposed universal faith if the faith itself is culturally unrelatable to the individual him/herself?

I believe you are in error. Christianity is not limited to a culture. It does have cultural roots but those are not necessary to the essence of the religion. However sometimes people of different cultures hang on to false concepts of their culture. I believe if the Holy Spirit is really working in a person those false concepts would be eliminated. Even in America the Afro-American culture exists within the Christian church and it is different from English culture.

 

[Muffled]

That's not the point. When we are discussing their origins and the people who are relevant to these stories, who God is referred as, they are not relevant to the people of let's say Ōkunoshima Island. How does Jesus a Jewish guy or Muhammad an Arab guy relate to someone who is on some distant Island? Reciting prayers in Judaism, some Christian sects and Islam are done in different languages, languages that don't relate to the people of Ōkunoshima Island languages relating to the people of a different culture. Sure we can talk about the stories of self-sacrifice and devotion, but these are utilitarian examples, but when discussing prayers, customs, who Goid is referred as most certainly the "True name" of God is in a different language and of a different culture than the people of Ōkunoshima Island. With that being said how can these people fit in these traditions?

I believe Jesus is not just a Jewish guy but is God incarnate. Everyone has to recognize God no matter what culture they come from.

 

[Muffled]

Well this isn't me necessarily and yes I remember that. I'm merely addressing this from the perspective fo someone who is curious about the Abrahamic faiths but isn't so sure where they fit. Let's say a boy from a different ethnic tradition but is American and has western values but is unsure of their spiritual convictions because these traditions do not relate to him/her.

I believe it matters not how God fits into a person's view but how a person fits into God's view.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Well, certainly in my path I find it is more open to one's deeper spirituality than reciting prayers, possibly in a language one doesn't speak. First I would ask this person to ponder why these traditions don't relate or speak to him and then reflect upon what does relate to and speak to him. If he best connects to G-d through, say, nature, then what's to stop him from taking that path? As long as, in my view, one is not committing idolatry then whatever means one connects to G-d one can use. As this is a very personal dilemma, I do not want to say a lot as I do not want to play director or tyrant and speak about things I don't understand, and leave this really to you.

But I would've thought the nature of the universality of the path of the great Abraham would have its appeal regardless, but I see your point ultimately it really is up to the individual themselves.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

There is a fourth the Baha'i Faith. I do not believe the Baha'i Faith is culturally designated.

Perhaps not, but its origins are.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I believe it matters not how God fits into a person's view but how a person fits into God's view.

But it matters when the expression of the devotion to God comes from the viewpoint from another culture's perspective.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Race or culture does not matter to God. -- Acts of the Apostles 10:34-35

This isn't about the perspective of God, but how the religion is presented to the observer.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Bro, start from the point of not trying to label yourself.

Brother, been labeled since I've came out the womb and since I walked the stage receiving my degree. But this isn't about me.

You know what you believe, explore the things that are deepest to your heart.

What about those that are unsure who look to these three faiths?

However truth, the most universal aspects within any given religion aren't bound to culture or language, but more experience and knowledge

True, but then again to the person observing this, this may be difficult to comprehend.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

My point of view is that true religion started with Adam and Eve and we all descend from them. We therefore all share a common cultural and religious heritage.

But if someone is questioning these stories from doctrine, and are unsure of their authenticity how can religious faith exemplify truth if its being questioned? In regards to sharing a common cultural tradition I disagree. Sure we human being share a common ancestor but culturally from a microcosmic standpoint it varies from culture to culture. Christian Koreans worship differently than Southern Baptist Christians.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

The emphasis on the Arabic language in Islam isn't just about culture. Anyone who's tried to learn another language knows that the language you speak plays a major part in determining how you think and perceive the world.

I do not disassociate language from culture. When you impart meaning in language most certainly culture is attached to it.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Ask a couple of Mormon missionaries.

Why?

 

[Epic Beard Man]

You don't need to be Jewish in Judaism to be following the universal path.

I thought you knew me better, of course I'm aware of the Noahide tradition.

It's not strictly necessary for a non-Jew to know Hebrew or even have more than an awareness of the existence of the Torah.

If I understand some of Maimonides works in relation to his book "The Guide for the perplexed" isn't that the reason why Maimonides broke the Bible down (including Mishneh Torah) to understand the context of Hebrew words, to distinguish the metaphorical, allegorical, and literal? I mean we see this all day with evangelical pastors who use the English language to make all things biblical literal. perhaps I was mistaken but I would've thought the Rambam would've made that clear that it is essential to understand the meanings of words and phrases in their Hebrew context.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Being a skeptic, I consider the tight link between geographic location, culture and religion as being evidence of the idea that all religions are born out of human imagination.

I'm a skeptic to, but the ideas even in isolation had to come from somewhere and in such detail it is impossible that in isolation human beings can conceive something like the Torah, Qur'an, or The Bhagavad Gita.

The vast majority of people however, tend to stick to the religion they were brought up in by their parents.

I agree. This is true statistically for Muslim babies being born today, and the traditions of those who worshipped in the past.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

The same way hundreds of millions of others converted from variant traditions/cultures--exploration, revelation, activation!

Very well said...

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I believe you are in error. Christianity is not limited to a culture.

Perhaps in modern times no as Christianity and the Bible itself has many translations in different languages.

However sometimes people of different cultures hang on to false concepts of their culture.

This is true. There are some African tribes that are Muslim however they still impart certain African traditions that most strict Muslims would deem "shirk" or polytheism.

I believe if the Holy Spirit is really working in a person those false concepts would be eliminated.

Or, any truth that comes from divine providence works through a particular culture because in order to understand said truth it must be spoken and understood through the lens of the people under a common language, culture, and tradition.

 

[Tumah]

I thought you knew me better, of course I'm aware of the Noahide tradition.

I actually thought you did and was quite surprised that it didn't seem as though your post took that into consideration.

If I understand some of Maimonides works in relation to his book "The Guide for the perplexed" isn't that the reason why Maimonides broke the Bible down (including Mishneh Torah) to understand the context of Hebrew words, to distinguish the metaphorical, allegorical, and literal? I mean we see this all day with evangelical pastors who use the English language to make all things biblical literal. perhaps I was mistaken but I would've thought the Rambam would've made that clear that it is essential to understand the meanings of words and phrases in their Hebrew context.

Maimonides was writing for Jews though. For Jews, yes, knowledge of the Torah is an imperative. For non-Jews, it many cases it may even be prohibited according to Maimonides. That goes back to what I was saying in my previous post. For non-Jews, being a "good Gentile" according to Maimonides himself, is simply being aware that the Torah commands on behalf of G-d that non-Jews follow the 7 Noahide Laws and the practice of those Laws. Anything beyond that is not essential to being a "good Gentile" and those Laws are fairly universally understandable.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I believe Jesus is not just a Jewish guy but is God incarnate. Everyone has to recognize God no matter what culture they come from.

Well when we get into the particularities of the nature of Jesus that would require a different topic but generally speaking, when referencing the story of Jesus, his religious traditions and culture would play an important role in understanding who he is.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

I actually thought you did and was quite surprised that it didn't seem as though your post took that into consideration.

I did, but the Noahide tradition at least in my mind regardless of it being considered a "gentile" tradition, would be considered a step brother to Judaism just as Islam is a cousin of the two. I just thought Noahide is more closely aligned to Judaism than anything therefore I sought no real philosophical distinction outside of that (of course aside from observing the other laws in the Torah).

For non-Jews, being a "good Gentile" according to Maimonides himself, is simply being aware that the Torah commands on behalf of G-d that non-Jews follow the 7 Noahide Laws and the practice of those Laws. Anything beyond that is not essential to being a "good Gentile" and those Laws are fairly universally understandable.

Correct.