2026-09-21 20:30 UTC
I've become cynical about the theology surrounding atoning for sins by afflicting oneself and praying communally for forgiveness, i.e., about #YomKippur, which is today.
I've come to believe more and more that, as Karl Marx said, religion is the opium of the masses.
I think Yom Kippur is performative for most people. I don't think observing it leads most people to change for the better; I think it just makes them feel better about continuing to behave the same way.
#religion #Judaism
1/?
Replies (1)
-
@jik@federate.social 2026-09-21 20:36
The Jewish people have been punished repeatedly by God (so our tradition teaches us) for falling into sin and hypocrisy. Heck, the text from the prophets we read today, Yom Kippur, teaches us explicitly they God doesn't want fasting and sacrifices if it isn't accompanied by actual good deeds. Clearly, our tradition wants us to understand that we are just as vulnerable to "falling off the wagon" as anyone. But I see no understanding of that in most of my coreligionists. 2/?