Learning basics about religion - Essay Example

Learning Basics about Religion Learning Basics about Religion The “Cornerstones of Judaism” article identifies that the Israelite society comprises of devout and skeptical Jews who are born to the tribe of Judah. According to the author’s argument, Judah was the most prominent son of Israel (Jacob), a descendant of Abraham. Donin identifies that the community draws its religious beliefs from various historical texts that have defied different political and religious challenges from the past to the present.

The argument presented in the context ascertains that the Jewish religion is among the world’s renowned religions bearing the aspect of monotheism. Critically, the research documents about the Jewish practice of particularism and universalism by identifying and exhorting various fundamentals from the historical texts despite their geographical distribution across the globe (Donin, 1991). The study criticizes the book written to establish the cornerstones of Judaism to relate the author’s successful evaluation of the main subject of discussion.

The book identifies that there exists many groups of Jews born to the eleven tribes of Israel other than Judah. The careful identification of these groups of Jews emphasizes on the existence of skeptical Jews in the religion. Further, the author succeeds in the identification of the ideal population of Jews as the descendants of Judah. It is vital to identify the group as the devout Jews. Arguably, the identification of the religion’s profession to particular pinnacles in their worshipping and social practices asserts that the group embraces covenant relationship with God.

Secondly, the chapter instills knowledge that Jews abide and honor the “Ten Commandments” that were given to Moses during their Exodus from Egypt. The Hebrew Bible identifies monotheism as meant to represent the religion’s belief in the God of Abraham, Moses, and Elijah. The researcher establishes an overall history of the Jewish community across the world as they critically evaluate the ideological history of the religion (Donin, 1991). In support of the author, it is evident that the religion devotes its religious beliefs to the four cornerstones namely; the covenant between God and their father, Abraham, the implemented notions of monotheism, the dedication to honor the “Ten Commandments”, and Israel (the Promised Land).

Despite the political and religious changes that have threatened the Jewish community from the past, the author identifies that the group remains strong and devoted to its religious foundations. For example, chronological records indicate that the population is estimated to be 20 million because of the holocaust in the 20th century. The supporting evidence from the source is that the group has culminated a rich belief, which in turn has propelled its unity and recognition. In conclusion, Donin who authored this book as a professor a Jewish Rabbi in the late 20th century identifies Torah, whether written or verbal as the ideal embodiment to any person belonging to the religion.

In his perspective, the author succeeds in defining the cornerstones of becoming a Jew (Donin, 1991). Further, he identifies the need for everyone in the religion to live in accordance to the laws given to Moses arguing it to be a religious move to honoring the Covenant of God. ReferencesDonin, H. (1991). To be a Jew: A guide to Jewish observance in contemporary life. New York: BasicBooks.