Thinking about Judaism, in terms of centrality it is the polar opposite of Roman Catholicism.
Catholicism is centralized. The Pope makes the rules, defining what Catholicism is, and who Catholics are. Roman Catholicism was organized by the Roman Emperor Constantine, and it became the official religion of the Roman Empire, and by extension much of Europe. Centralization serves the needs of empire.
Judaism has no such central human authority. There is the Torah, of course, but it does not actually interpret itself, or execute it's own will. Rabbis interpret the Torah, and there is no central authority of Rabbis. Instead, there was the original Rabbi, who authorized his disciples, and they authorized their disciples, and so on.
So, when we get to the present, there is a hugh diversity of opinion among Rabbis. Some are still anti-Zionist, as most were in the beginning of the 20th century. Others, of course, are Zionist. And that divergence even exists among the well known groups, Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox, which are exceedingly different.
This has the strength of adaptability, and is the perfect approach for a Diaspora, where people are living far aflung, and where there is not an overriding political or "national" objective.
Once there is a common political or national objective, organization, hierarchy, and centralization become useful, and ultimately, demanded.
Malcolm Gladwell wrote a classic article, "The Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted," explaining why networks are great at disseminating information, and adapting, but not well suited to political organization or revolution--for those purposes hierarchies are better.
Catholicism is centralized. The Pope makes the rules, defining what Catholicism is, and who Catholics are. Roman Catholicism was organized by the Roman Emperor Constantine, and it became the official religion of the Roman Empire, and by extension much of Europe. Centralization serves the needs of empire.
Judaism has no such central human authority. There is the Torah, of course, but it does not actually interpret itself, or execute it's own will. Rabbis interpret the Torah, and there is no central authority of Rabbis. Instead, there was the original Rabbi, who authorized his disciples, and they authorized their disciples, and so on.
So, when we get to the present, there is a hugh diversity of opinion among Rabbis. Some are still anti-Zionist, as most were in the beginning of the 20th century. Others, of course, are Zionist. And that divergence even exists among the well known groups, Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox, which are exceedingly different.
This has the strength of adaptability, and is the perfect approach for a Diaspora, where people are living far aflung, and where there is not an overriding political or "national" objective.
Once there is a common political or national objective, organization, hierarchy, and centralization become useful, and ultimately, demanded.
Malcolm Gladwell wrote a classic article, "The Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted," explaining why networks are great at disseminating information, and adapting, but not well suited to political organization or revolution--for those purposes hierarchies are better.
No comments:
Post a Comment