(no subject)

[theyellowhobbit]

It seems that I just get myself into religious debates without trying. On the way home from a HRSFA event, I got into a discussion with MB about why he thought Shabbat didn't make sense with the whole "no work" thing, and doing things that seem to be more work, such as walking long distances rather than taking the bus. I explained to him about the idea of creative work, but that still doesn't really explain electricity. (I could have gotten into the thing about circuits, but I didn't feel like it.)

And this wasn't even one of the controversial things in Judaism. It's Shabbat. Either you keep it, or you don't, but it doesn't lead to conflicts most of the time, except in Israel with the whole lack of separation of church and state. I dread to ever get into a discussion on traditional Judaism's stance on intermarriage, and why it is or isn't racist.

Other topics that can only lead to no good: shomer nagiah, tzniut, the whole idea of conquering the land and eradicating all the nations who lived in Canaan, and anything about egalitarianism, the latter depending on to whom I'm speaking. At least I'm liberal on a lot of things, so I can't get into too much trouble sounding like a religious nut job. But even the fact that I walk 30-40 minutes from campus to my house (or vice versa) on Shabbat rather than taking the bus is enough to put me in that category. Oh, and not being able to eat the food that HRSFA orders most of the time. (I'm perfectly ok with it and will bring my own food when necessary. But it visibly sets me apart.)

Actually, in the conversation mentioned at the beginning of this post, I was asked whether or not I was Orthodox. My response was something along the lines of "no...but I'm not Conservative either...I'm somewhere in between. I'm post-denominational." And then he came up with "egalitarian Orthodox" which I suppose is close enough. Actually, for most intents and purposes I am Orthodox in the context of HRSFA. It's not like there are ever any issues of egalitarianism there or anything that would show me to be not-Orthodox.

The funny thing is that right now I don't consider myself to be very religious. And I've been going to minyan pretty much every Monday, Thursday, and Saturday morning that SCM has had services. Maybe it's the pants-wearing that changes things. Or the egalitarianism. Or the not trying to be something I'm not.

Comments

[masteraleph.livejournal.com]

"I explained to him about the idea of creative work, but that still doesn't really explain electricity"

I've always seen it easier to explain if you talk about the idea of separating (mavdil). Regardless of whether or not it's more work, walking the long distances is a prescribed thing which separates Shabbat from Chol.

[elfsdh.livejournal.com]

but that still doesn't really explain electricity. (I could have gotten into the thing about circuits, but I didn't feel like it.)

That's because use of electricity in itself is not a melacha. Using electricity to do things that are otherwise melacha (for example, cooking) is. It's just minhag Yisrael not to use it. AFAICT, the circuit completion thing is BS. :-)

At least I'm liberal on a lot of things, so I can't get into too much trouble sounding like a religious nut job.

Nah. You're liberal and observant. That means you sound like a nut job no matter who you're talking to. I know from experience. :-)

And then he came up with "egalitarian Orthodox" which I suppose is close enough.
Not really. "Orthodox" is a denominational label. And "egalitarian Orthodox" has come to mean preferring 10+10 minyanim. What's wrong with the word "observant?"

[dr_whom]

Is MB = timmypowg?