Return to the Right Ways: A Look at the Past and Its Implications - Essay Sample

Introduction

The article relates to the past, that is, the Judaism and Biblically, the beginning of the humankind back in the Garden of Eden. It shows that, in the modern days, progress seems to have become a problem instead, whereby, alternatives need to be sought to do things the right way, in other words, to return (Strauss, 1981). It simply calls for a return or repentance from the wrong ways to the right ways of living. The implication I that, the humankind were once on the right ways originally, before turning to the wrong ways of deviating, imperfections and sins.

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Luria explains that the path or the way which leads to the end of everything is also the same path or way that still leads to the beginning and thus the concern for Judaism is return and not progress. Luria states that the past is more superior regarding wisdom as compared to the present. The humankind is then faced with the challenge of leaving the wrong ways and returning to the right ways associated with the classical past.

The contemporary crisis is regarded as the Jewish tradition which seems to have been deserted for something superior being termed as progress which seems to have no past to boast of. According to this understanding, being the perfect beginning character, particularly of the old times is the only one underlying the return notion. Again, forsaking God is associated with the cause of all specific crimes along with the wrongdoings (Strauss, 1981). It is perceived that humankind was very loyal and faithful originally, but they are living in a rebellion state in the modern days. Currently, the people have a perception of returning in the future with God restoring them to their original position or place. The humankind longing for this origin perfection shows the man's sufferings from the present times but hoping for the future at the same time. However, on the other hand, the progressive man seems to be looking back to the imperfect beginning which involved rudeness, barbarism, extreme scarcity and stupidity and thus giving the feeling of not having lost something of great importance. In the nineteenth century, the contemporary crisis has become a discovery consisting of recognition of something that was not previously realized, that is, accepting the past or the Jewish tradition return is radically different from only the tradition continuation (Strauss, 1981). Today, society seems to be witnessing significant tradition changes which are all very different from the past changes in Judaism. It is clear that in the Western world, progress has then become an issue of doubt, with people no longer claiming to understand that they are moving in the right path or direction.

The Western civilization contemporary crisis consists of human thought development as a progressive evolvement. The truth is that the intellectual, along with the social progress, are very parallel of each other following the modern thought emergence. It explains that, once humankind has attained a particular stage or phase of evolvement, then there is an existence of a solid floor underground that humankind can no longer sink. Therefore, it is clear that the modern man has been using all efforts to try to have the biblical morality preserved, whereas abandoning the biblical faith, which is impossible (Strauss, 1981). The impact of modern evolvement is different. It is so because in modern times what has occurred is simply gradual corrosion along with heritage destruction of the Western civilization. Therefore, the modernity crisis reflection leads to a suggestion that humankind should return to moral principles.

Reference

Strauss, L. (1981). Progress or return? The contemporary crisis in Western civilization. Modern Judaism-A Journal of Jewish Ideas and Experience, 1(1), 17-45.