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On the show last week we discussed sacrifice and in response I received the following question in my email:
You hear all the time about suicide bombers sacrificing their lives to demonstrate their devotion to Islam. Do they deserve respect for dying for their beliefs? If not why do those Jews who gave up their lives under Stalin or the Inquisition? How do you distinguish between genuine, holy sacrifice and this?
We answered that question today.
Sacrifice must mean giving up something that is precious and of great value to me for something greater. If I trade in my 1998 Buick and for the newest model that is not self-sacrifice, that’s called trading up. The same applies if I believe there is any benefit for me as a result of my actions. If I believe that my sacrifice will bring reward or will enrich my life that’s not self-sacrifice, that’s self-interest.
So for a Muslim to say, “I’ll fly a big airplane into a tall building to kill those who aren’t Muslim and then I’ll go to paradise” that’s not sacrifice because there is a reward, he is simply “trading up” for a better life.
What then is genuine sacrifice?
Life is defined by its purpose. If in order to continue living I have to violate the very purpose for which I live, than I sacrifice life for its own purpose, not for my own comfort. The purpose of the life I am living is to sanctify the Creator’s reputation, to give G-d a voice in this world and to make this world a holier place. If I have to violate any of those in order to continue living then I give up my most precious commodity, life, for the greater purpose, the reason I was created.
When we die do we go to a better place? The answer is no. Heaven is a more comfortable place, an easier existence, a place without pain but Heaven is not better than Earth in terms of good vs. bad. In fact in terms of good vs. bad Earth is far better for as long as we are on Earth our existence has purpose (the best thing you can give a person). Once we die and go to Heaven we’ve gone away from that purpose.
So to say that heaven is better than Earth is to put G-d in our service, placing our comfort over His purpose. Thus no person who claims to be a servant of G-d can say “Heaven is a better place” for that would completely wipe away his sense of servitude.
You see, this notion has turned religion sour. I’m not pointing at any specific religion because I think we’re all guilty of this. All of the heinous crimes perpetrated in the name of religion were founded on this notion that when heaven is better than earth. We must do with this notion and realize that the very best place for a person to be is here on Earth where we can be of service to our fellow man and to G-d.
Benny’s musical clip of the week was Al Kol Eileh by Yoram Gaon. To sample or purchase Yoram’s album click here.
You hear all the time about suicide bombers sacrificing their lives to demonstrate their devotion to Islam. Do they deserve respect for dying for their beliefs? If not why do those Jews who gave up their lives under Stalin or the Inquisition? How do you distinguish between genuine, holy sacrifice and this?
We answered that question today.
Sacrifice must mean giving up something that is precious and of great value to me for something greater. If I trade in my 1998 Buick and for the newest model that is not self-sacrifice, that’s called trading up. The same applies if I believe there is any benefit for me as a result of my actions. If I believe that my sacrifice will bring reward or will enrich my life that’s not self-sacrifice, that’s self-interest.
So for a Muslim to say, “I’ll fly a big airplane into a tall building to kill those who aren’t Muslim and then I’ll go to paradise” that’s not sacrifice because there is a reward, he is simply “trading up” for a better life.What then is genuine sacrifice?
Life is defined by its purpose. If in order to continue living I have to violate the very purpose for which I live, than I sacrifice life for its own purpose, not for my own comfort. The purpose of the life I am living is to sanctify the Creator’s reputation, to give G-d a voice in this world and to make this world a holier place. If I have to violate any of those in order to continue living then I give up my most precious commodity, life, for the greater purpose, the reason I was created.
When we die do we go to a better place? The answer is no. Heaven is a more comfortable place, an easier existence, a place without pain but Heaven is not better than Earth in terms of good vs. bad. In fact in terms of good vs. bad Earth is far better for as long as we are on Earth our existence has purpose (the best thing you can give a person). Once we die and go to Heaven we’ve gone away from that purpose.
So to say that heaven is better than Earth is to put G-d in our service, placing our comfort over His purpose. Thus no person who claims to be a servant of G-d can say “Heaven is a better place” for that would completely wipe away his sense of servitude.
You see, this notion has turned religion sour. I’m not pointing at any specific religion because I think we’re all guilty of this. All of the heinous crimes perpetrated in the name of religion were founded on this notion that when heaven is better than earth. We must do with this notion and realize that the very best place for a person to be is here on Earth where we can be of service to our fellow man and to G-d.
Benny’s musical clip of the week was Al Kol Eileh by Yoram Gaon. To sample or purchase Yoram’s album click here.
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