PROGRAM OUTLINE AND DESCRIPTION for: LOSING MY RELIGION
Navigating Today’s Obstacles to Faith – with Rabbi Michael Skobac
We are living in a time of serious challenges to Emunah (faith). The following 5-part pre-recorded video lecture series explores the problem areas surrounding religion, faith and possible ways forward. Then, afterwards, during a live Question and Answer session, Rabbi Michael Skobac will answer all of your questions.
PROGRAM OUTLINE AND DESCRIPTION:
Session #1: May 16, 2024
WHY ARE MANY JEWS ABANDONING THEIR HERITAGE? Is it because Religion is Killing Judaism?
People generally do not reject Judaism, but a caricature of it. In this presentation, Rabbi Michael Skobac examines some of the common misconceptions held about Judaism that leads many Jewish people away from it. He explores some of the negative stereotypes that people have about religion and how Judaism suffers by association. The issues addressed include today’s preference for spirituality over religion, the sentiment that religion is a “crutch for those who need it” and the contention that religions divide people, thereby causing strife in the world.
Session #2: May 23, 2024
IS BELIEF IN A CREATOR OF THE WORLD REASONABLE? Exploring arguments for the existence of God
The foundation of Judaism and its ultimate goal is to know God. Each person can begin this journey with a desire to know Him and a commitment to seek Him. In this video Rabbi Michael Skobac explores the question of whether it is reasonable to believe in a Creator. He covers the critical question of what explains the existence of the world that began with the Big Bang. In addition, Rabbi Skobac urges us to consider the implications of the profound design evident in our world. Finally, the program discusses the significance of historical manifestations of God’s presence on the stage of history.
Session #3: May 30, 2024
THE BIBLE’S COMPELLING CASE FOR FAITH IN G-D: The veracity of the testimony of Jewish scripture
The Hebrew scriptures is an important document. Is there any outside verification that confirms the stories it tells? In this lecture Rabbi Michael Skobac begins by presenting some surprising archaeological support for Biblical stories about the Ten Plagues, Exodus from Egypt and splitting of the Red Sea. One of the most compelling arguments for the reality of God is the incomprehensible survival and history of the Jewish people.
The Torah predicted thousands of years ago that the Jewish people would be an eternal people. That’s a fantastic claim, especially in light of the fact that virtually all the great ancient cultures has disappeared. Who could have known this in advance, and who could have controlled the unfolding of history to ensure its truth. What makes this more incredible is that the Jewish people have very few qualities that would help them survive and numerous issues that actually militate against survival.
If we had been a huge nation, beloved by everyone and living securely in our homeland, that could help survival. But the Bible predicts Israel would always be a tiny nation, would be universally hated and would be exiled twice from their homeland. And yet Israel is still a thriving nation with people observing the Torah’s laws as they did thousands of years ago. Rabbi Skobac concludes this lecture with the issue of our moral instincts.
Bertrand Russel, a famous atheist, said that he refuses to believe that the only thing wrong with wanton cruelty is that he doesn’t like it. Russel understood that as an atheist, he didn’t have a strong argument for why criminal behavior is wrong. The fact that societies forbid immoral behavior is weak, since some societies tolerated horrible practices such as child sacrifice. Clearly, that doesn’t mean that it is acceptable. Russel sensed that there must be something absolute and cosmic that made immoral behavior wrong. But as an atheist, he wasn’t able to point to anything.
The reason that certain behaviors are considered to be universally wrong is that the Being who brought all reality into existence is also the author of its moral laws – and these are hard wired into the nature of reality itself.
Session #4: June 6, 2024
DEALING WITH DIFFICULTIES AND CHALLENGES TO FAITH: Responding to Attacks Against Your Belief in God
While there are many compelling reasons to embrace faith in the Creator – that does not mean that there are no roadblocks. In this video, Rabbi Michael Skobac deals with three areas that have posed challenges for many people. First, there seems to be a disparity between our moral and ethical sensibilities and seeming violence and cruelty in the Torah. There is a call for capital punishment for numerous ritual transgressions as well as a seeming call for the Israelites to commit genocide against the inhabitants of the land of Canaan.
How are we to understand this? Secondly, we are sometimes confronted with apparent contradictions between the Torah and modern science. For example, is the age of the universe 6000 years or, as scientists assert, 14 billion years? Finally, how do we deal with the thorny issue of evil and suffering if the world is supposedly controlled by a benevolent God? In this video, Rabbi Skobac explores these obstacles to traditional faith.
Session #5 is postponed from June 13, 2024 because of the Holiday of Shavuot
Session #5: June 20, 2024
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR ADULT CHILD REJECTS JUDAISM: And Definitely What Not To Do!
We are living at a time when a growing number of young adults are choosing not to embrace the Judaism practiced by their families. Some gravitate toward other faiths, while others pursue lives where Judaism is simply not relevant. How should parents handle this kind of painfully difficult situation?
In this presentation, Rabbi Michael Skobac explores some of the vital dos and don’ts that families should bear in mind. These include commonly made mistakes to avoid, as well as effective ways of strengthening relationships with and bridging to those who have not yet connected with their heritage. There are ways of wielding influence with sensitivity that may be effective in the long term, not to mention the critical importance of appealing to God for help through prayer.
- Five Thursdays as indicated above • 8 PM ET • ZOOM Attendance Only
- REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED • ADMISSION IS FREE
- To REGISTER please fill in the Registration Form at www.jewsforjudaism.ca/losing/Losing My Religion
- Your Zoom ID and Password will be sent to you 2-3 days prior to the program.
- For Information: T: 416-789-0020 • info@jewsforjudaism.ca
- Jews for Judaism thanks Shaarei Shomayim Congregation of Toronto for hosting this important Zoom Program.
