Question:
I think religion is nothing more than a crutch. Belief in G-d is for the weak and the needy, who can't stand on their own two feet. Don't you have the independence to get through life on your own without some other force to prop you up?
 
Answer:
You're right. Religion is a crutch, a sign of human weakness. And to be honest, religion is not my only crutch. I am so weak, I need a whole array of support mechanisms to prop me up and keep me going.
 
I need food. As embarrassing as it is to admit, I am totally dependant on eating. Without food, I would probably not have the strength to do much at all. My body does not nourish itself. It needs outside help. So I eat.
 
I have an emotional crutch too. I need other people. If it weren't for the support of my family and friends I certainly wouldn't be where I am today. And while we are on the subject, I am also quite dependent on my shoes. My feet would be really sore without them.
 
The human is a fragile being. We are not self-sufficient. We depend on external sources for our survival. We need to be fed, we need to be loved, and we need shoes. I thank G-d every day, for it is He who provides me with food, family and footwear.
 
But above all, I thank Him for giving my life purpose. Just as I can't nourish myself without resorting to the outside, I can't give my life real meaning without seeking beyond myself.
 
Maybe that makes me weak. But I think it gives me strength. Even if I'm hungry, lonely or barefoot, as long as I have divine purpose, I can face any challenge.

 

~ Rabbi Aron Moss

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