Golden Calf -- Spirituality or Hedonism?

After the enthusiastic reception of the Ten Commandments, the people, impatient for Moses' descent from the mountain, made themselves a new god -- a Golden Calf. Examine the text carefully1 and perhaps a few observations might be made. Can't we find some exoneration for their idolatry?

Moses was delayed in coming down from the mountain, so the people demanded of Aaron a "god that will go before us," for the Moses who led the people from Egypt is gone. Was this not a sincere religious quest for the divine? Was not their rejection of Moses (and all he taught) justified, since Moses on the symbolic mountain top was too exalted for ordinary folk, meaningless to them? He was ideal for the tasks of the past, but do not people need a new, forward-looking god to "go before them" in facing the problems of a new world? Nor were the people niggardly -- they gave their most precious possessions and brought generous offerings promptly.

Perhaps the indication of their true feelings is found in the statement, "and the people ... rose up to play."

Their insistence on a god they could comprehend, their groping for a progressive faith attuned to the times which they could embrace conscientiously, might even inspire respect for puny mortals fearlessly grappling with eternal insoluble mysteries -- we might even ignore the gross form their god took. But when all their religious ecstasy and inspiration end on a note of levity, of release from self-discipline, of casting off the restraints of Judaism, on having a good time, then their motives are suspect. Do they seek G-d or attempt to escape Him?

No ideal can be examined by its verbal statements. Spiritual claims are no indication of spirituality. The deeds which it inspires are the measure of the ideal's worth. Judaism is not pious preachments but living by the teachings of Torah.

do you see the problem in connecting your earlier statement,
a feel-good God who would entertain them and indulge them, but whom they could ignore whenever they find it convenient

and the last one
His criticism of the Pharisees was that they neglected these important things while imposing petty legalistic burdens on themselves and others.?

the two points you correctly asserted ( 1) Love God with all your strength and 2) Love your neighbor as yourself) are Torah quotes, both of which require definitions and measurements (even the first one, ie. "what is all your heart, all your soul and all your might").

leaving the answer up to individual interpretation does not and cannot be the foundation of a society. both phrases not only beg (in Rashi style) "interpret me" but legal and spiritual guidance is required, the same guidance given to Moshe at Sinai and passed down from him to all those who followed him. Moshe was the first "Pharisee" in the sense that the Rabbinic tradition started at Sinai.

I don't want to get into a debate about theology, partly because I respect Judaism too much (although I am Christian) and partly because you are probably much more adept at it. I was trying to point out that Judaism & Christianity are closer than many think. Jesus did not propound new ethical laws. Some have asserted that he was much closer to the Pharisees than to the other schools of Judaism at the time. However, he felt that some of them were hypocritical with respect to their own beliefs. He also thought some of them were corrupt. The same criticisms could be leveled at all of the major Christian denominations at various points in their history.
I think there is a real spiritual and cultural war going on today, and Orthodox Jews and Biblical Christians are natural allies against those who believe there is no God, and that we can be our own gods and invent our own morality, as Satan invited us to do in the garden. The other problem we both face is Islam, which basically ignores the commandment to love your neighbor.

Wasn't Moses also considered a prophet? Couldn't one consider Aaron the first corrupt leader, who had to be rebuked by Moses for allowing idolatry in his absence? I think Jesus saw the prophets as conservatives, who were sent to call the people back to the truth, and that he was in that tradition as well.

Within Christianity, there are also differences regarding how much top-down authority and law there should be. However, I prefer to concentrate on the essential similarity of all groups within the Judeo-Christian tradition. I would exclude only the apostates and liberals who use both Jewish and Christian sects as fronts for radically un-Biblical ideas.

I appreciate your answer and concur with much of what you wrote. My understanding (subject to weak knowledge of this area) is that Jesus was indeed a Pharisee. There weren't many choices at that time. Today, BTW, Judaism is only Pharisaic.

Moshe indeed is the greatest of the Prophets, a belief that Jews must accept as a basic tenet. Aaron was appointed High Priest by G-d not Moshe so to ascribe corruption to him is a mis-interpretation. Basically, he was trying to hold down the fort until Moshe returned and was overwhelmed by a violent mixed group of people who our tradition tells us had killed his nephew Hur.

If you are interested in an article on this see here.

and yes we much for which we must work together. thanks for saying so.

The older brother is Judaism (never left the Father) and the younger Christianity.

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Luke 15

The Parable of the Lost Son

11 Yeshua continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.

13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20 So he got up and went to his father.

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.'

28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!'

31" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' "

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Shabbat Shalom!

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