Covenantal Monotheism and Comparative Religion Notes

Definition of Covenant: Judaism and Christianity are defined not only as monotheistic religions but specifically as covenantal religions. At its core, a covenant is about a relationship between human beings and the one divine being.
Attachment vs. Detachment: The covenantal aspect of Western monotheism creates a distinct theological atmosphere compared to Eastern religions.
- Eastern Traditions: These religions generally emphasize cultivating a state of detachment from the world.
- Covenantal Monotheism: These religions focus on attachment. Meaning, purpose, and fulfillment are explicitly found in becoming attached to the one God through a specific, structured relationship.

Deuteronomy 6:4: This passage in the Hebrew scriptures, known as the Shema, serves as a foundational declaration: "Hear, O Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is One. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength."
Dimensions of Attachment: The command to love God with heart, soul, and strength points the believer toward a comprehensive attachment that includes:
- Emotional attachment.
- Ritual attachment.
- Moral attachment.

God as a Personal Being: In these traditions, God is characterized as a very personal being with specific preferences, including things He likes and things He does not like.
Conformity and Discernment: The believer is expected to conform their life to divine expectations. This involves a constant process of discernment, differentiating between good and evil, and choosing to be attached to the right things while avoiding the wrong things.
Kashruth (Food Laws): A practical example of this discernment in Judaism is the distinction between clean and unclean animals.
- Kashruth: The dietary laws governing what a person is permitted to eat and the specific methods of preparation.
- Acceptability: Certain animals and behaviors are deemed acceptable to God, while others are strictly prohibited.
The Nature of Sin: In a covenantal framework, the believer seeks to please God as a partner in the relationship. Consequently, sin is defined as that which displeases God or acts as a disruption to the relationship between the worshiper and the divine.

Eastern Perspectives on the Divine:
- Spiritual Evolution: Traditions in the East emphasize a process of spiritual evolution occurring over multiple lifetimes and reincarnations.
- Mechanisms: Evolution is achieved through various forms of work and the accumulation of karma.
- The Ultimate Goal: The objective is to evolve into higher spiritual states, leading to the eventual unity with the divine. This involves the dissolution of the human ego and individual consciousness back into the divine, of which we are always a part.
Western Perspectives on the Divine:
- Maintenance of Distinction: Unlike Eastern traditions, Western monotheistic covenantal religions (including their mystical branches in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) maintain a firm distinction between the category of the divine and the category of the human.
- Experience Over Unity: The emphasis is placed on the experience of God and the depth of the relationship rather than literal unity or merging with the divine.
- The Divide: Humans do not become divine because that category is exclusively occupied by God. Instead, the spiritual goal is for humans to know and relate closely to God.

Human-Animal Distinction: The Western tradition emphasizes a clear hierarchy between humans and other beings, which contrasts with the more fluid lines found in Eastern traditions.
- Eastern Equality: In Buddhism and Jainism, there is a sense of greater equality among all beings. Buddhists may bow to animals, recognizing "Buddha nature" within them. Hinduism views all beings on a continuum of spiritual evolution.
- Western Individualism: In the Hebrew scriptures, humans are granted a unique status as being created in the "image of God."
Duty and Privilege: Because humans are made in the image of God, they possess a unique duty and privilege not shared by the rest of the animal kingdom:
- Moral Accountability: Humans are held morally accountable to God.
- Relational Capability: Humans are uniquely capable of maintaining a deep spiritual relationship with the divine.
Divine Favor: While animals may be known and loved by God, they are considered a different class of being. They lack the specific capability to enjoy the deep spiritual relationship that characterizes human existence. Humans are the primary recipients of this special divine favor.