In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we talk to author Shmuel Phillips about the upsides and downsides of approaching Judaism rationally.

Shmuel grew up debating religion, always thinking about why he practiced Judaism as he did. While many people practice Judaism because it’s what they grew up with, Shmuel believes that people could give more grounding to their faith. To that end, he authored a book, Judaism Reclaimed, where he explores the modern issues of Judaism in a traditional Orthodox framework.

- How can one reconcile the Torah with the morality and science of the modern day?
- How much should rationality factor into one’s religious experience?
- How can rationality and an experiential relationship with Hashem complement each other?

Tune in to hear a conversation about Judaism in the modern day.

For more, visit https://18forty.org/rational/.

References:
Forgive Us, Father-in-Law, For We Know Not What To Think by Rabbi Shalom Carmy
https://www.amazon.com/Forgive-Father-Law-Know-Think/dp/9657324009
My Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer by Christian Wiman
https://www.amazon.com/My-Bright-Abyss-Meditation-Believer/dp/0374534373
Judaism Reclaimed: Philosophy and Theology in the Torah by Rabbi Shmuel Phillips
https://www.amazon.com/Judaism-Reclaimed-Philosophy-Theology-Torah/dp/1946351784
Ani Maamin by Joshua Berman
https://www.amazon.com/Ani-Maamin-Criticism-Historical-Principles/dp/1592645380

Shmuel is an author and Torah scholar based in Jerusalem. Shmuel holds a law degree, and spent two decades studying Torah in Yeshiva and Kollel. Over this time, he wrote an analysis of some of the greatest challenges and opportunities of traditional faith in the contemporary era, Judaism Reclaimed: Philosophy and Theology in the Torah.

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