Is Religion Just a Crutch? Why Needing God Might Actually Make You Stronger

Rabbi Aron Moss, rabbi of the Nefesh community located in the heart of Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, was once asked: “Isn’t religion just a crutch? Can’t you manage life on your own?”
His reply, characteristically sharp and original, reflected deep insight and thinking outside the box:

“You’re right,” Rabbi Moss agreed. “Religion is a crutch. It’s a sign of human weakness. And to be honest, religion is not my only crutch. The truth is, I’m so weak that I need a whole range of crutches just to get by and function in life.

“I need food,” he explained. “As embarrassing as it is to admit, I’m completely dependent on eating. Without food, I’d probably lack the energy to do just about anything. My body can’t sustain itself without help from the outside. So I eat.

“I also need emotional support,” he continued. “I need other people. Without the encouragement of my family and friends, I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today. And while we’re being honest, I’m also quite dependent on my shoes. My feet would hurt a lot without them.

“Humans are fragile beings,” Rabbi Moss elaborated. “We can’t survive entirely on our own without relying on others. We are dependent on external resources for survival. We need food. We need love. We need shoes. And I thank God every day for my food, for my family, and for the shoes on my feet.

“But above all,” he concluded, “I thank Him for giving my life purpose and meaning. Just as I can’t nourish my body without looking beyond myself, I can’t give my life true meaning without reaching beyond myself.

“Maybe that makes me weak,” he added, “but I believe it actually makes me stronger. Because even if I’m hungry, lonely, or barefoot — if I have divine purpose, I can face any challenge that comes my way.”