"Is Religion a Crutch for the Weak?" Prepare to be Surprised by This Answer

"Is religion a crutch for the weak?" Rabbi Aaron Moss was asked. "Can't you manage on your own in life?" Rabbi Moss, the rabbi of the 'Nefesh' community located in the heart of the Bondi Beach area, Sydney, Australia, responded with the following witty and unique answer, characterized by outside-the-box thinking.

"You're right," agrees Rabbi Moss. "Indeed, religion is a crutch, a sign of human weakness. And to be honest, religion isn't the only crutch. The truth is, I am so weak that I need a whole range of crutches on which to lean, and with their help, I continue to function.

"I need food," explains Rabbi Moss. "As embarrassing as it is to admit, I am entirely dependent on eating. Without food, I probably wouldn't have the strength to do almost anything. My body does not nourish itself but needs outside assistance. That's why I eat.

"I also need emotional support," continues Rabbi Moss. "I need other people. Without the support of my family and friends, there is no doubt that I wouldn't be where I am today. And for that matter, I am quite dependent on my shoes. My feet would hurt greatly without them.

"Humans are fragile beings," Rabbi Moss illustrates. "We are incapable of living entirely on our own without needing anyone else. We are dependent on external resources to survive. We need food, we need to be loved, and we need shoes. I thank Hashem every day for giving me food, family, and shoes for my feet.

"But above all, I thank Him for giving my life purpose and meaning. Just as I am unable to nourish myself without external help, I cannot give my life real meaning without looking beyond myself," Rabbi Moss explains, noting, "This might make me weak, but I believe it actually gives me strength. Even if I am hungry, lonely, or barefoot, as long as I have a divine purpose, I will be able to handle any challenge that comes my way."

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For more answers from Rabbi Aaron Moss, click here.