I recently made an incorrect statement/question in class asking the professor “why is it that contacting the dead is frowned upon by both Judaism and Islam since there is nothing stated against it in the Quran or Torah.” Once I re-read the article by Fred Astren, (Depaganizing Death: Aspects of Mourning in Rabbinic Judaism and Early Islam) I understood why my question was completely misguided. First off questioning whether or not this issue would be in the holy writings is irrelevant. As we have discussed in class and prevalent in our readings it is clear that there is a disparity between the formal religion and that of folk and lived religion. Regardless that the writings may have or have not mentioned contacting the dead is detrimental doesn’t mean individuals who are faithful will follow such beliefs.
I was looking at this question wrong at the beginning for I continually focused on the aspect that I did not see the correlation between contacting the dead and overstepping God’s power. The issue wasn’t that people were overstepping God more so the issue that in both religions they “emphasize correct practice” (Reeves, 183) Both Islam and Judaism being monotheistic religions strived to completely steer away from the original animistic religion Paganism. They saw Paganism as this ancient and obscene way of perceiving the world. They did this by putting much importance into order and rules thus creating a boundary between monotheism and Paganism. Through the creation of Shari’ah law in Islam and the Halakah in Judaism resulted in a major wall between the “acceptable and the reprehensible” (Reeves, 183)
In addition, as specifically stated by the readings “…attributing to the dead power or honor or seeking some type of communion with the departed are ways of belief and behavior that are to be reserved solely for God. ” Both religions do state that one shall not overstep God regardless that this is not followed in lived religion. I find it Ironic that monotheistic religions would fight so hard to shun Paganism while adapting some of their beliefs as customs.
