Searching for Truth: Separating Light from Darkness in Religious Texts
Introduction: Truth Above Dogma
Truth is not tied to emotions, tradition, or religious affiliation—it is discovered through logic, facts, and consistent analysis. All religious scriptures have passed through human hands and contain a mixture of light and darkness. Our goal is not blind acceptance of religious dogmas but searching for truth through reason.
In this lesson, we explore how to approach religious texts without bias and how to recognize when certain doctrines were introduced later, as demonstrated in the case of Yom Kippur.
1. Principles of Logical Truth-Seeking
How do we recognize truth in texts that have undergone centuries of modifications? Several key principles guide us:
✅ The Creator as the Absolute Sovereign
If there is a supreme being, it cannot have rivals or lose control over the world. The concept of dualism, where "evil" operates independently from the Creator, is illogical.
✅ Everything Exists by the Creator’s Knowledge and Permission
If contradictions exist among religious texts, they are not accidental—they are a test of human intellect.
✅ No Human Book Is Perfect
All scriptures have been modified throughout history, whether through copying errors, rabbinical or priestly reinterpretations. Therefore, we must seek the original principles within them.
✅ Truth is Not in a Single Text but in Recognizing the Light Within Many
There is no single “perfect” scripture, but traces of truth are repeated across different revelations. The task of a seeker is to identify them.
2. Case Study: The Evolution of Yom Kippur
One clear example of later religious modifications is the case of Yom Kippur, where we have uncovered the following:
🔎 Yom Kippur, in its modern form, is not part of the original Mosaic Torah
The Torah mentions "Yom HaKippurim" (plural – "Day of Atonements") in Leviticus 16:29–31, 23:27–32, and Numbers 29:7–11.
This was a Temple-based ritual, not an individual day of fasting and prayers.
The central ceremony involved two goats, one sacrificed and the other sent into the wilderness.
🔎 The Prophets Do Not Mention Yom Kippur
Ezekiel 45:18-25 describes a Temple purification ritual but places it on the first month (Nisan), not Tishri.
1 Kings 8:65-66 records a two-week-long festival for the dedication of Solomon’s Temple without mentioning Yom Kippur, even though it should have fallen within that period.
Ezra 3:1-7 and Nehemiah 8:2, 9-18 detail the restoration of Jewish religious practices, mentioning Sukkot and Rosh Hashanah, yet Yom Kippur is absent.
🔎 The Original Text Does Not Command Fasting
The phrase te’anu et nafshotekhem (Leviticus 16:29) is often translated as "afflict your souls", justifying fasting.
However, the correct translation is "act as your ancestors were afflicted in Egypt", which does not imply fasting.
Only later did rabbis redefine the word "affliction" to mean abstaining from food, drink, washing, and other pleasures.
🔎 Yom Kippur Became an Individual Day of Atonement Only After the Second Temple Was Destroyed (70 CE)
During the Temple period, Yom HaKippurim was a collective event conducted by the High Priest.
After the Temple’s destruction, rabbis reinvented the holiday, since sacrifices were no longer possible.
This demonstrates how religious concepts evolve based on historical circumstances.
🔎 Rabbinic Reinterpretation – Modifications in the Talmud
The Talmud (Tractate Yoma) extensively details Yom Kippur, emphasizing fasting and prayer.
These instructions are not from Moses’ Torah but later additions.
It is evident that rabbinic Judaism transformed Yom Kippur into its modern form.
3. Conclusion: The Test of Reason in Religious Texts
This case clearly illustrates how religions evolve over time and how original practices are altered:
📌 Yom Kippur, in its current form, is not part of the original Torah—it was a Temple-centered ritual later turned into personal fasting and prayer.
📌 The Prophets do not mention it, meaning it was not significant throughout most of biblical history.
📌 Rabbis redefined it after the Temple’s destruction, proving human intervention in religious laws.
📌 The key lesson—if such a fundamental concept can change over time, how many other religious dogmas might not have an original divine basis?
How Should We Approach Religious Texts?
🔎 Investigate Without Bias – Do not take religious claims at face value.
🔎 Compare Different Sources – Examining various versions of texts can expose modifications.
🔎 Think Logically – If something cannot be true in all times and circumstances, it is likely a human addition rather than a divine command.
