How do you convince a teen that Judaism is the true religion

amother

Wed, May 09 2007, 8:47 am

and there's a G-d watching our every move?

Seraph

Wed, May 09 2007, 9:39 am

Ya can't. You can compare judaism to other religions and show how judaism is MORE truthful than the others... but faith is called faith for a reason. You can't use science to prove torah.

But generally if a teen has issues, its deeper than just "I don't beleive."

amother

Wed, May 09 2007, 9:46 am

Send them to aish or discovery.

Motek

Thu, May 10 2007, 1:52 pm

Are you talking about a teen from a religious home or not?

In any case, Jews are maaminim bnei maaminim (believers, children of believers). You work with that premise in mind.

As for the true religion - if they believe that George Washington was a real person and that he was the first president of the US, simply because it says so in history books, then believing in G-d and Judaism and all that entails is far more compelling. Millions of Jews were at Sinai at Mattan Torah, and conveyed what happened to their descendents in an unbroken chain till today.

Nicole

Thu, May 10 2007, 2:02 pm

There's a fantastic tape out, I beleive it's Rabbi Mechanic called "Why be Jewish" Again, it doesn't neccessarily prove JUDIASM is correct, it proves that the other religions are incorrect. Looking at the wonders of science you realize that there must be a creator, a master plan. There's no other way to explain it.

amother

Thu, May 10 2007, 7:31 pm

u just be a good example/

TzenaRena

Thu, May 10 2007, 7:46 pm

There's a new sefer out (in English Smile

) , that adresses just these questions, from KolMenachem, the ones who put out the Gutnick Chumash. It's compiled and edited by Rabbi Chaim Miller, and goes through many such issues and questions, and what the Lubavitcher Rebbe said on them, answered them. It was advertised on shmais, and I clicked on it. You can probably still find it there.

Here's some updated info from a flyer that I got.

WHAT EVERY JEW NEEDS TO KNOW!

An accessible guide to the Rebbe's teachings on the foundations of our faith

This volume addresses our belief in the Torah, including:

It is part of a new series on the thirteen principles of Faith of the RamBAM, and the subject of this current volume is principles VIII and IX

"with an anthology of commentaries from the Talmud, Midrash, Rishonim and Achronim, and elucidation from the works of the Lubavitcher Rebbe."

Available at Judaica stores worldwide, or directly from www.kolmenachem.com
orders@kolmenachem.com
To order call 1.888.580.1900
or 718.951.6328.
fax 718.953.3346
there are email addresses and phone numbers for England, Europe, Australia, south Africa, Israel.

Motek

Thu, Aug 09 2007, 1:31 pm

remember this thread?

I wonder why this one ended so fast while the new thread, on the same topic, is 5 pages long!

see Best way to answer a teen about H's existence?