For me, the section on abortion was intriguing in that the groups or opposing sides of the argument are able to draw seemingly strong evidence from the Bible when truly, much has to be extrapolated from the passages to see in them any stance at all. It is amazing how deftly supporters interpret, and in my opinion manipulate what the Bible says for it to be in accordance with their belief. It doesn't really make sense to me that the Bible would have and opinion at all on abortion because it simply did not happen very often during the time the Bible was written. During those times, land was plenty and there was always room to expand; nobody was thinking about overpopulation. Children also sometimes did become wanderers or homeless, but this was not unusual and from my view of the time, it would be pretty easy to find work. It seems there was no reason for an abortion. More frequently occurring were miscarriages, and this is where I see the only real argument from either side:
"If a man begets a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but he does not enjoy life's good things, and also has no burial, I say that an untimely birth is better off than he."
This quote appeals to me because it states that if a man does not enjoy and love life, he has not really lived at all, and a miscarried child is better off for at least he cant say he ever had the chance.
2) What does Jacobs mean / what is the larger context when Jacobs refers to the circumcision ceremony for his son and says "It's my heritage's crazy, irrational ritual. So maybe I shouldn't dismiss it."
I think that Jacobs is referring to something that comes up a lot in the bible. It is the mindset of: 'we don't know why we do this, but our God tells us to, and our ancestors have always done it, so we shall too.' Jacobs doesn't really understand the true practical reasoning behind circumcision, but thinks it is a matter of faith to perform it. Really, when you think about it, the reason for such a ritual doesn't really matter, the real function being to unite the Jewish people.
3) In reference to Leviticus 19:18 "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" why do you think Jacobs was advised that "pretending to be better than you are is better than nothing."
I think that the point of Leviticus 19:18 is not as much to make someone be entirely selfless in life, and truly want to help their neighbors, but more just to make people be nice. Of course, it might be better to truly want to help your neighbor, but really there is no difference to the neighbor if you do or not.
4) Jacobs has a religious experience that lasts 10 seconds, but was worth the year. Describe what you think the "experience" was (not just what he was doing, but what was "religious" about it).
Jacobs is at his nieces Bat Mitzvah, and finally has the experience he had been waiting for all year. He had been waiting to feel religious since his first experience with religion, however, he had been holding back partly because he was afraid of what would happen if he just gave himself to god. At this moment, he finally surrenders himself to religion and faith and accepts that he is part of something bigger and better than himself.
5) What do you think was the most significant or important aspect of Jacobs year?
I think the coolest part of Jacobs is year is that he goes into writing this book as a cynic, and he originally thought he was going to be showing how ridiculous the bible's laws are and how crazy it is to take it seriously. In the end however, he realizes why these laws are so crazy and is actually religious himself.
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