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Let’s bring back the Sabbath as an act against ‘total work’

aeon.co

11–20 of 285 posts

Re: Let’s bring back the Sabbath as an act against ‘total work’

#11

"The Sabbath’s radicalism should be no surprise given the fact that it originated among a community of former slaves" Just a reminder to readers, there is no historical evidence for the mass jewish enslavement by egyptians as described in the torah.

Isn't pretty much any historical text also historical evidence?

Maybe you mean archeological evidence, or corroberating historical evidence?

Re: Let’s bring back the Sabbath as an act against ‘total work’

#12

"The Sabbath’s radicalism should be no surprise given the fact that it originated among a community of former slaves" Just a reminder to readers, there is no historical evidence for the mass jewish enslavement by egyptians as described in the torah.

There is historical evidence for the Babylonian captivity. Most scholars date the final compilation of the Torah to after that time.

Re: Let’s bring back the Sabbath as an act against ‘total work’

#13

"The Sabbath’s radicalism should be no surprise given the fact that it originated among a community of former slaves" Just a reminder to readers, there is no historical evidence for the mass jewish enslavement by egyptians as described in the torah.

Isn't pretty much any historical text also historical evidence? Maybe you mean archeological evidence, or corroberating historical evidence?

Isn't pretty much any historical text also historical evidence?

No. People make up stories. Obviously. Harry potter isn't historical evidence of the magical abilities of past humans.

Re: Let’s bring back the Sabbath as an act against ‘total work’

#14

"The Sabbath’s radicalism should be no surprise given the fact that it originated among a community of former slaves" Just a reminder to readers, there is no historical evidence for the mass jewish enslavement by egyptians as described in the torah.

I'll tell you what there isn't any evidence for either

Re: Let’s bring back the Sabbath as an act against ‘total work’

#15

"The Sabbath’s radicalism should be no surprise given the fact that it originated among a community of former slaves" Just a reminder to readers, there is no historical evidence for the mass jewish enslavement by egyptians as described in the torah.

Isn't pretty much any historical text also historical evidence? Maybe you mean archeological evidence, or corroberating historical evidence?

It's also corroborated by the other Abrahamic texts from what I understand. Let's not just throw out historical sources because of a personal agenda. It's unscientific.

Re: Let’s bring back the Sabbath as an act against ‘total work’

#16
The article raises good points about the need for formal societal taboos against constant work. The ideal (often violated, though) in our modern society of the "40-hour week" as a reasonable amount is one of them. Having regular times for contemplation and separation from the bustle of the world is important.

The gig economy has dangers in it. There's a liberating aspect in that people "can choose their own hours," but then that means that they have to work more to keep up with someone else who is working a few extra hours to get ahead in their own lives. It seems like the world of labor has a tragedy of the commons aspect to it, where it's in everyone's immediate individual interest to work just a little bit longer, but the end result is that everyone has to work more for the same reward. A bit like the two-income trap: some benefits, some liberation, but there's also a cost.

I do wish, though, that the article fully grappled with the issue of the 'shabbos goy.' It praises the virtues of having everyone able to participate in a time of separation from work, but then there's this practice where the conveniences of life are still indulged in by having an outsider labor for you.

Re: Let’s bring back the Sabbath as an act against ‘total work’

#17

"The Sabbath’s radicalism should be no surprise given the fact that it originated among a community of former slaves" Just a reminder to readers, there is no historical evidence for the mass jewish enslavement by egyptians as described in the torah.

[flagged]

Re: Let’s bring back the Sabbath as an act against ‘total work’

#18
Kind of have this in Germany, where many businesses are prohibited from being open on Sunday. For example, grocery stores can't be open unless they're at a central train station or airport.

In practice, to me it just feels really annoying and limiting. Means I basically have to plan any larger shopping trips for Saturday, even if that doesn't work well for my schedule. I get that they want to make sure workers have enough time off, but you could mandate days off for each worker without banning Sunday for everyone.

Not to mention that it being Sunday very obviously favors Christianity over other religions that might have a different holy day. The integration of church and state here turned out to be more than expected.

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