Judaism & Visions (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B) : Revision Note

What are visions?

• Visions are experiences where individuals believe they see or hear something spiritual or divine

• Often the vision has a message or purpose

• They are seen as a form of special revelation, where God communicates directly with people

• There are several different types of visions

  • Objective Visions are where the person believes they are seeing something external to themselves, like the physical appearance of a divine figure or angel

  • Subjective Visions are Internal experiences, such as a sense of God's presence or a personal message, not seen physically but felt deeply

Why are visions important in Judaism?

• In Judaism, visions are important because they are seen as a way for God to communicate with individuals, particularly prophets

• Visions are one of the main ways God reveals his will and guidance to prophets and important messengers, like Moses, Isaiah, and Ezekiel

• Visions often show God's plans for the future, such as how to live a righteous life according to God's commandments

• For the Jewish people, visions confirm that God is active and involved in their lives, helping them trust in his presence and guidance

• Visions often provide teachings that help Jews:

  • live better lives

  • follow God's laws,

  • stay faithful to their covenant with God

Examples of visions in Jewish teachings

• There are many examples of Visions within Jewish scripture

  • In Genesis 15, Abraham has a vision where God promises him many descendants and the land of Canaan

    • This vision is important because it is the establishment of the covenant between God and Abraham, which is an important event for the Jewish people

  • Jacob has a dream (often considered a vision) where he sees a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, with angels going up and down

    • This vision reaffirms God's covenant with Jacob, who is later renamed Israel

IMAGE REQUIRED

Note to illustrator - Please can we find or recreate an image that relates to ‘Jacobs Ladder’ 

• Moses sees a vision of a bush that is on fire but not burning up, and God speaks to Moses from the bush, calling him to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt

  • This vision is crucial because it marks the beginning of Moses' mission as a prophet and leader of the Jewish people

• The prophet Ezekiel has a dramatic vision of divine glory, seeing a chariot-like throne with four living creatures and wheels within wheels

  • This vision is symbolic of God’s power and presence, and it shows God's transcendence

• The prophet Isaiah has a vision of God sitting on a throne, surrounded by seraphim 

  • This vision marks Isaiah’s call to be a prophet and conveys the holiness of God

Humanist and Atheist views about visions

• Humanists and Atheists will have many different views about visions compared to religious believers

• Humanists do not believe in the supernatural and so would not believe that visions are divine or supernatural

  • They think that visions are simply psychological experiences or dreams, influenced by a person’s thoughts, feelings, or culture

  • Humanists value human reasoning and evidence-based understanding of the world, rather than seeing visions as messages from God

• Atheists do not believe in the existence of God, so they would not view visions in Judaism as divine communication

  • They might explain visions as the result of natural psychological processes, like imagination, stress, or brain activity

  • Atheists often view religious visions as human-made stories or symbolic messages rather than literal encounters with a divine being

Jewish responses to Humanist views

• Jews believe that visions are a way God communicates with people

• They might argue that while Humanists see visions as psychological, Jews see them as real experiences of God that carry important truths

  • Jewish responses would highlight that faith in God includes accepting divine revelations, which are beyond purely rational or scientific explanations

Jewish responses to Atheist views

• Jews would disagree with Atheists' rejection of God

• They would argue that visions are part of the relationship with the Almighty, revealing his will and presence in the world

  • Jews believe that visions, like those in the Torah, are more than just human imagination

  • They hold deep spiritual and moral meanings that guide people’s faith and actions

What do visions show about the nature of God?

• Visions teach Jewish people a lot about the nature of God

• Visions show that God is a transcendent being and is beyond human understanding

  • For example, in the visions of Ezekiel and Isaiah, God’s presence is shown as overwhelming and majestic, beyond what humans can fully understand

• Visions demonstrate to the Jewish people that God is personal and involved

  • Many visions, like those of Moses and Jacob, show that God communicates directly with people, guiding and protecting them

• Visions show that God is omnipotent and sovereign

  • For example, in the vision of Jacob’s ladder or Moses at the burning bush, God reveals his authority over all creation

• Visions often result in divine commandments or moral guidance

In Genesis 15 and Exodus 3, God gives instructions that shape the ethical and spiritual life of the Jewish people