The greatest threat to a democracy is not disagreement. It is the moment disagreement becomes impossible.

History has shown that nations rarely collapse because every citizen held a different opinion. More often, they falter when a single narrative becomes so dominant that questioning it is treated as betrayal rather than civic responsibility.

The Hebrew Bible repeatedly warns against confusing certainty with wisdom.

One of its most foundational figures is Abraham (a.s) . Before he was the father of nations, he was a man who refused to mistake inheritance for truth. In a world saturated with idols and unquestioned assumptions, Abraham (a.s.) does something radical: he asks questions.

According to Jewish tradition, he looked at the world around him and refused to accept inherited explanations simply because they had been inherited. He challenged the gods of his time not through force, but through reason.

The Qur’an captures this same spirit in a single question Abraham (a.s.) poses to his people:

“What are these statues to which you are devoted?” (Qur’an 21:52)

It is one of the simplest questions ever asked.

The essence of the story is exactly the same in the Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 38:13).

It is also one of the most dangerous.

Abraham (a.s.)  is not merely asking about carved idols. He is asking why people surrender their reason to inherited certainty. Why do we devote ourselves to ideas simply because everyone around us does? Why do we mistake tradition, popularity or power for truth?

And science is based on exactly this endeavour. To question the assumptions and methods and conclusions of those who came before us. We expand on them if sound, or reject and revise if unsound.

Every generation has its statues.

Some........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)