This is kind of the feeling I get between the two. To me right now they're are only two scenarios....
1) God was on a learning process himself through the old testament. This can be seen as to how we worship him...we no longer use crude methods such as sacrificing animals.
God in a learning process? This sounds similar to what the Mormons believe of a god that is basically an over-achieving once-human. ...This (and Christianity) is another example of an anthropomorphic god.
Yet, in the context of Judaism, God is not a "thing" in such a sense that it could, would or does evolve. Here are two examples.
1. Excerpt from the
"Maimonides' Principles: The Fundamentals of Jewish Faith" by Aryeh Kaplan
The Third Principle of Judaism: I believe with perfect faith that God does not have a body. Physical concepts do not apply to Him. There is nothing whatsoever that resembles Him at all.
Yigdal
He does not have bodily form, he is not a body.
He is beyond compare in His holiness.
Commentary on Misnah
The third principle is that God is totally nonphysical.
We believe that this Unity [which we call God] is not a body or a physical force.
Nothing associated with the physical can apply to Him in any way.
We thus cannot say that God moves, rests, or exists in a given place.
Things such as this can neither happen to Him, nor be part of His intrinsic nature.
2. From Gnostic texts:
This is not and should not be considered Jewish thought, but it's something similar...Excerpt from
“The Secret Book of John” from a compiled text called
“The Secret Teachings of Jesus: Four Gnostic Gospels” translated by Marvin W. Meyer
It is illimitable, since there is nothing
before it to limit it.
It is unfathomable, since there is nothing
before it to fathom it.
It is immeasurable, since there was nothing
before it to measure it.
It is unobservable, since nothing has
observed it.
It is eternal, and exists eternally.
It is unutterable, since nothing could
comprehend it to utter it.
It is unnameable, since there is nothing
before it to give it a name.
It is neither corporeal nor incorporeal.
It is neither large nor small.
It is impossible to say,
‘How much is it?’
or ‘What kind is it?’
for no one can understand it.
Forgive me but I am not very up on Judaism...."The Old Testament" and "The Torah" are one in the same, no?
The Torah consists of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy. The Tanach contains the Torah plus the Jewish writings and the prophets.
Also if this be the case its not really hard to understand why Christianity and Judaism contradict each other in many ways. Time changes all things ( finite that is ), so its not surprising that we have abandoned the practise. It is outdated ideology.
What is "outdated ideology"?
Lastly, correct me if I'm wrong but your saying has never been?!
Can you rephrase that question?
Just a figment of the Roman Empire's imagination.....I don't really wish to delve into this last point too much as it is way off but I would love to hear your views on another thread.
darnell
another thread? sure
ADDITION: The Gnostics often believe that the "God of the Old Testament" was the equivalent of the demiurge. Maybe that is where you are coming up with the idea that "God was in a learning process through the Old Testament."
