why abrahamic religions?

[Tumah]

Do we really need to go down this road again?

A German, Wilhelm Marr, who hated Jews and lived in the late 19th century, invented the term anti-semitism as a more scientific term for Jew hatred. The meaning he gave it is the normative meaning it acquired.

I'm sorry, is 12,983,750,923,759,283,587 times, too much for your poor mind to handle?

 

[brokensymmetry]

I did not get that impression from the OP. You asked:

​

That very much seems like you are soliciting generalizations/overviews rather than personal testimonies.

It does, you are right. I suppose I realized that I was more interested in why individuals were observing certain religious traditions only as the thread progressed.

I assumed potential discomfort when it was mentioned how it is a personal question.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

It does, you are right. I suppose I realized that I was more interested in why individuals were observing certain religious traditions only as the thread progressed.

I assumed potential discomfort when it was mentioned how it is a personal question.

Fair enough …

How would you answer your question?

 

[brokensymmetry]

Fair enough …

How would you answer your question?

I, in all truth, have no idea why I would/do (inasmuch as I actually do). That is my motivation for asking these sorts of questions of others. That and hopefully there is an interesting exchange.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

As for Judaism: a Rabbi once told me that Judaism is a corporate religion, dealing far more with social responsibility than with personal salvation. I've always appreciated that observation - particularly as it differentiates between Judaism (and Islam) and Christianity.

I suspect - but do not know - that one of the motive forces behind Christianity is alienation.

As you might imagine, I find the Judeo-Christian classification wholly unhelpful.

 

[brokensymmetry]

As for Judaism: a Rabbi once told me that Judaism is a corporate religion, dealing far more with social responsibility than with personal salvation. I've always appreciated that observation - particularly as it differentiates between Judaism (and Islam) and Christianity.

I suspect - but do not know - that one of the motive forces behind Christianity is alienation.

As you might imagine, I find the Judeo-Christian classification wholly unhelpful.

This is an interesting observation. It seems that some Christian groups may be more corporate than others but it is true the end unit of meaning in Christianity is the individual and God. That could either be alienating in a negative sense or freeing, depending on perspective. I think I have found it a bit disquieting.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

This is an interesting observation. It seems that some Christian groups may be more corporate than others but it is true the end unit of meaning in Christianity is the individual and God. That could either be alienating in a negative sense or freeing, depending on perspective. I think I have found it a bit disquieting.

I don't think it's alienating. Rather, I simply think alienation and its more extreme kin drive people towards theologies that offer people some level of comfort. (I am also aware that this is a gross simplification.)

 

[brokensymmetry]

I don't think it's alienating. Rather, I simply think alienation and its more extreme kin drive people towards theologies that offer people some level of comfort. (I am also aware that this is a gross simplification.)

Interesting. But in that case, any of these traditions could potentially offer comfort for alienated individuals? I don't see how Christianity would be unique in that regard.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I'm looking to Judaism to guide me, not save me. I have zero expectation of prayers being answered, punishment being suffered, or rewards being received.

 

[brokensymmetry]

I'm looking to Judaism to guide me, not save me. I have zero expectation of prayers being answered, punishment being suffered, or rewards being received.

So when you bring up alienation as a motivating factor in people embracing Christianity, do you have in mind that they will have their rewards in heaven, even if they have less than spectacular and fulfilling lives now? They are rewarded, others punished etc.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

In small part, although I think heaven and hell are much more of a post biblical attempt to address the Problem of Evil.

 

[Tumah]

So when you bring up alienation as a motivating factor in people embracing Christianity, do you have in mind that they will have their rewards in heaven, even if they have less than spectacular and fulfilling lives now? They are rewarded, others punished etc.

In small part, although I think heaven and hell are much more of a post biblical attempt to address the Problem of Evil.

I kind of get the feeling the two of you are not on the same page.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I kind of get the feeling the two of you are not on the same page.

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Alright, so I think the first part is certainly true. What about the core narratives is so compelling? Thoughts on this?

For example:

this​

 

[Pastek]

In most Muslim countries, you aren't allowed to become anything: apostasy is punishable by death. There are pagan ex-Muslims in the Near East, both Wiccans and Canaanite Reconstructionists, but they keep their beliefs very secret. What happens if they don't can be read here:
In Memory: Yana | PNC-Minnesota Bureau

That's interesting, never heard of that.

 

[brokensymmetry]

For example:

this​

Thanks for the link. Checking it out.

 

[Godobeyer]

Do we really need to go down this road again?

A German, Wilhelm Marr, who hated Jews and lived in the late 19th century, invented the term anti-semitism as a more scientific term for Jew hatred. The meaning he gave it is the normative meaning it acquired.

thanks for this info RabbiO


so grace to Wilhelm Marr the meaning of semitics , incline to mention ONLY to jewish suffiring .

so the anti-semitism could be anti-jews , and anti-judiasm ?

NOT anti-arabs ...etc

so the definition of semtics : Jews , Aramaics , Arabs

but anti-semtic , it's about JUST Jews hated !

my last question :

if some hate the teaching of judiasm but did not hate the jews , accused by anti-semitics ?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

so the definition of semtics : Jews , Aramaics , Arabs

but anti-semtic , it's about JUST Jews hated !

Yep. :yes:

if some hate the teaching of judiasm but did not hate the jews , accused by anti-semitics ?

That would much depend on which teachings and why.

 

[loverOfTruth]

At the risk of being repetitive I will post this. I am attempting to vocalize an inquiry I'm still trying to pinpoint so I appreciate anyone willing to dialog with me.

So let me ask this. Why an Abrahamic faith at all? I mean, if you look at the generalized natural theology type of arguments for God's existence, it's a long leap from something like an argument from contingency to God spoke to Abraham and made a chosen nation from him. So what do you think the primary reason is there are so many people who follow an "Abrahamic religion" in the world?

I think because of Divine Revelation (the Holy Books)... it actually makes sense.

If God created us and placed us on this earth, there must be a purpose behind it. For example, look within us humans - we create something to serve us. So similarly God created us to serve/worship Him. Now, if He wants us to serve/worship Him, He must not leave us without guidance as to how to do that. Can God seriously create us for a purpose and then leave us without guidance on the most important aspect of our existence, which is our reason for being ? Any rational/logical person wouldn't think so. So that guidance is the 'Revelation'.

I just posted related to that in a different thread here :
http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/3721558-post13.html

Peace.

 

[brokensymmetry]

I think because of Divine Revelation (the Holy Books)... it actually makes sense.

If God created us and placed us on this earth, there must be a purpose behind it. For example, look within us humans - we create something to serve us. So similarly God created us to serve/worship Him. Now, if He wants us to serve/worship Him, He must not leave us without guidance as to how to do that. Can God seriously create us for a purpose and then leave us without guidance on the most important aspect of our existence, which is our reason for being ? Any rational/logical person wouldn't think so. So that guidance is the 'Revelation'.

I just posted related to that in a different thread here :
http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/3721558-post13.html

Peace.

It seems pretty strange to me that God would wait many thousands of years since humans are around to send a prophet of any sort to just a small group of people and then slowly diffuse that knowledge to a subset of the population. How is that effective guidance? I realize such a claim by me, a somewhat Christian may seem hypocritical. Perhaps it is. But it is certainly I question about Christianity and Islam, and any other religion which has some messenger in a particular historical time and place demanding that the rest of humanity follow a singular exclusive path. I just do not find this line of reasoning very convincing.