thebigpicture
Active Member
We don't claim that there is only one right and correct way to understand or relate to God for everyone on earth. We only claim that Jews should follow Judaism.
Weve already covered this. And to reiterate, it doesnt make sense for there to be different rules for different people. It causes chaos.
First of all, I suppose that depends on how you interpret the Torah. Second of all, that depends on whether by "Torah" you include on the Written Torah, or the Oral Torah as well...since the two are really not supposed to be read as separate.
The Torah Im referring to is the original scriptures given to the Hebrews (otherwise known as the children of Israel) via Moses; hence, the Five Books of Moses. Anything beyond that could easily be seen as an appendage; pretty much like the New Testament is to the Old Testament. Either it was supposedly hidden all that time, or they just chose to leave it out for whatever reason, but whatever the excuse is its not included with the original scriptures we see in the bible. Therefore, when I said that what you described is not how god is depicted in the Torah, I'm referring to the five books of Moses. And yes, I know that the Torah also comes as a separate book from the bible. But its basically the same description of god as it is in the bible. And although all of it does leave room for different interpretations, the basic idea of how god is or should I say how he is described as being is pretty clear. And what you wrote doesn't fit that description.
Which would seem to argue for things being as they are, and not molded into uniform unanimity, since the former is what God has put into effect by creating us and interacting with us as He has done.
No, what I wrote reflects the complete opposite. The point I was making is that god would not be bored if everything were uniform.
The reason this world is so diverse in belief is not because god instructed it to be that way because he would be bored otherwise. Rather, it is that way because people have gone haywire with selling whatever they want to be the truth as being the truth. Everybody believes differently and goes by their own set of rules even within the same religion.
That depends on how one defines "on the same page." There are many traditional Jewish understandings of the perfected world or The World To Come that preserve elements of diversity and different understandings and differing opinions-- since those things are traditionally valued in our worldview and teachings.
When I say On the same page it means that everyone will exist according to the vision that the Creator sets forth and without any disagreements about that vision. There will be peace and harmony. One accord.
Judaism makes sense to me. And for the record Judaism tends to believe in "truths" not "Truth."
Truth, "truths"...either way, it needs to make sense. I don't doubt that Judaism makes sense to you. I just don't understand how it makes sense to you because there are so many things that dont make sense I could write an entire book about it. But, Ill just give a couple of examples starting with one of the foundations upon which the bible is based by asking you this: If you owned a company, would you hire your worst enemy to be the president of your company? And this is not just any enemy, this is an enemy that hates you the point of wanting to destroy you in every way. Would you hire that person to be the president of your company? Would that make sense? So why then would god (as he is stated in the bible) have his worst enemy (the devil) be his right hand, then kick him out only so he (the devil) could then, in turn, cause nothing but hell, destruction and damnation for the people of god whom god love so much?
Example 2... A High Priest is designated to make a sin offering and a sin atonement for the Israelites. How is he told to do it? He takes two goats. One goat he kills and sprinkles the blood all over a seat that is designated to be the seat of god, himself. Blood. Sprinkled...all over! The other goat, the high priest places his hands upon its head and proceeds to confess all the sins for all of the Israelites then sends that goat off (escorted by someone else) into the wilderness so that that goat effectively serves as the scapegoat for all of the sinners. So that story -- the story of Aaron sacrificing those goats -- somehow, this makes sense to you? That's what I don't understand. I just don't understand how things like this makes sense to you. There are just so many obvious fairy tales and contradictions, it's ridiculous. How do you look past all that as if it's not apparent? The irony of it all is that it is always emphasized that Judaism is so different from Christianity. But, I gotta say...those two goats are reminding me a lot of Jesus. Just saying.
Oh, one more question I have for you -- Do you believe that god created both good and evil?