tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23499413.post725215334790491283..comments2023-10-24T00:40:27.831-07:00Comments on Friar Yid: A Tzimmes in a TeapotFriar Yid (not Shlita)http://www.blogger.com/profile/10311439778319103094noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23499413.post-7402234711873523392012-02-02T10:25:55.342-08:002012-02-02T10:25:55.342-08:00Antigonos, excellent posting.
Although since we as...Antigonos, excellent posting.<br />Although since we as Jews don't believe in Satan, only in ha-satan, I think that's a bit over the top.<br />My attitude, personally to Christianity is that it's warmed-over paganism. Also contrary to the myth Christians trumpet, our concept of Hashem is waaay more merciful than their man-god. <br />Regards, Dave.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23499413.post-48093541861212401072012-01-30T00:45:52.889-08:002012-01-30T00:45:52.889-08:00Still, while my opinions about Christian theology ...Still, while my opinions about Christian theology aren't terribly favorable, I should add that I think the Jewish community would do well to invest time in continuing to build bridges between it and other faiths. However I don't think those connections need to be based on Jesus specifically. I think there are enough common values between those communities that the focus can be on pursuing good works together, not necessarily hashing out points of theology.Friar Yidhttp://friaryid.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23499413.post-24555284346074930372012-01-29T22:08:53.308-08:002012-01-29T22:08:53.308-08:00Antigonos- Quite right about the unreliability of ...Antigonos- Quite right about the unreliability of the Gospels. If anything, part of what I find so odd/intriguing about the composite Gospel view of Jesus is that considering how many hands were involved in writing and editing them, they <i>still</i> make him come off as so inchoate. At least in Judaism traditionalists have the tradition that it all came from God. Christianity explicitly acknowledges that the New Testament was written by human authors, albeit divinely inspired. If I was going to write or edit a text about my divinely incarnated God, I personally would try to do a better job.Friar Yid (not Shlita)https://www.blogger.com/profile/10311439778319103094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23499413.post-61440187173842404322012-01-29T22:04:10.720-08:002012-01-29T22:04:10.720-08:00I have very little time for anyone who is an adult...I have very little time for anyone who is an adult with the name "Shmuley", frankly. It is a child's diminuitive. That's for starters.<br /><br />Secondly, we know nothing of the "historical Jesus". The Gospels were written two generations [at least] after Jesus lived and were written to fulfil an agenda of a cult already dramatically distinct from Judaism. IMO, they are worthless, contradictory, and often display a great ignorance of contemporary Judaism. Jesus made absolutely no stir during his lifetime -- in fact, we have no contemporary evidence he even lived, but I suppose he probably did. We know more about the life of Shabbatai Tzvi, about whom there are many contemporary accounts even though he wrote nothing himself. The cult he spawned had nothing to do with him; it was entirely the work of Nathan of Gaza, Shabbatai's apologist, yet it was strong enough to survive until very recently. Both Jesus and Shabbatai lived at times of great religious ferment, when the "End Time" was supposed to be close, btw.<br /><br />Jesus, as a cult figure, is merely paganism reconstituted, with a dash of Jewish ethics thrown in. Jews saw this very quickly, and so the second and third generation publicists of Jesus' supposed divinity had to look for a new population to recruit, and found them in the pagan Roman world. Jesus, as a person, has no relevance to the religion his adherents created, and he is entirely unimportant. While I don't think Jews can ignore Christianity; they can certainly ignore Jesus.<br /><br />Christianity is built on a lie -- that God behaves like a human being, has a son with some sort of supranormal powers. This is classical paganism. [Say that to a Christian and you will be told that what differentiates paganism from Christianity is a Mystery". It certainly is] It isn't, as Christians would like to believe, the "completion" of Judaism, it is the negation of Judaism. If one of Satan's titles is "The Father of Lies", it follows that Christianity is really Satanic. I think its history, especially in relation to us, bears this out, but then, I'm prejudiced.<br /><br />AntigonosAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com