04-07-2020, 06:49 PM
Sarah,
Great questions!
"Christianity claims that Jesus died for our sins and you need to accept Jesus in order to be redeemed from that original sin that we apparently all inherited. Is that correct, regarding the Christian interpretation?"
Although I'm not a Christian, I would have to believe the answer to this is yes, probably in almost all denominations.
"@searchinmyroots, What is the context for that verse? It sounds like a shift in view, so there was cursing and smiting going on before that - due to which reason?
I know (not in detail) about the stories of Sodom & Gomorrha and the flood, but I understood it as consequences to very tangible and manifest sins, with lots of opportunity to save yourself and/or better the (very real) behavior (that you yourself decided to cause). This is a theme that I find throughout what I have learned about Judaism so far - basically g-d reminding you that you have the tools to be decent, so please do so (or occasionally suffer the consequences). Are there any passages where g-d punishes for anything other than actual wrongdoings?"
If I'm not mistaken, it is referring to what is written in Genesis Chapter 6 -
11- Now the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth became full of robbery.
12- And God saw the earth, and behold it had become corrupted, for all flesh had corrupted its way on the earth.:
13 - And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth has become full of robbery because of them, and behold I am destroying them from the earth.
I 'm not sure of any passages where G-d punishes for anything other than actual wrongdoings.
"She cited multiple verses of how in Judaism sacrifices are still a thing. The passage you linked to suggests it is a misconception. It seems that there is that distinction between sacrifices for your current wrongdoings and for some general assumed apparently inherent evilness, which I now understand does not exist in Judaism."
Sacrifices can only take place when there is a Temple standing (although I think there is one case where an exception was made). So sacrifices aren't "still a thing". Ask her how the Jewish people were forgiven for their sins during the time between the 1st and 2nd Temples. There were many prophets of the bile who lived and wrote during that time. Daniel prayed 3 times a day. Why if he couldn't be forgiven without a sacrifice? There are many, many places in the Hebrew bible where it says you can be forgiven with prayer, repentance and charity. Plus, the sin sacrifice was only for unintentional sins as written in Leviticus.
Yes, sinning is a choice but we all do it. G-d in His infinite wisdom knew this, that is why He gave us ways to be forgiven. What sense does it make to give us ways to be forgiven if there is no way except through Jesus and if we are all born sinners? Why punish us for something that is out of our control if that's what they believe?
So yes, Judaism is so much more life affirming, affirming that people are humans and can fail, but always can better themselves, and that it just depends on their efforts, which are seen by g-d. And the reason is, that is what G-d intended as it is written in the Hebrew bible!
The end of Ecclesiastes I think sums it up quite well -
12:13 - The end of the matter, everything having been heard, fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the entire man.
14 - For every deed God will bring to judgment-for every hidden thing, whether good or bad.
What is it saying?
In my opinion -
The end of the matter - This is all that counts.
Everything having been heard - No matter what anyone else says, this is what G-d says.
Fear G-d and keep His commandments - Be in awe of G-d and respect His power. Keep (not that you must obey everything perfectly, you must hold onto them) His commandments.
For this is the entire man - Nothing else is required!
Verse 14 is pretty self explanatory!
What do you think?
Great questions!
"Christianity claims that Jesus died for our sins and you need to accept Jesus in order to be redeemed from that original sin that we apparently all inherited. Is that correct, regarding the Christian interpretation?"
Although I'm not a Christian, I would have to believe the answer to this is yes, probably in almost all denominations.
"@searchinmyroots, What is the context for that verse? It sounds like a shift in view, so there was cursing and smiting going on before that - due to which reason?
I know (not in detail) about the stories of Sodom & Gomorrha and the flood, but I understood it as consequences to very tangible and manifest sins, with lots of opportunity to save yourself and/or better the (very real) behavior (that you yourself decided to cause). This is a theme that I find throughout what I have learned about Judaism so far - basically g-d reminding you that you have the tools to be decent, so please do so (or occasionally suffer the consequences). Are there any passages where g-d punishes for anything other than actual wrongdoings?"
If I'm not mistaken, it is referring to what is written in Genesis Chapter 6 -
11- Now the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth became full of robbery.
12- And God saw the earth, and behold it had become corrupted, for all flesh had corrupted its way on the earth.:
13 - And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth has become full of robbery because of them, and behold I am destroying them from the earth.
I 'm not sure of any passages where G-d punishes for anything other than actual wrongdoings.
"She cited multiple verses of how in Judaism sacrifices are still a thing. The passage you linked to suggests it is a misconception. It seems that there is that distinction between sacrifices for your current wrongdoings and for some general assumed apparently inherent evilness, which I now understand does not exist in Judaism."
Sacrifices can only take place when there is a Temple standing (although I think there is one case where an exception was made). So sacrifices aren't "still a thing". Ask her how the Jewish people were forgiven for their sins during the time between the 1st and 2nd Temples. There were many prophets of the bile who lived and wrote during that time. Daniel prayed 3 times a day. Why if he couldn't be forgiven without a sacrifice? There are many, many places in the Hebrew bible where it says you can be forgiven with prayer, repentance and charity. Plus, the sin sacrifice was only for unintentional sins as written in Leviticus.
Yes, sinning is a choice but we all do it. G-d in His infinite wisdom knew this, that is why He gave us ways to be forgiven. What sense does it make to give us ways to be forgiven if there is no way except through Jesus and if we are all born sinners? Why punish us for something that is out of our control if that's what they believe?
So yes, Judaism is so much more life affirming, affirming that people are humans and can fail, but always can better themselves, and that it just depends on their efforts, which are seen by g-d. And the reason is, that is what G-d intended as it is written in the Hebrew bible!
The end of Ecclesiastes I think sums it up quite well -
12:13 - The end of the matter, everything having been heard, fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the entire man.
14 - For every deed God will bring to judgment-for every hidden thing, whether good or bad.
What is it saying?
In my opinion -
The end of the matter - This is all that counts.
Everything having been heard - No matter what anyone else says, this is what G-d says.
Fear G-d and keep His commandments - Be in awe of G-d and respect His power. Keep (not that you must obey everything perfectly, you must hold onto them) His commandments.
For this is the entire man - Nothing else is required!
Verse 14 is pretty self explanatory!
What do you think?