I mean, I can understand why it would be offputting. It's because I'm an outsider having an opinion on something that, in all likelihood, he feels I have no business having an opinion on. I understand the frustrating sense that I have no licence to have an opinion on how the Jewish religion's opinion on whatever matter should be.
It could be as offensive to me if someone here said, "Well, all Christians believe this, that, and the other thing." Like, in real life discussions that I've had with other Christians who tell me that Catholics aren't Christians because of XYZ. I would think to myself, "This person has no business telling me what MY OWN RELIGION believes. He is no authority, and he has unmitigated gall telling me what *I* believe."
But again, I didn't intend to make a declaration, I thought that I was just having a discussion with someone. That's how I meant for it to come across.
It wasn't my intention to barge in and make a determination "about Jewish scripture and Jewish law" as RabbiO said. I wasn't "laying down the law" or making a pronouncement like a king. I was just trying to have a friendly discussion. Hence the emojis and the more informal style of writing. I understand that as a Christian, I have no business telling a Jew what he or she should think. That isn't what I meant to come across in anything that I said.
The reason why I'm considering leaving isn't to do with me feeling unwelcome and more to do with the fact that I feel that I'm being disruptive. I worry that just about everything--even the most well-intentioned thing (especially concerning scripture)--is going to be read with a double-meaning under. Like, "He's a Christian, what's he REALLY saying?"
And then there's the opinion that I have no business commenting on Judaism at all, which is also understandable, but it was my sincere intention to have an informal discussion among friends rather than to cause an issue. I mean, maybe we just need the equivalent of a safety word--certain no go areas where people would feel uncomfortable with me speaking or commenting, at all.
It could be as offensive to me if someone here said, "Well, all Christians believe this, that, and the other thing." Like, in real life discussions that I've had with other Christians who tell me that Catholics aren't Christians because of XYZ. I would think to myself, "This person has no business telling me what MY OWN RELIGION believes. He is no authority, and he has unmitigated gall telling me what *I* believe."
But again, I didn't intend to make a declaration, I thought that I was just having a discussion with someone. That's how I meant for it to come across.
It wasn't my intention to barge in and make a determination "about Jewish scripture and Jewish law" as RabbiO said. I wasn't "laying down the law" or making a pronouncement like a king. I was just trying to have a friendly discussion. Hence the emojis and the more informal style of writing. I understand that as a Christian, I have no business telling a Jew what he or she should think. That isn't what I meant to come across in anything that I said.
The reason why I'm considering leaving isn't to do with me feeling unwelcome and more to do with the fact that I feel that I'm being disruptive. I worry that just about everything--even the most well-intentioned thing (especially concerning scripture)--is going to be read with a double-meaning under. Like, "He's a Christian, what's he REALLY saying?"
And then there's the opinion that I have no business commenting on Judaism at all, which is also understandable, but it was my sincere intention to have an informal discussion among friends rather than to cause an issue. I mean, maybe we just need the equivalent of a safety word--certain no go areas where people would feel uncomfortable with me speaking or commenting, at all.