Losing my religion: Why I realised that I could no longer fake a tribal attachment to

[royalscot]

[h=1]Losing my religion: Why I realised that I could no longer fake a tribal attachment to Judaism[/h]

Losing my religion: Why I realised that I could no longer fake a tribal attachment to Judaism - Comment - Voices - The Independent


Religious people have their Damascene moments, but atheists often have only the vaguest recollection of the point at which the scales dropped from their eyes. Me, I can trace my disbelief in God back to two distinct childhood memories. To understand those events in context, you’ll need a little bit of background.


There are, precisely, 613 commandments that the observant Jew must live by and, as with so many other aspects of the religious code, it feels as if most of these are to do with food. Don’t eat this, do eat that, don’t eat this until this much time has passed since you ate that, and so on. The upshot of all this madness is that my mum did what she could to run a kosher home and my dad interpreted the texts to suit all practical purposes.

 

[TheAristocat]

Losing my religion: Why I realised that I could no longer fake a tribal attachment to Judaism



Losing my religion: Why I realised that I could no longer fake a tribal attachment to Judaism - Comment - Voices - The Independent


Religious people have their Damascene moments, but atheists often have only the vaguest recollection of the point at which the scales dropped from their eyes. Me, I can trace my disbelief in God back to two distinct childhood memories. To understand those events in context, you’ll need a little bit of background.


There are, precisely, 613 commandments that the observant Jew must live by and, as with so many other aspects of the religious code, it feels as if most of these are to do with food. Don’t eat this, do eat that, don’t eat this until this much time has passed since you ate that, and so on. The upshot of all this madness is that my mum did what she could to run a kosher home and my dad interpreted the texts to suit all practical purposes.

Actually, I'm not sure if 613 commandments is true or not, since some texts arrange verses differently and therefore the count for Old Testament commandments may come out a bit different. But assuming there are 613 commandments, here are just a few of my feelings on the issue:

1. While it's true that it was very wise advice not to eat pork in ancient times for all of the potential parasites you could get from it, avoiding the consumption of parasites is not necessarily the point of kosher laws. I think we should trust God instead of find ways to validate God's words with human reasoning.

2. A lot of the 613 commandments do not necessarily apply to everyone. For example, the regulations regarding menstrual periods do not apply to men. And the regulations regarding discharges of semen do not apply to women. So there will naturally be fewer than 613 commandments that apply to any one individual at any one time.

3. Some of the 613 commandments are no-brainers, such as "do not murder" or "do not steal." Most of these are easy to obey and really don't take any effort. And commandments like obeying the Sabbath are very obviously for our benefit.

4. Some of the 613 commandments supported social welfare, such as leaving gleanings at the edges of your field for the poor or giving tithes to the poor or giving tithes to the Levitical priesthood.

5. Some gave the land a rest every seventh year, so that ecological disasters such as America's Dust Bowl could be avoided.

6. It has been a common practice in American culture to circumcise newborn males, regardless of their religious affiliation, because of the health benefits of circumcision.

Of course I'm not supporting modern Judaism. But I think God's teachings have merit.

 

[royalscot]

Of course I'm not supporting modern Judaism. But I think God's teachings have merit.TheAristocat

strange part of the topic is, he said he dose not believe in god any more, yet makes quotes about the 613 commandments. stops shy of calling them all hypocrites. so why write the report in the first place. so dose religion leave when you stop believing . how can the truth set you free, if you believe a lie. or naive to what the new covenant is. ie it did not stop there being a god, it make way to the believe to get direct access to god. through faith. and prayer. etc

so thats why paul , tell the difference between a new and old covenant.in Galatians( to all believer that are jews or gentile christians)
how can the truth set you free , if you dont know what changed by the new covenant.
gentiles and jews saved by grace a gift.

so if the word of god is spoken in religions, will it ever leave. even when they say they have stopped believing.
the question still being asked is why write the report in the first place if you dont believe. etc

 

[TheAristocat]

So you're saying that because he was "faking" believing in Judaism that he really didn't lose any religion?

 

[HQ]

Suffice it to say there are only ten commandments in the bible, not 613. RoyalScot is confusing civil law with God's law. The civil laws that were given to the Jews were in part for the protection and well being of God's people, who had no concept of germs, infections, and diseases. These laws also provided a framework by which men could begin to govern themselves in a fair and just fashion. The combination of the ten commandments and civil law is what made civilization possible.


HQ

 

[royalscot]

So you're saying that because he was "faking" believing in Judaism that he really didn't lose any religion?

so if the word of god is spoken in religions, will it ever leave. even when they say they have stopped believing.
the question still being asked is why write the report in the first place if you dont believe. etc

 

[royalscot]

Suffice it to say there are only ten commandments in the bible, not 613. RoyalScot is confusing civil law with God's law. The civil laws that were given to the Jews were in part for the protection and well being of God's people, who had no concept of germs, infections, and diseases. These laws also provided a framework by which men could begin to govern themselves in a fair and just fashion. The combination of the ten commandments and civil law is what made civilization possible.


HQ

the problem is back to christian change, sin never saved anyone,or decrees , even though they had some form of civilization , yet they still had animal for sin. and stilled fell short. so a saviour, was sent. to the jewish people. the difference between a pharisee v jesus christ. seem to be miles apart with the combination of the ten commandments and civil law is what made civilization possible. when the pharisee had no clue to get in touch with god, because of mans idea of rite and wrong. ie he who is with out sin cast the first stone.
non christian jews need a temple of stone. because of the requirement of the law given to moses.(so after 70 ad)etc


when new covent was already in place before 70 ad. (but change was already causing split with the jewish people,repent with voice, john (b) message to the jewish people v take animal to temple for forgiveness. etc

so thats why paul , tell the difference between a new and old covenant.in Galatians( to all believer that are jews or gentile christians)
how can the truth set you free , if you dont know what changed by the new covenant.
gentiles and jews saved by grace a gift.