In my post, My Christian Position, I laid out a relatively passive position towards Christianity. After thinking about this, I think I’ve short changed a lot of the voice within me that I want to express and a lot of the voices of people “out there” that I’ve met and that have been an impetus of sorts for me to try to voice my understanding. While there is much to be appreciative for from the Christian world, I’ve met too many people who want to know G-d but question Jesus or Christianity. For me to be overly passive towards Christianity is to ignore a problem that nags a lot of people. My desire is not to confuse or upset anyone (unless that confusion or “upsetness” leads to greater clarity or happiness), but these questions are important.
I still plan on avoiding an all out frontal assault. I do not seek debate, yet I want to lay out some of the reasons why I and my people reject Jesus and Christianity. All of these questions can be answered by Christian apologists, but do these answers resonate with truth? This is a question of what I call internal consistency vs. external consistency. Something is internally consistent only after you accept premises to bring you “into the club.” If a cult leader claims to be a prophet, then certain favors from twelve year old girls could be important to quelling satanic desires in the entire world to help bring the messiah. However, that won’t be externally consistent because prophesy in the Jewish usage of the word is objectively verifiable and not a title for every charismatic pervert.
These questions are not meant to hurt or destroy. I hope they help you wherever you are.
1. If G-d gives the rules in front of the entire nation, establishing His reality and law in front of a couple of million people with miracles, signs, and wonders, how could a fair G-d change the rules without calling everyone back to cancel the original plan with as much fanfare?
2. Where is peace on earth? The Messiah that everyone awaits is the one to usher in a new era. That “ushering in” process is to happen in the Messiah’s life.
3. Where is the oral tradition? The written Torah is nonsensical without it. We’re told to circumsize our sons, but there are no instructions how. We’re told that animals must be slaughtered properly, but again – no instructions. We’re told to place signs on our arm and “totafot” between our eyes, but this isn’t explained. There are questions and seeming contradictions on nearly every verse, yet with no oral companion to explain it people still praise this book. I hear how the atheists and non-believers attack the Bible and I find myself agreeing with them because without an oral tradition, this book does seem to be more than a little strange.
4. Is G-d fickle? There are over 20 examples of G-d telling the Jews in the Five Books that a particular commandment is forever. What does that mean?
5. This is a part ‘B’ of the above question. There are several chapters where G-d talks about the reality that the Jews will stray. There is no mention of a new approach to serving Him. There is not a mention of going so far as to end the era of Torah law. Instead the verses talk of the Jews returning.
6. I also wonder about the role of blind faith in many Christian systems. Why would G-d give you such a marvelous tool as logical thought if at the center of your entire belief system you are required to suspend it. The difference in Jewish theology is subtle yet nearly polar opposite to blind faith.
I do not seek debate because debate is a world of presenting two sides and, for me, there is only one. I’ll answer most any respectful question about where I am and what I’m writing. Debate is an exercise in futility. Discussion and clarity are wonderful – nay G-dly.
