People say it's not wise to talk religion or politics. Why? Because most people have formed their own thoughts and beliefs and it's hard to persuade others of your thoughts and beliefs. Religion and spiritual matters are personal. How we relate to God is our own business and we live in a country where we have the freedom to choose how we want to worship.
I can only state what I believe about what I have learned and what I think and feel about what I have learned.
Other then what has been written and documented, my beliefs are mine.
For instance, though the Bible/Tanach is not clear on what happens after we die, I believe that we are judged in how we led our life on earth. By whom are we judged? By God? By our own selves? By a Heavenly Court?
It could very well be that we are judged each by someone or something different. I may be judged by a Heavenly Court, you may be judged by your own self. What is important in the whole equation is that we must be aware of how we do on this earth. How do we act? What do we say? How do we treat others?
I have heard some Christians say that people who don't believe in Jesus will go to hell. I have to ask, who said? By what I have read in the Tanach, one is responsible for their own sins and not for their father's sins. This is in Ezekiel. But, you see, the point is this. Each person is responsible for their own sins and teshuvah (repentance). Regardless if one is a Christian, Jew, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, etc.
Is it wise to point our fingers at others and accuse? I do recall reading that the angel Samael (hasatan) is the accuser. In the story of Job, hasatan is actually doing God's bidding. God tells hasatan what to do and God is the one who commissions hasatan and all the angels what to do. There is a reason for hasatan. He was created for a reason with several different missions. He does not have the power to do anything.
This is what Judaism knows about hasatan (the satan). He is an accuser, he is the Angel of Death, and he is the tempter. All these tasks have a purpose and believe it or not, this satan actually helps us to learn!
Another thing about Judaism that gentiles do not understand is the Torah (law) mitzvah, "an eye for an eye".
This is not taken literally. It means measure for measure and is meant for the monetary equivalent of being compensated. Do you really think Jews went around gouging eyes out? Or chopping off fingers? I don't think Jesus was literal about turning the cheek. Yet, in those ancient days, indeed radical punishment was stoning. Barbaric compared to lethal injections that we have today. Hmmm.
Neither or nor there. The best way to lead our personal life is to know what God expects from us. If you are Jewish, that means observing the Torah, the 316 commands/instructions. For gentiles this means the 7 Noahide Laws. Be a good steward of acts of kindness, forgive others, watch your speech/gossip, etc.
We can change our micro-world and we can change the macro-world by each acting upon these things.
I can only state what I believe about what I have learned and what I think and feel about what I have learned.
Other then what has been written and documented, my beliefs are mine.
For instance, though the Bible/Tanach is not clear on what happens after we die, I believe that we are judged in how we led our life on earth. By whom are we judged? By God? By our own selves? By a Heavenly Court?
It could very well be that we are judged each by someone or something different. I may be judged by a Heavenly Court, you may be judged by your own self. What is important in the whole equation is that we must be aware of how we do on this earth. How do we act? What do we say? How do we treat others?
I have heard some Christians say that people who don't believe in Jesus will go to hell. I have to ask, who said? By what I have read in the Tanach, one is responsible for their own sins and not for their father's sins. This is in Ezekiel. But, you see, the point is this. Each person is responsible for their own sins and teshuvah (repentance). Regardless if one is a Christian, Jew, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu, etc.
Is it wise to point our fingers at others and accuse? I do recall reading that the angel Samael (hasatan) is the accuser. In the story of Job, hasatan is actually doing God's bidding. God tells hasatan what to do and God is the one who commissions hasatan and all the angels what to do. There is a reason for hasatan. He was created for a reason with several different missions. He does not have the power to do anything.
This is what Judaism knows about hasatan (the satan). He is an accuser, he is the Angel of Death, and he is the tempter. All these tasks have a purpose and believe it or not, this satan actually helps us to learn!
Another thing about Judaism that gentiles do not understand is the Torah (law) mitzvah, "an eye for an eye".
This is not taken literally. It means measure for measure and is meant for the monetary equivalent of being compensated. Do you really think Jews went around gouging eyes out? Or chopping off fingers? I don't think Jesus was literal about turning the cheek. Yet, in those ancient days, indeed radical punishment was stoning. Barbaric compared to lethal injections that we have today. Hmmm.
Neither or nor there. The best way to lead our personal life is to know what God expects from us. If you are Jewish, that means observing the Torah, the 316 commands/instructions. For gentiles this means the 7 Noahide Laws. Be a good steward of acts of kindness, forgive others, watch your speech/gossip, etc.
We can change our micro-world and we can change the macro-world by each acting upon these things.
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