Posted by hyperfocus on September 3, 2010, at 19:16:03
In reply to Lou's reply-nhvurehyghen » hyperfocus, posted by Lou Pilder on September 3, 2010, at 16:26:54
I think that in a dialogue or conversation there has to be balance. So far you've asked me to do certain things and answer some questions, which I have done. So now I think it's your turn to reciprocate. However, in a show of good faith, I'll turn on my hyperfocusing super powers and answer this recent set of questions.
>A. Are you equating {OK} with {I think that's good}?
Yes, in the context of where Dr. Bob was writing he could have said "OK".
>B. What part of the rules, if any, states that on the faith board the poster's post about {...but grace and truth came by...}the whole statement that Mr. Hsiung says that he thinks that's good applies to making the statement by the poster within the rules of the faith board?
Like I said I'm not an expert on posting on the Faith board and I can't even say I've read all the rules. I only know that you're allowed affirmations of faith as long as you indicate clearly that it is your personal belief and that it does not put down any other faith. And to me this makes sense because I don't see what the point of a Faith board would be without the ability to actually affirm a particular Faith.
>C. What is your definition of supportive?
The same definition that can be found in a dictionary which I won't reproduce here.>D. Could a Jew reading the statement in question (redacted by respondent)
If a follower of Islam posted:
"Jesus was a prophet of God but the Prophet Mohammed (PBOH) is the only way."
I would not feel put down. I don't believe the poster's intent is to demean any other religion. I think I've made it clear in my previous posts why i believe this.>E. Did you see my post to Mr. Hsiung requesting that he respond to my concerns about the statement by the poster?
I've seen many, many posts by you on this subject. I've not read most of them, but I have read the ones you asked me to.>F. According to the statement in question, could a Jew feel that their faith is being compared to another faith? If so, (redacted by respondent)
>G. Can you consider that the statement is a foundation of many denominations of christianity?
In contemporary Christianity one principle is that people reading the Bible must find their own way to meaning. The argument on whether what is written in the Bible should be taken literally vs. figuratively is futile and moot. I'm aware that there are denominations of Christianity which have been formed under the splintering of agreement as to what weekday the Sabbath should be, and how God's literal name should be spelled. But each person has to find their own way to faith. I can't comment on whether or not certain Christian denominations have as a principle that this verse and others in the New Testament are prejudicial against Judaism. I personally do not believe that the verse in question is antisemitic. I personally do not believe that prejudice against any religion can be justified by any true Christian. Jesus says that we should love others and treat them as we would like to be treated. This seems to preclude religious prejudice against anyone. I can't say what a Jew would or would not feel reading this verse. I do know it would be wrong for him to conclude that this verse is an indictment against Judaism. That would be prejudicial to MY faith.>H. Do you know of any denomination that does not translate that bible verse as posted here?
>K. Are you aware that the Greek text that the verse was translated from has been translated in other ways and that translators have inserted a word in the verse as posted?
I really can't comment on translations of the Bible. Somebody once wrote that the only thing more dangerous than a complete ignoramus is an ignoramus with a little knowledge. By this principle I am a dangerous person to ask to comment on these things. What I know of theology and Biblical scholarship and translation is what I've read superficially on the subject. All I know is that the translation which I'm most accustomed to is the New International Version and that I found solace and understanding in many things I've read there. Pick a Bible verse and you can fill a whole book with debates on which translation is the 'real' meaning. I really don't know much about this topic.>L. What is your definition of the conjunction {but}
One day people are going to look at my daughter and say "She got her nose from hyperfocus but her eyes from Reese Witherspoon" I don't believe that this statement is prejudicial to me. "But" can function as a logical and. But I mean Lou this sort of circles back to what my point has been - even if we ran a computer program to perform pragamatic, discourse, semantic, lexical, syntactical, morphological, and phonemical
analysis on this verse to find the 'real' logical meaning - what good would it serve? The Bible is an infinite fount of knowledge. Each person dips their own cup and picks up answers that they need in their life. But one thing they cannot pick up is hate. Because God is not hate. If somebody says that this verse is prejudicial to Judaism I would advise to wash out from their cup all the stuff that was there before and dip again.>M. What is your definition of the use of {came by} in the bible verse here?
I can't really define what some english phrase means without the whole thing becoming tautological and silly. What's your definition of the word "definition?". But my point is, again, it doesn't really matter what somebody else thinks something means. We all have open our own hearts and find our own meaning. Christianity totally rejects the idea of prejudice against anyone. Christ specifically rejects any attempt to do away with the old Judaic covenant. So it is theologically impossible, in my opinion, that any Christian can find anything prejudicial against Judaism in that verse.>N. other related questions arising out of any answers that you post here.
Well before you get to ask those questions I think you should answer 3 of mine:
1. Do you believe that (John 1:17) means that Judaism is somehow inferior or made outdated by Christianity?
2. Do you believe that contemporary mainstream thinking on replacement theology advocates that the covenant that God has with Judaism is now gone?
3. Do you believe that antisemitism is compatible with Christian principles as laid down by Jesus Christ?
poster:hyperfocus
thread:960265
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20100714/msgs/961199.html