re:Please also read few things from Torah

Submitted by true believer (India), May 24, 2006 at 02:06

I have read the post that you have mentioned. As I said earlier, I have read the Torah. I can give you harsher verses from the Torah where Israelites have killed and burnt whole cities. Four thousand years back the world was really wild and these was what enemies of Israelites did to Jews and vice versa. Reading holy scriptures in bits and pieces will not give you a complete perspective. While the Torah had given the law through Moses, Jesus came to spread love not only among Jews but also among Gentiles.

For example the law of moses tells to stone a man or woman found guilty of adultery. This similar to todays sharia.

Levicitus 20:10 And the man that committeth adultery with [another] man's wife, that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

The chapter 8 of John deals with the Pharisees ( A group of Jews ) who were trying to trick jesus into denouncing the Law of Moses ( given above )

Jn 8:1 Jesus went unto the Mount of Olives.
Jn 8:2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
Jn 8:3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
Jn 8:4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
Jn 8:5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
Jn 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
Jn 8:7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
Jn 8:8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
Jn 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
Jn 8:10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
Jn 8:11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

All the other Jews who accused her were sinners. Jesus could have stoned her because he was without sin, but he chose to forgive her. This is the spirit of Jesus Christ. Without this knowlege people like the one whose post you have mentioned will claim that Torah is no better that what Sharia dictates. You should read the bible in its totality from start to finish before passing judgements.

The bottom line is that even if the Laws of Moses are very harsh Israel is the only Jewish state in the world, does it follow the old archaic Jewish laws ? No, its laws are modern and civilized. Also I can discuss the contradictions and doubts I have in my community without being persecuted, and have often done this with priests and seminarians. These very discussions and actions that follow them bring reformation. Imagine a moslem doing it in his own community, he wont survive to tell the tale. What about countries like Saudi, Iran and others ? Women are still stoned to death for adultery. Why don't moslems change this ?

You are right "no one is perfect or ideal in this world" but does anything stop you from trying ?

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