Interpretations, interpretations, interpretations!...

Submitted by Moshe (Israel), Dec 18, 2006 at 05:34

Dear Stephen, you are free to believe in whatever interpretations you feel correct. Just try to remember that Muslims are not less convinced than you are about your interpretations, that their false prophet and his message from his Allah was also "revealed" in the Holy Bible. Ask Sohail and his friends, they will tell you exactly where.

I for myself am resolved not to join any of these theological debates. They lead nowhere because they are based on arbitrary dogmas. It is a debate between deaf people, in which each party is chanting his dogmas and no one can really prove his "truth" because simply there is no such proof.

I prefer to confine myself to areas where a reasonable debate makes some sense, where there is no dispute with regard to the basic assumptions. Thus for example The Holly Bible is universally recognized among believers as a Godly scripture; even by the Muslims.

Many of the prophecies in the Bible are indeed allegorical, and as such they demand interpretations. The problem is that no one has a monopoly on the correct interpretations. That's why so many charlatans, and self appointed false "Messiahs" and false "Prophets" have been feeding the gullible world with their fake delusions.

Mainstream Jewish belief is based on an approach summarized by Maymonides, according to which no one can tell in advance what exactly will happen at the end of the days. . All the prophecies relating to this period are indeed obscure, and they are such because God doesn't want us to know in advance how exactly things will develop.

We do however know that God is our father and He means only good for all Mankind. Or as God Himself is telling us in the words of Hosea at the conclusion of his prophecy: "..Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? Prudent and he shall know them? For the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein."

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".