Thursday, March 25, 2004
Cute, but not quite
Got this in my email from torah.org today:
Most of the world's religions declare their founder or leader to be
Divinity embodied, or, at least, free from sin or error. The Torah not
only expects even High Priests and Kings to sin, but allows for errors
from the High Court that impact upon the entire nation. There's no
infallibility doctrine, nothing miraculous about our leaders. We follow
the Sanhedrin because G-d told us to do so, not because we attribute
divinity to the Rabbis within.
Of course, he, like almost everyone else I've met, seems a little confused about infallibility. I don't suppose he would advocate that Moses could have written dowm the wrong things in the Torah? I suppose that's different. Why? Because he had divine guidance.
There we go.
Now, I can't think of anyone that ATTRIBUTES ANY DIVINITY TO THE POPE OR AN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL. IF SOMEONE DOES, THEY'RE A HERETIC AND SHOULD BE BURNED AT THE STAKE. That feels much better. Infallibility is an ex officio thing by which we're prevented from screwing up major things because of a promise from Jesus Christ. Not something that depends on the people in office being holy or divine or some BS like that.
Also, if there is no Jewish method to resolve questions, why should I believe his interpretation? What makes it better than any other? If we go along with a majority ruling that can change at any time, why shouldn't I hold my minority position up and advocate for it?
Interesting problem.
Incidentally, I can't think of too many world religions that do anything more than the Jewish does in claiming that there were people touched by the Holy Spirit who wrote sacred books, and I can only think of one that has a Leader who was free of sin. The claims going along with Him are of a somewhat different order, however. Point being, either Moses and the Prophets fit into this divinely touched category he's trying to get away from, or there's no point in listening to them. How do you know what G-d says if you advocate he doesn't say anything?
Keep off the potshots is my advice, Rabbi Menken. Not very effective and they undermine what you're trying to say.
Most of the world's religions declare their founder or leader to be
Divinity embodied, or, at least, free from sin or error. The Torah not
only expects even High Priests and Kings to sin, but allows for errors
from the High Court that impact upon the entire nation. There's no
infallibility doctrine, nothing miraculous about our leaders. We follow
the Sanhedrin because G-d told us to do so, not because we attribute
divinity to the Rabbis within.
Of course, he, like almost everyone else I've met, seems a little confused about infallibility. I don't suppose he would advocate that Moses could have written dowm the wrong things in the Torah? I suppose that's different. Why? Because he had divine guidance.
There we go.
Now, I can't think of anyone that ATTRIBUTES ANY DIVINITY TO THE POPE OR AN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL. IF SOMEONE DOES, THEY'RE A HERETIC AND SHOULD BE BURNED AT THE STAKE. That feels much better. Infallibility is an ex officio thing by which we're prevented from screwing up major things because of a promise from Jesus Christ. Not something that depends on the people in office being holy or divine or some BS like that.
Also, if there is no Jewish method to resolve questions, why should I believe his interpretation? What makes it better than any other? If we go along with a majority ruling that can change at any time, why shouldn't I hold my minority position up and advocate for it?
Interesting problem.
Incidentally, I can't think of too many world religions that do anything more than the Jewish does in claiming that there were people touched by the Holy Spirit who wrote sacred books, and I can only think of one that has a Leader who was free of sin. The claims going along with Him are of a somewhat different order, however. Point being, either Moses and the Prophets fit into this divinely touched category he's trying to get away from, or there's no point in listening to them. How do you know what G-d says if you advocate he doesn't say anything?
Keep off the potshots is my advice, Rabbi Menken. Not very effective and they undermine what you're trying to say.
