Comments on: The necessity of Jewish Muslim dialogue http://3faiths.org/2008/11/26/the-necessity-of-jewish-muslim-dialogue/ Fri, 22 May 2009 13:29:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Dave http://3faiths.org/2008/11/26/the-necessity-of-jewish-muslim-dialogue/comment-page-1/#comment-63 Dave Sun, 01 Mar 2009 17:53:14 +0000 http://3faiths.org/?p=165#comment-63 I'm no Talmud expert either, but my understanding is that a person cannot commit the offence of idol worship unless they understand that they are committing such an offence - and that the interpretation of exactly what constitutes idol worship (eg looking at an image) has changed over the centuries. Do you not think that the practice of many people, even so-called devout people, amounts to idol worship? It's all a matter of interpretation. I’m no Talmud expert either, but my understanding is that a person cannot commit the offence of idol worship unless they understand that they are committing such an offence – and that the interpretation of exactly what constitutes idol worship (eg looking at an image) has changed over the centuries. Do you not think that the practice of many people, even so-called devout people, amounts to idol worship? It’s all a matter of interpretation.

]]> By: Miriam Levinson http://3faiths.org/2008/11/26/the-necessity-of-jewish-muslim-dialogue/comment-page-1/#comment-62 Miriam Levinson Sun, 01 Mar 2009 16:03:40 +0000 http://3faiths.org/?p=165#comment-62 The example I gave was idol worship. Can you tell me what the Talmud has to say about various acceptable approaches to a Jew's turning to idol worship? I'm not a Talmud scholar by any stretch, but it seems to me that the Talmud primarily analyzes various approaches right before settling onto one official one. The example I gave was idol worship. Can you tell me what the Talmud has to say about various acceptable approaches to a Jew’s turning to idol worship? I’m not a Talmud scholar by any stretch, but it seems to me that the Talmud primarily analyzes various approaches right before settling onto one official one.

]]> By: Dave http://3faiths.org/2008/11/26/the-necessity-of-jewish-muslim-dialogue/comment-page-1/#comment-65 Dave Sun, 01 Mar 2009 04:14:59 +0000 http://3faiths.org/?p=165#comment-65 Miriam, you speak of "Judaism's approach" as if there were only one approach. Luckily there is no one true approach in Judaism, and even the Talmud allows for many valid viewpoints on the same issue. That said, you are spot on when you say that we need to have the ability to respect and respectfully disagree. Unfortunately, this becomes very difficult if you have only "one approach. Miriam, you speak of “Judaism’s approach” as if there were only one approach. Luckily there is no one true approach in Judaism, and even the Talmud allows for many valid viewpoints on the same issue.

That said, you are spot on when you say that we need to have the ability to respect and respectfully disagree. Unfortunately, this becomes very difficult if you have only “one approach.

]]> By: Miriam Levinson http://3faiths.org/2008/11/26/the-necessity-of-jewish-muslim-dialogue/comment-page-1/#comment-64 Miriam Levinson Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:45:10 +0000 http://3faiths.org/?p=165#comment-64 It's a delicate balance between maintaining a religious belief system and tolerance, mainly because our religions teach some level of intolerance. Judaism does not advocate tolerance of the idol worshiper; if the idolator is a Jew, Judaism's approach is very severe, calling for the death penalty if it were a religiously legal option (it isn't in these days). If the idol worshiper is a non-Jew, Judaism's approach is to wipe out idol worshiping through force of instruction, and I believe this is Islam's requirement as well. In no way is there an attitude, "I'll worship my God and you worship yours, and everything's just rosy." So we shouldn't strive for tolerance becoming "acceptance." That's not possible for the sincere adherent to his/her particular faith. Yet we should strive for understanding each other and that will help bring about the optimum level of tolerance and the ability to respect and respectfully disagree. It’s a delicate balance between maintaining a religious belief system and tolerance, mainly because our religions teach some level of intolerance. Judaism does not advocate tolerance of the idol worshiper; if the idolator is a Jew, Judaism’s approach is very severe, calling for the death penalty if it were a religiously legal option (it isn’t in these days). If the idol worshiper is a non-Jew, Judaism’s approach is to wipe out idol worshiping through force of instruction, and I believe this is Islam’s requirement as well. In no way is there an attitude, “I’ll worship my God and you worship yours, and everything’s just rosy.” So we shouldn’t strive for tolerance becoming “acceptance.” That’s not possible for the sincere adherent to his/her particular faith. Yet we should strive for understanding each other and that will help bring about the optimum level of tolerance and the ability to respect and respectfully disagree.

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