On religion (in particular Christianity), rationality, and this forum - are we allowed to discuss it?

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

Well, neither am I. I've just seen a lot of Jewish people complain about getting lumped in with quirks of theology that are particular to Christianity, and mainline protestant Christianity at that.

[McAvoy]

Well, neither am I. I've just seen a lot of Jewish people complain about getting lumped in with quirks of theology that are particular to Christianity, and mainline protestant Christianity at that.

No doubt. Jews have a culture, and they have their own religious laws and customs. Even a non practicing Jew will still have a Jewish culture built in. No different than non practicing Christian still doing all of the Christian holidays.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

I thought Christianity is more the one with the volume control on the ordinance compared to Judaism (and Islam). Judaism seems more wrapped in convention and projection.

[McAvoy]

I thought Christianity is more the one with the volume control on the ordinance compared to Judaism (and Islam). Judaism seems more wrapped in convention and projection.

Not sure what you mean.

Jews have a lot of laws they HAVE to follow to be a good Jew. So much that they have over the centuries if not thousands of years of figuring out loopholes, then fixing the loopholes or allowing such loopholes. A Jewish friend I once knew long ago joked its why the Jews make such good lawyers.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

I thought Christianity is more the one with the volume control on the ordinance compared to Judaism (and Islam). Judaism seems more wrapped in convention and projection.

Not sure what you mean.

Jews have a lot of laws they HAVE to follow to be a good Jew. So much that they have over the centuries if not thousands of years of figuring out loopholes, then fixing the loopholes or allowing such loopholes. A Jewish friend I once knew long ago joked its why the Jews make such good lawyers.

My own general take would be that there are predominantly more similarities across cultures, so I'm ultimately in the vein of things being the same despite being more different. Buut, yes that was my initial point, that the rules are overly cumbersome, which would make sense for a more parent religion based on similar substrates of doctrines.

And again, not that Christianity doesn't have a lot of rules, just that it's structured to be compartmentalized, I would only guess. Crudely speaking, as long as 'god's with you' then you don't have to stress over it as much.

[McAvoy]

My understanding of the difference between Christianity and Judaism is that the Christian God is a loving a God and the Jewish God is a judgemental God. That's a very simplistic view on it though.

And all the laws that Jews have to follow, got wiped when Jesus came by and basically said all old laws are gone. It doesn't of course, apply to those who do use those same laws for Christians to cherry pick for their own use. Gays, tattoos, whatever take your pick.

[CharlesPhipps]

My understanding of the difference between Christianity and Judaism is that the Christian God is a loving a God and the Jewish God is a judgemental God. That's a very simplistic view on it though.

And all the laws that Jews have to follow, got wiped when Jesus came by and basically said all old laws are gone. It doesn't of course, apply to those who do use those same laws for Christians to cherry pick for their own use. Gays, tattoos, whatever take your pick.

That's a somewhat erroneous view. The Jews think of God as a very loving God. The Old Testament, however, also emphasizes that humans are shitbags and there's a limit to his tolerance of behavior. Part of the thing people forget is that the Old Testament is full of sex, violence, human sacrifice, and dogs and cats living together.

God repeatedly forgives the Israelites and bails them out but the essential treatment of humanity is it's a bunch of horrifying orcs. The Jews being the best of the bunch. Jesus basically is a pacifist hippie Neutral Good interpretation of what is meant to be a Lawful Good deity.

And if you don't buy the "God is love thing" then there's the Prophet Hosea who basically has the Book that goes, "God loves the Israelites like a wife despite her being an enormous ho." Which I'm not actually exaggerating for comic effect. That's actually the metaphor.

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

Imagine if someone said that about their kid.

[McAvoy]

My understanding of the difference between Christianity and Judaism is that the Christian God is a loving a God and the Jewish God is a judgemental God. That's a very simplistic view on it though.

And all the laws that Jews have to follow, got wiped when Jesus came by and basically said all old laws are gone. It doesn't of course, apply to those who do use those same laws for Christians to cherry pick for their own use. Gays, tattoos, whatever take your pick.

That's a somewhat erroneous view. The Jews think of God as a very loving God. The Old Testament, however, also emphasizes that humans are shitbags and there's a limit to his tolerance of behavior. Part of the thing people forget is that the Old Testament is full of sex, violence, human sacrifice, and dogs and cats living together.

God repeatedly forgives the Israelites and bails them out but the essential treatment of humanity is it's a bunch of horrifying orcs. The Jews being the best of the bunch. Jesus basically is a pacifist hippie Neutral Good interpretation of what is meant to be a Lawful Good deity.

And if you don't buy the "God is love thing" then there's the Prophet Hosea who basically has the Book that goes, "God loves the Israelites like a wife despite her being an enormous ho." Which I'm not actually exaggerating for comic effect. That's actually the metaphor.

I did say it was a simplistic view.

I do remember some of the mythology that predates Judaism from being a monotheistic religion. Back when they had multiple gods, I might be wrong about this, but wasn't the Jewish God a evolution of choosing a certain god and just basically going with him being now the only God?

I may have to look into it again.

[CharlesPhipps]

My understanding of the difference between Christianity and Judaism is that the Christian God is a loving a God and the Jewish God is a judgemental God. That's a very simplistic view on it though.

And all the laws that Jews have to follow, got wiped when Jesus came by and basically said all old laws are gone. It doesn't of course, apply to those who do use those same laws for Christians to cherry pick for their own use. Gays, tattoos, whatever take your pick.

That's a somewhat erroneous view. The Jews think of God as a very loving God. The Old Testament, however, also emphasizes that humans are shitbags and there's a limit to his tolerance of behavior. Part of the thing people forget is that the Old Testament is full of sex, violence, human sacrifice, and dogs and cats living together.

God repeatedly forgives the Israelites and bails them out but the essential treatment of humanity is it's a bunch of horrifying orcs. The Jews being the best of the bunch. Jesus basically is a pacifist hippie Neutral Good interpretation of what is meant to be a Lawful Good deity.

And if you don't buy the "God is love thing" then there's the Prophet Hosea who basically has the Book that goes, "God loves the Israelites like a wife despite her being an enormous ho." Which I'm not actually exaggerating for comic effect. That's actually the metaphor.

I did say it was a simplistic view.

I do remember some of the mythology that predates Judaism from being a monotheistic religion. Back when they had multiple gods, I might be wrong about this, but wasn't the Jewish God a evolution of choosing a certain god and just basically going with him being now the only God?

I may have to look into it again.

That is a theory but we don't know much about Jewish history beyond their own writing on the subject. Generally, its speculated that they might have become monotheistic during the Babylonian Captivity but that's just because, well, the Persians were monotheistic during this time.