The Vatican's Terrorism Omission

FrontPageMagazine.com ^ | August 1, 2005 | Alan M. Dershowitz

[Sabramerican]

See the link in #198, it's discussed.

There is no "Hell" as Christians understand an eternal damnation with Hell fires.

If you're interested search it from reputable Jewish sites. Like much in Judaism the concepts are debatable.

[Proud2BAmerican]

In other parts of the link you pointed me to, it makes reference to much debate among Jews regarding what happens -- if anything -- in the afterlife (if there is one). It also explains one of Judaism's interpretations of gehenna as being a place of purging (not unlike the Catholic belief of "purgatory"). And it also references that some Jews believe it is possible for a person to merit being "cut off" from the rest of the body of believers in the afterlife.

It seems that there is not a unaminity of belief among Jews as to who gets saved.

[Zionist Conspirator]

That you can say this (assuming you mean what the plain inference of your words says) with a straight face is mind boggling.

I entered the Church on my own initiative precisely because the Catholic Church doesn't engage in missionary activity (in fact, it screams bloody murder about those Fundamentalist Protestants who do). While in the Church I begged them to convert my beloved mother (a poor country girl with a sixth grade education) and they wouldn't do it because "everyone is beautiful just the way they are."

The Catholic Church, just like all the other ancient liturgical churches, grows by sexual reproduction.

[Zionist Conspirator]

So now we've switched from Joan Baez back to Joe Sobran. How many personalities do you have locked in your head?

If the "new and everlasting covenant" isn't authorized by the Holy Torah then the claims of the Catholic Church mean absolutely nothing (they are merely groundless self-assertions). You either didn't read my remarks about the logical fallacy of "affirmation of the consequent" or you are so addicted to that fallacy that you are incapable of thinking otherwise.

[anotherview]

So far as I know (and I am by no means an expert) what I wrote is believed by all branches of Judaism. I grew up in (modern) Orthodox congregations for the most part and have heard the same from both Orthodox and Masorti rabbis.

[anotherview]

Thank you for the post on righteous gentiles. I think it's important that people understand that Judaism is non-exclusivistic, hence our lack of a need to convert anyone. and the AFAIK unique prohibition on trying to convert anyone.

[anotherview]

Hell, the way Christians believe in it, is absent from Judaism. It's not that the term doesn't exist but rather that it's pretty well undefined. One explanation I've heard is separation from G-d, which, to many, would be hell enough.

Salvation, the way Christians understand it, is entirely absent from Judaism.

[anotherview]

Would Christians, who worship Jesus as God, be considered violating this law, and thereby merit condemnation to Hell for that act?

One point you're clearly missing: good deeds (mitzvot) are weighed against bad as on a scale at judgement. That means that violating one law does not guarantee condemnation. Whether Christians would be considered to be worshipping a false god is something I'll leave for rabbis and scholars to answer and G-d to decide.

Condemnation to hell is a Christian (not Jewish) concept as well.

[anotherview]

It seems that there is not a unaminity of belief among Jews as to who gets saved.

The concept of "saved" is a Christian one, not a Jewish one.

There is uniformity of belief in the mechanism of judgement and in how one is supposed to atone for sin. There pretty much is a uniform belief in ganeden, or heaven, if you prefer. There is no uniform belief of what will be in the afterlife.

Gehenna is really not well defined in Jewish scripture. One explanation I've heard is simply separation from G-d. Another is non-existence.

[Proud2BAmerican]

because the Catholic Church doesn't engage in missionary activity (in fact, it screams bloody murder about those Fundamentalist Protestants who do). While in the Church I begged them to convert my beloved mother (a poor country girl with a sixth grade education) and they wouldn't do it because "everyone is beautiful just the way they are."

I'm beginning to think I misunderstood what you were saying. Are you actually saying that *individuals* within the individual Catholic Church which you attended were not inclined to promote missionary activity? Because I originally thought you were positing that the Catholic Church, as a whole, doesn't engage in missionary activity. http://www.catholicmission.org/