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To: IRememberElian
My wife and one or two religious people on this thread think his Old Testament interpretations on divorce are .... self-serving.

Well, it certainly seems that way. As Christians (I assume you are?) we have the benefit of Christ's divine interpretation and clarification of the Torah. But if we are going to be fair, we have to attempt to see the issue from the position of a Conservative Jew who relies solely on the Torah, Talmud, rabbinical tradition, and so forth.

A few years ago I did a study of the various doctrines of divorce in the Christian community. They broke down into four categories: 1) no divorce, period; 2) divorce, but no remarriage, period; 3) divorce and remarriage under strict circumstances (adultery/abandonment); 4) divorce and remarriage under liberal circumstances. I think it's safe to say that taken together, #1-#3 are all stricter than Dennis Prager's position, and represent the overwhelming majority; #4 is a minority position.

During the course of that study it was clear that Jesus' statements on divorce were stricter than anything clearly laid down in the Old Testament. Interestingly, the divorce question was an ongoing debate in Jesus' time. Many had what basically amounts to the Prager position, that Scripture allows it but regulates it; some took the position that it should be allowed only in limited circumstances. (The two schools of thought were named for individual rabbis, I believe, whose names escape me at the moment.)

Some scholars suggest that Jesus was simply agreeing with the strict school of thought. Other suggest he was going even further than that school of thought.

But either way, it seems clear from that study at least, that the mainstream Christian teaching on divorce is at the very least on the conservative end of the Jewish spectrum; and, quite possibly, considerably stricter.

192 posted on 12/30/2005 9:37:32 PM PST by mcg1969
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To: mcg1969
Thanks for the serious replies (and not calling me names!). I hope others take the time to read them.

My problem with Prager isn't theological. I just never liked him. But, that's just me. What's sad is that, his kids are getting their world destroyed in public, while we weep for their rich Dad.

195 posted on 12/30/2005 10:29:31 PM PST by IRememberElian
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