Posted on 08/19/2016 8:06:44 AM PDT by daniel1212
In what has to be a new low for the New York Times, the Gray Lady (or should we now say the Bearded Lady?) has published an op-ed piece titled “Is God Transgender?” by a New York rabbi named Mark Sameth. Cousin to a man who “transitioned to a woman” in the 1970s, Sameth contends that “the Hebrew Bible, when read in its original language, offers a highly elastic view of gender.” He marshals many purported examples of gender fluidity in the Hebrew scriptures, in order to argue that religion should not be put in service of “social prejudices” against transgendering. But his treatment of the Bible amounts to propaganda, not scholarship...
biblical scholars are in general agreement that “Yahweh” is derived from the third-person singular of the verb “to be” (hayah), whether a qal imperfect (“he is” or “he will be”) or the causative hiphil imperfect (“he causes to come into being, he creates”). This view is confirmed by numerous lines of evidence:..No historical evidence supports Sameth’s reading—only his own sex ideology.
It is true that the Hebrew Bible describes God in both masculine (predominantly) and feminine imagery (for the latter, see Isa 42:14; 49:15; 63:13; Hosea 13:8; by inference Num 11:12; Deut 32:11, 18; Hos 11:1-4). However, for God to transcend gender is not the same as his being “transgender”—which refers to a person’s abandoning his or her birth sex for a self-constructed and distorted self-image. It is no mere coincidence that God is never imaged as Israel’s (or the church's) wife, but always as her husband, nor that God is never addressed as Mother.
Sameth’s purported evidence for a “highly elastic” view of gender in the Hebrew Bible is anything but...The fact that Paul could describe himself in 1 Thessalonians 2-3, in relation to his converts, as a brother, father, nursing mother, and even an orphaned child is no indication that he approved transgendering...
Sameth’s further evidence mostly amounts to indefensible misreadings of orthographic variations. He claims: “In Genesis 3:12, Eve is referred to as ‘he.’” But this is an orthographic matter. The Hebrew consonantal text suggests hu’ (“he”) (with later scribes providing vowel pointing for hi’ [“she”])—an artifact of an early stage in writing, when hu’ was used generically of both sexes and the feminine form hi’ was used sparingly. By assigning her the pronoun hu’, Genesis is not imaging Eve as a man. This point is underscored by the fact that the verb form following this pronoun, nathenah, has a feminine ending (“she gave”).
Similar fallacies proliferate...By the rabbi's reasoning, half of the protagonists of the Hebrew Bible were presented by biblical authors as candidates for transgender surgery...
Sameth's statement that “Genesis 1:27 refers to Adam as ‘them’” is true, but Sameth overlooks the fact that “Adam” is here not a proper name but a description of “the human” or “humankind”: “God created the adam in his image.” Genesis 1:27 goes on to say, “male and female he (God) created them,” which is simply to acknowledge what Sameth denies: the significance of sexual differentiation for humanity...
Sameth has based his arguments on his left-of-center sex ideology, and not at all on a credible historical reading of the biblical text in context. His Times op-ed piece is historical revisionism at its worst.
the ancient Israelite figures known as the qedeshim (literally, “cult figures” or self-named so-called “sacred ones,” connected with idolatrous cult shrines), men who thought themselves possessed by an androgynous deity, were condemned for assuming female appearance (sometimes including castration; so also the Greco-Roman galli). Indeed, the authors of Deuteronomy and the Deuteronomistic History (Judges thru 2 Kings) characterize them as having committed an abomination (Deut 23:17-18; 1 Kings 14:24; 15:12 22:46; 2 Kings 23:7). The same tag is applied to any man who dresses like a woman (Deut 22:5).
Which author?
The author of the piece you posted doesn’t have a good grasp of Judaism.
In what way? And are you saying the prohomosexual author does?
If you see someone obviously wounded, bleeding and crying for help, do you help or ignore them?
Obviously you help them. Including helping then to see what the cause of their suffering is, and warning others of the consequences of disobeying God. Just what is your objection and your argument?
Though you or this author may not understand, that's exactly what this rabbi is doing with the transgenders. It's called mitzvah.
And yes, even Orthodox Judaism teachings include understanding HaShem as feminine and masculine in abstract concepts.
You mean help them justify being transgender by making God into the same?! How is justifying sins helping anyone? Do you want to argue that it is not? Please answer clearly.
And yes, even Orthodox Judaism teachings include understanding HaShem as feminine and masculine in abstract concepts.
That spirit has no gender is not the same thing as making humans transgender. It was God who created them male and female, and only joined them in marriage, and acting according to the disorders cause by the Fall of man cannot be justified.
If you wish to learn more about Judaism, I can recommend a few books.
That spirit has no gender
You're confused.
If you wish to learn more about Judaism, I can recommend a Book (OT).
You're confused.
A poor excuse for lack of argument.
Hashem created a beautiful world and it's our responsibility to preserve life. May those suffering from gender dysphoria seek this rabbi and learn for themselves how much Hashem loves and forgives them.
God's love for us sinners does not translate into approval for either our disordered condition or the actions that flow out of it. But there is room at the cross for all who will come to the promised Is. 53 Messiah, sent by the Father, with repentant faith for salvation, and then follow Him. Glory to God.
Hashem forgives all who atone on the same day every year.
Many forget the covenant.
You have no valid priesthood and blood sacrifice for which the day of atonement pertains to.
Begins sundown on October 11.
Not according to the Law.
And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. (Leviticus 16:5)
And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord's lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. (Leviticus 16:8-9)
But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. (Leviticus 16:10)
Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness. (Leviticus 16:15-16)
And this shall be a statute for ever unto you: that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you, that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. (Leviticus 16:29-30)
Vayikra aka Torat Kohamim. So much lost through translations that some believe it’s no longer in effect.
I’m sometimes asked by those who don’t adhere to Judaism what an appropriate sacrifice they should make for Yom Kippur.
My typical response is “sacrifice your idolatry.”
Care to detail?
That will not do. If you cannot personally answer me then move on.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.