Saturday, May 28, 2016

 What We Claim to Know

Hosea wrote it well, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, ..."
This passage in the book of Hosea 4:6, should not be taken out of context.  I will let the reader look at the entire chapter on their own.  I suggest the Blue Letter Bible online.

What prompted this was an opinion piece in the Jerusalem Post.  It was a response to another opinion piece in the same online version of the Post.  A Dr. Laitman had titled the first piece, "Fascism is looming over the U.S...".  A David Turner wrote a response.  I read Turner's response.  I have not read Laitman's piece, yet.  So my critique is aimed at Turner.
Mr. Turner makes some quotes from the B'rit Hadashah.  For those unfamiliar with this, it is the transliteration of Hebrew for New Testament.  My question would be of Mr. Turner's understanding of the 'forbidden' portions of the Tanakh, their relationship to the B'rit Hadashah and the translation he quoted.
He makes a point about Martin Luther and anti-Semitism.  Luther wasn't always anti-Semitic.  He became so after failing to convert any Hebrews, or Jews, if one prefers, after the Reformation got started.
I don't like being lumped together with all the persons who claim to be Christian and are anti-Semitic.  Broad brush strokes have a tendency to cover nuance, or obliterate.
The main problem is claiming to know and not really knowing.
For example, many of the mistakes made by Christians are, for the most part, made out of ignorance.  Some of those mistakes have been compounded by people rejecting knowledge.  Add those who, for whatever reason, are prejudiced and act on those prejudices, inflame matters.  Add those who, for whatever reason, have an agenda to destroy the object of their prejudices throw accelerant on the flames.
The Shoah, or Holocaust, killed millions of people.  The Hebrews represented the majority of deaths.  They were singled out for the most horrendous of violations.  Other ethnic and religious groups were put to death as well.
I am not here to equate the current persecution and murder of Christians to the Shoah.
What am going to state is regarding Dr. Laitman's title.
Fascism is not looming over the U.S.  It is at work right now!  Christians are one of the groups on the fascist hit list, unless we can be 're-educated'.  Some of us will be offered 're-education'.  Some won't.
Some of us will go into captivity.  Some of us will die by the sword.
There are others who will face the same decision because of their religious views, their political views, and some who thought they held to the 'correct views' but are considered expendable.