Jesus Christ [no pun intended].
This is kind of in response to Lei's post a while ago.
But more-so in response to the link below.
[Which I found in Lei's post a while ago and read tonight.]
http://www.eaec.org/cults/judaism.htm
Wow.
If you're just Jewish, just ... please read that.
I find it a tad insulting.
Reform Judaism is said to "follow the ethical laws of Judaism, but leave up to the individual the decision whether to follow or ignore the dietary and other traditional laws." This is well-put, but not entirely true. Reform Judaism is entirely based on choice and no one is forced to follow even the ethical laws of Judaism, in addition to the dietary or other traditional laws. Though most people do follow the "ethical laws" because they are similar to that of our society's expectations.
Jews believe that Jesus was a man; nothing more, nothing less. He was born, lived, and died as one of us. Most do not believe that he was a prophet of any kind - none of his writings or prophesies, if there are any, are contained with the Nevi'im section of the Tanakh [Torah - Nevi'im - K'tuvim]. Major prophets like Joshua, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, as well as minor prophets such as Joel, Jonah, Zechariah, and Malachi, are read at services in conjunction with the Torah portion of the week [otherwise known as the Haftarah].
I also do find that last line of "Cult behaviours" interesting - interesting in the way of how they worded it and also interesting in the fact that they put it in at all. It is the Jewish belief that a unborn child does not posess any natural-human or God-given rights before it is out of the womb, therefore abortion is completely fair to the fetus and [quite possibly more importantly] it's mother. That happens to be what I believe: abortion is a woman's choice. A choice she may end up regretting later down the road - granted - but her choice nonetheless.
But more-so in response to the link below.
[Which I found in Lei's post a while ago and read tonight.]
http://www.eaec.org/cults/judaism.htm
Wow.
If you're just Jewish, just ... please read that.
I find it a tad insulting.
Reform Judaism is said to "follow the ethical laws of Judaism, but leave up to the individual the decision whether to follow or ignore the dietary and other traditional laws." This is well-put, but not entirely true. Reform Judaism is entirely based on choice and no one is forced to follow even the ethical laws of Judaism, in addition to the dietary or other traditional laws. Though most people do follow the "ethical laws" because they are similar to that of our society's expectations.
Jews believe that Jesus was a man; nothing more, nothing less. He was born, lived, and died as one of us. Most do not believe that he was a prophet of any kind - none of his writings or prophesies, if there are any, are contained with the Nevi'im section of the Tanakh [Torah - Nevi'im - K'tuvim]. Major prophets like Joshua, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, as well as minor prophets such as Joel, Jonah, Zechariah, and Malachi, are read at services in conjunction with the Torah portion of the week [otherwise known as the Haftarah].
I also do find that last line of "Cult behaviours" interesting - interesting in the way of how they worded it and also interesting in the fact that they put it in at all. It is the Jewish belief that a unborn child does not posess any natural-human or God-given rights before it is out of the womb, therefore abortion is completely fair to the fetus and [quite possibly more importantly] it's mother. That happens to be what I believe: abortion is a woman's choice. A choice she may end up regretting later down the road - granted - but her choice nonetheless.