I'm not Jewish [Protestant Christian, actually] but I have quite a few Jewish friends...and my brother and I are always presumed to be Jewish, by random strangers [maybe it's our appearance, or probably because my name is Rebekah and my brothers name is Micah...*shrugs* I happened at least a dozen times.]

But the reason I popped in was because the name made me laugh. My freshman year of college [at a non-Denominational Christian school] we had a long weekend, and so one kid decided to invite a bunch of us on a road trip back to his home in New Jersey. We nicknamed the trip JEW [Jersey Experience Weekend] and we were the Jew Crew. [yeah, stupid, i know...but hilarious at the time...we were in the middle of semester of Old Testament studies and had Judaism on the brain, I suppose]

RoseIce wrote:

As I see it God of the Christians is God of the Jews & the Muslims too.

Rose you wrote the totally wrong thing and i was going to attack you with it. but since you are my friend let me make it clear.

Jesus is the Christians/Catholic's God. Moses is the God of Jews.
But what we Muslims believe there is one God which is Allah and we believe Musa (Moses) S.A. and Isa (Jesus) S.A. as our Prophets and the Messengers of Allah.

We respect them not as a God but as a Prophet and Messenger of Allah. And Rose to make it clear - we Muslims never believed/never will believe that Moses or Jesus is our God. And I hope you respect the fact that Jesus is not our God.

If anyone has felt insulted or offended please accept my apologies. And I'm really sorry that I'm hi-jacking this thread which is for Jews but i just needed to quote that line. Sorry again.

Vampie wrote:

cute_pink10 wrote:

RoseIce wrote:

As I see it God of the Christians is God of the Jews & the Muslims too.

Rose you wrote the totally wrong thing and i was going to attack you with it. but since you are my friend let me make it clear.

Jesus is the Christians/Catholic's God. Moses is the God of Jews.
But what we Muslims believe there is one God which is Allah and we believe Musa (Moses) S.A. and Isa (Jesus) S.A. as our Prophets and the Messengers of Allah.

We respect them not as a God but as a Prophet and Messenger of Allah. And Rose to make it clear - we Muslims never believed/never will believe that Moses or Jesus is our God. And I hope you respect the fact that Jesus is not our God.

If anyone has felt insulted or offended please accept my apologies. And I'm really sorry that I'm hi-jacking this thread which is for Jews but i just needed to quote that line. Sorry again.

No, you are wrong. Both Christians and Jews believe in one God, and this God happens to be the God of Abraham in all cases, just Christians believe Jesus was a Messiah and God and Muslims believe he was just a prophet, and that Muhammad was the last prophet.

Now I'm really confused . Isn't the God of Abraham aka Abram also the same God that is worshipped by Jews, Christians & Muslims, no matter which Prophet &/or Messiah they follow?

RoseIce wrote:

Vampie wrote:

cute_pink10 wrote:

Rose you wrote the totally wrong thing and i was going to attack you with it. but since you are my friend let me make it clear.

Jesus is the Christians/Catholic's God. Moses is the God of Jews.
But what we Muslims believe there is one God which is Allah and we believe Musa (Moses) S.A. and Isa (Jesus) S.A. as our Prophets and the Messengers of Allah.

We respect them not as a God but as a Prophet and Messenger of Allah. And Rose to make it clear - we Muslims never believed/never will believe that Moses or Jesus is our God. And I hope you respect the fact that Jesus is not our God.

If anyone has felt insulted or offended please accept my apologies. And I'm really sorry that I'm hi-jacking this thread which is for Jews but i just needed to quote that line. Sorry again.

No, you are wrong. Both Christians and Jews believe in one God, and this God happens to be the God of Abraham in all cases, just Christians believe Jesus was a Messiah and God and Muslims believe he was just a prophet, and that Muhammad was the last prophet.

Now I'm really confused . Isn't the God of Abraham aka Abram also the same God that is worshipped by Jews, Christians & Muslims, no matter which Prophet &/or Messiah they follow?

yes we believe there is a God Of Abraham but many many believe that Jesus Christ or Moses is God. but for us Allah is God.

Whoah, look at all the activity on this thread that happened while I was asleep!

To clarify for people who got confused:
Judaism, Christianity and Islam each believe in One G-d.  That is why we are called "monotheistic" religions.  Judaism was the first of these 3 monotheistic religions.

We do NOT consider Moses or Abraham "G-d"-- that is completely ridiculous.  They may have been prophets or historical figures, but Judaism forbids the worship of anything besides G-d.  That means no idolatry, or veneration of a mere human.  In fact, one of the most important prayers in Judaism (the first one you ever learn, and the last thing a Jew should say before s/he dies), the Shema, states just this.  The first line is Shema, Yisrael Adonai, Eloheinu Adonai Echad (Hear, O Israel, the Lord our G-d is ONE).

So sorry cute_pink10-- NO Jew believes that "Moses or Abraham is G-d , that is ridiculous and I don't know where you heard it.  We believe in one G-d, a creator and sustainer of all things.  Just like Allah is for Muslims.  Christians also believe in one ultimate G-d (the same one as the Jews).  The only difference is that they have divided G-d (by calling Jesus the "son of god", or a physical incarnation of Him). But ultimately, Jews, Christians and Muslims believe in the same, single, omnipotent, universal G-d.  .

We just have different names for G-d, and different worship styles.  But fundamentally, they are all the same.

Last edited by Tevunoth88 (08-08-2010 18:30)

Tevunoth88 wrote:

Whoah, look at all the activity on this thread that happened while I was asleep!

To clarify for people who got confused:
Judaism, Christianity and Islam each believe in One G-d.  That is why we are called "monotheistic" religions.  Judaism was the first of these 3 monotheistic religions.

We do NOT consider Moses or Abraham "G-d"-- that is completely ridiculous.  They may have been prophets or historical figures, but Judaism forbids the worship of anything besides G-d.  That means no idolatry, or veneration of a mere human.  In fact, one of the most important prayers in Judaism (the first one you ever learn, and the last thing a Jew should say before s/he dies), the Shema, states just this.  The first line is Shema, Yisrael Adonai, Eloheinu Adonai Echad (Hear, O Israel, the Lord our G-d is ONE).

So sorry cute_pink10-- NO Jew believes that "Moses or Abraham is G-d , that is ridiculous and I don't know where you heard it.  We believe in one G-d, a creator and sustainer of all things.  Just like Allah is for Muslims.  Christians also believe in one ultimate G-d (the same one as the Jews).  The only difference is that they have divided G-d (by calling Jesus the "son of god", or a physical incarnation of Him). But ultimately, Jews, Christians and Muslims believe in the same, single, omnipotent, universal G-d.  .

We just have different names for G-d, and different worship styles.  But fundamentally, they are all the same.

^^

That is correct.

I just have to ask, why do you keep writing God  > G-d ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_India

I actually used to think that Indians are either Muslims or Buddhists.

Bimbo Angel wrote:

That is correct.

I just have to ask, why do you keep writing God  > G-d ?

Judaism discourages using G-d's name directly, since it could be potentially destroyed or defiled if printed out.  Also, it is sort of seen as a sign of respect.  We view G-d as so great/massive/awe-some that we cannot begin to comprehend Him.  Therefore, attempting to name Him would imply that He is limited by the man-made name.  This is also why we do not show any depictions/images of Him.  It is a little confusing, but standard practice among most Jews.  Although you should know-- in the original Hebrew text, G-d is not called "G-d", it is a Hebrew word.  But in English, we substitute "G-d". 

Although the Hebrew name is pronounced (and transliterated in English prayer books) as Adonai, you will never see it spelled that way in Hebrew text.  It is spelled with 2 vowels, in order to not directly name Him.  Often, words such as Elohim (Lord) or other indirect words are used.


And you may notice me saying "gods" or "god" in lowercase, as a generic term for other religion's deities or the definition of the word.  If I am talking about a deity that I believe could be mine, I always use the hyphen.  Sorry if this is confusing, does it make any sense?

kukubolonza wrote:

Hey all I'm not jewish, I'm a free thinker but I like learning about other cultures. Can I join?

Welcome, kukubolonza   Thanks for your interest, I really appreciate it.

Is there any topic in general you were interested in that you'd like to discuss (or questions)?

Tevunoth88 wrote:

kukubolonza wrote:

Hey all I'm not jewish, I'm a free thinker but I like learning about other cultures. Can I join?

Welcome, kukubolonza   Thanks for your interest, I really appreciate it.

Is there any topic in general you were interested in that you'd like to discuss (or questions)?

Nothing in particular Just your general beliefs

Tevunoth88 wrote:

RoseIce wrote:

Shalom (I'm not Jewish but have a Great- Great-etc- Great Grand Mother who was Jewish. My Great- Great-etc- Great Grand Father was an Orthodox Priest who fell in love with her & she also fell in love with him. He actually gave up the priesthood & married her in a Synagogue. I think he converted to marry her? As I see it God of the Christians is God of the Jews & the Muslims too. That's why I don't understand the endless wars of divisions. An old proverb 'An Eye for an Eye makes you blind'. I guess that why war in the Middle East looks like it has no ending.  Every country in the world has a dark past as well as it's days of light. I hope one day the worlds leaders & populations will wake up too itself & let the light of humanity grow instead of suppressing it with blood.

RoseIce- that is such a cool story!  In case you didn't know, Judaism is traditionally "passed down" through the mother's side.  So if your mom's mom's mom's... mom was Jewish, you are considered halachically (Jewish Law) Jewish- even if you do not practice or identify as such   Not all Jews accept that though- some more liberal branches say that if just one parent is lineally Jewish, you should be equally legit.  Myself included, because I am Jewish through my father's (not mom's) side haha. 

And it is true, we all essentially believe in the same G-d, who has the same qualities and abilities.  Our worship styles even share some common traits!  People just get caught up in the religious rituals, or their social differences, or details in the Torah/Talmud, Bible or Qu'ran, and are blind to the similarities that we share.  Historically (and religiously), we are cousins!

Genetics you get when one is conceived, you inherit the complete genes of both parents & that would mean even having one Jewish ancestor adds the Jewish genes from either parents history into oneself. I can see the Liberal Branches perspective from a scientific point of view. It was also from ancient Jewish history that The Kabbalah originated from.  That is one branch of metaphysics I haven't explored yet. Now I am more curious. Thank God for the internet, it will save buying books

RoseIce wrote:

Tevunoth88 wrote:

RoseIce- that is such a cool story!  In case you didn't know, Judaism is traditionally "passed down" through the mother's side.  So if your mom's mom's mom's... mom was Jewish, you are considered halachically (Jewish Law) Jewish- even if you do not practice or identify as such   Not all Jews accept that though- some more liberal branches say that if just one parent is lineally Jewish, you should be equally legit.  Myself included, because I am Jewish through my father's (not mom's) side haha. 

And it is true, we all essentially believe in the same G-d, who has the same qualities and abilities.  Our worship styles even share some common traits!  People just get caught up in the religious rituals, or their social differences, or details in the Torah/Talmud, Bible or Qu'ran, and are blind to the similarities that we share.  Historically (and religiously), we are cousins!

Genetics you get when one is conceived, you inherit the complete genes of both parents & that would mean even having one Jewish ancestor adds the Jewish genes from either parents history into oneself. I can see the Liberal Branches perspective from a scientific point of view. It was also from ancient Jewish history that The Kabbalah originated from.  That is one branch of metaphysics I haven't explored yet. Now I am more curious. Thank God for the internet, it will save buying books

I talked to a rabbi's wife about Jewish lineage, she had an explanation (that I, being not as observant as her, do not personally agree with).  Rather than being Jewish genetically (where 1/2 of each parent's genes are given to you), she told me that it is the mother's Jewish spirit/soul that is passed down.  But again, this is a rabbinical interpretation, not anywhere to be found in the Torah or Tanakh- so not all Jews accept that.  I personally believe that anyone who feels Jewish, feels that way for a reason- G-d gave them their Jewish Neshama (soul).  It is not our (human's) place to judge whether someone's Jewishness is "pure" enough, as long as they are truly devoted.