starryeyed
New member
Now, I'm not Jewish but my man is, and we've lived together lo these four years, often discussing the politics, sociology, and religion of America and Judaism, among other groups.
For a long time, doctrines in most cultures were based upon the oral tradition, which meant an ever-evolving, continuously-edited, living code.
When such codes are written down, they are encapsulated in one time period, for all future members to either follow rigorously or re-interpret.
It is so much easier in religion, in this country at the very least, to have factions that agree to disagree. Jews can be Reformists who drive and take pictures on Sabbath,
or they can be orthodox, keeping a stove lit from an hour prior to sundown the day before Sabbath, and lasting through the 24-hr period with stews that will keep nicely, to avoid 1)lighting a fire and 2)doing work.
What a range of possibilities, based on interpreting or not re-interpreting the written code.
I believe that life in America can be lived at any of these multiple levels in personal jurisdiction, Talmudic or Consitutional, or whatever you personally follow.
We ahve such a problem with having the freedom to choose as Americans.
We have indoctrinated ourselves so much into the freedmo of expression, etc., that we have failed to find common ground as a nation.
Of course, I'm all for re-interpretation based on current circumstances.
I'm all for considering the Constitution to be a living document that must evolve with us.
I'm all for evaluating whether the forefathers who wrote theConstitution weren't bigamist cahuvinists who deserve a total upheaval, as the 13th, 14th, and 19th Amendment did.
But, hey, that's jsut my opinion.We're all Americans.
I do me and you do you.
So we can fight forever.
Literal interpretation?
Back to the old days?
Well, you have a right to think so.
And therein lies the problem.
For a long time, doctrines in most cultures were based upon the oral tradition, which meant an ever-evolving, continuously-edited, living code.
When such codes are written down, they are encapsulated in one time period, for all future members to either follow rigorously or re-interpret.
It is so much easier in religion, in this country at the very least, to have factions that agree to disagree. Jews can be Reformists who drive and take pictures on Sabbath,
or they can be orthodox, keeping a stove lit from an hour prior to sundown the day before Sabbath, and lasting through the 24-hr period with stews that will keep nicely, to avoid 1)lighting a fire and 2)doing work.
What a range of possibilities, based on interpreting or not re-interpreting the written code.
I believe that life in America can be lived at any of these multiple levels in personal jurisdiction, Talmudic or Consitutional, or whatever you personally follow.
We ahve such a problem with having the freedom to choose as Americans.
We have indoctrinated ourselves so much into the freedmo of expression, etc., that we have failed to find common ground as a nation.
Of course, I'm all for re-interpretation based on current circumstances.
I'm all for considering the Constitution to be a living document that must evolve with us.
I'm all for evaluating whether the forefathers who wrote theConstitution weren't bigamist cahuvinists who deserve a total upheaval, as the 13th, 14th, and 19th Amendment did.
But, hey, that's jsut my opinion.We're all Americans.
I do me and you do you.
So we can fight forever.
Literal interpretation?
Back to the old days?
Well, you have a right to think so.
And therein lies the problem.