[HANASHIR:9139] RE: Jewish organists

[Eric Simon <erics...>]

At 11:50 AM 5/21/01 -0700, Richard Glauber wrote:
>I was complaining
>about the focus of "us and them" and how pervasive
>that is.

What _is_ the problem, them, of making a "distinction" between Jews and
non-Jews?

For one, being "chosen" to follow the mitzvas enables us to say: "A good
Jew should do x, y, and z; but A non-Jew just has to be a good person, and
can get to the world to come much easier."

In contrast, religions that are "universalist", that is, they apply their
rules, morals, and beliefs to _everyone_, leave no room for that.
According to many branches of Christianity, we are doomed to hell unless we
believe in you-know-who.  And, imho, the main reason is _because_ they do
not make a distinction.

We, on the other, who _do_ make a distinction, can say: "celebrating
Shabbat is good for the Jews, and non-Jews can believe what they want."

Furthermore, if one does not make a distinction between between Jewish and
not being Jewish, then why _bother_ being Jewish?  What's the point of
trying to raise Jewish kids -- just raise kids who are "nice", no?

-- Eric


------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org -----------------------+