A Message for Jews

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@Ruveyn: You might get a kick out of this ...

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... 1892568628

Not a polemic [and I have no cigars to pass on or out, sorry]:

But I would be just tickled pink to hear which of all the religions known to have been in business at ans time past or present, where we have as much information as I have on the Druze - just enough, that is to get a minimal idea of beliefs and practices -

WHICH out of them all is not going to strike a thoughtful atheist as silly?

Given that many of them - as we have seen - strike even theists not adherents of the religion in question as silly, it is hard to see how any would avoid judgement as silly.

Actually, I think that the Christian concept of forgiveness does not require the Christian to receive a request of forgiveness from the transgressor prior to issuing forgiveness.

I cannot speak to Christianity, of course.

In Judaism, it is religiously required to forgive the person who seeks it from you sincerely. Further, it is a religious obligation for Jews to seek forgiveness from those we have wronged, for G-d will not forgive those wrongs that have been done to other people.

This comes to the fore in Jewish observance in the period between Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur during which time it is supposed that the Book of Life has been written, but not yet sealed. During this time, Jews are taught to make reparations and seek forgiveness from those that they have wronged. We then seek forgiveness from G-d on Yom Kippur for the transgression committed against G-d.

Even if one does not believe in the Book of Life, it is no bad thing to be taught that you are obliged to seek forgiveness from the people you have hurt.

visagrunt:

"In Judaism, it is religiously required to forgive the person who seeks it from you sincerely. Further, it is a religious obligation for Jews to seek forgiveness from those we have wronged, for G-d will not forgive those wrongs that have been done to other people."

Oh me oh my, how that takes me back. Three incidents, from around the same time in my life - like a three year period.

1. I have a student who from day 1 clearly cannot but loathe me - no obvious reason.

At the end of the semester I take her aside, apologize for anything I might have said or done to provoke, albeit unwittingly, that reaction.

Her response - to denounce me to the authorities for sexual harassment [the last thing on my mind, believe me!]

2. There is a person who worked for years to pull me down and do me dirt. Again no obvious reason.

After contact has been broken off, she calls me up and apologizes. I tell her I forgive her.

Her response - to snap at me that she does not want my stinking forgiveness and hang up.

3. There is a person whom I have harmed, nothing I intended, nothing I could help, but it happened.

I visit her, ask for her forgiveness.

Her response - to tell me she forgives me, followed by about two hours of pointing out how totally reprehensible and unacceptable. my conduct was.

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It is sheer coincidence all three examples happened to be female.

Which is where it lies. I have had no further interaction of any kind with any of those three or certain other nutcases [no, I am not a psych industry professonal, but nutcase is ot a professional diagnosis].

I trust they too have moved on.

I could not have said it better, sartresue.