Date: Saturday, 19 December 1992 23:40:32 MST
X-Mailer: TMail version 1.15R
From: "D. C. Sessions" <dcs@witsend.tnet.com>
Organization: Nobody but me -- really
Subject: Re: Jewish Missions?? & a bit of good news!
Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish
Distribution: world

In <1992Dec18.162409.2765@midway.uchicago.edu>, hasn@midway.uchicago.edu wrote:
# The incidents I spoke of occured a while ago so I honestly am at some loss here.
# But regardless of whether they were JforJ's or "independent" missions, that is 
# not the point I was trying to make (so lets assume that I was incorrect in my
# assumption....and keep this thread alive).  The issue was/is that who is the "real" jew or
# muslim or hindu or christian and so on?  Its one thing to get annoyed (and I know
# how annoying missions are, believe me) at missions, but it is a totally different 
# thing to call them "phoney."  Because they're not a conspiracy.  Islam has many 
# sects that constantly tell the other what is wrong with their side:  it is annoying but
# does not make the other side "not-real" muslims.  The same applies to other religions.
# If one chooses to detract, the condemnation received from the so-called "real" side
# is equivalent to that received "by" the "real" side.  All of our cultures and religions
# were never static at any point in history and continue to change/evolve/mature.  And 
# that is the cause of splits and sects.  Having grown up with parents from two 
# separate sects, and therefore having attended separate mosques, the question of "real"
# was fluid from childhood.  But I'll end now (I love metaphysical issues and could
# go on forever!).  I any case how do people feel about this issue?

  Sectarian disagreements will be with us until the Mashiach settles
  them.  Which is not to say that there are no bounds.  I can't see
  a Hindu having the chutzpa to claim that his religion is really
  compatible with Judaism, and rightly so; such a claim is a gross
  insult to both.  Similarly, although there are sectarian disputes
  within Islam, I can't see ANY serious Muslim accepting the Baha'i
  as being the true successors to Islam.  So when an Xian comes
  along and tells us that he's practicing the One True Judaism,
  we don't take it too well and are ashamed of him and ashamed FOR
  the Xians who had to resort to fraud to do their recruiting.

--------------

  Only marginally related:

  This fall, Scottsdale's Ahavat Torah Congregation (C) self-destructed.
  The banks foreclosed on the property, but Har Zion (C) very
  generously agreed to accept transfer memberships, hired the rabbi
  as an associate, and picked up the kids in school.

  This left a couple of buildings.  Several of us were concerned that
  they'd get picked up by a church.  Not to fear!  Tonight I took
  the kids to a (re-)dedication affair there; a private group has
  bought the property and is starting up a "Jewish Spiritual Center"
  with a charter to do some remedial Judaism for the disconnected.
  I'm not real clear on details, since we just went to show some
  support and ended up at a wedding!  A great time was had by all.

--- D. C. Sessions                            Speaking for myself ---
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