Noahidism

[smaneck]

The evidence that there is life after death is in the Tanakh.

Huh? Where is that? My understanding is that there is no clear mention of life after death in the Tanakh until we get to the Book of Daniel which shows a lot of Persian influence.

 

[gord44]

Hi gordRedeemed, there are Noahide communities online. We have a few people who atttend our congregation who are not Jewish and who could be classified as Noahides.
These are people who love Judaism and would convert in an instant but are not able to. They are involved in the congregation and community, but cannot become full members and therefore have a limited role. Other Noahides have no desire to convert but follow much of Judaism but not all of it, ie they observe the sabbath and the holy days, or keep kosher, but not in the manner that Jews do.

Thanks ChavaK. Appreciate the info. I have found some good info online as well as some good podcasts on Noahides and the Torah.

 

[LoAmmi]

Huh? Where is that? My understanding is that there is no clear mention of life after death in the Tanakh until we get to the Book of Daniel which shows a lot of Persian influence.

When some people die, it is said that they were "gathered to their people". Take Moses, for instances ,in Deut 32:50. He died alone on a mountain but was gathered to his people. That almost has to be a reference to a life after death, otherwise it's completely meaningless.

 

[LoAmmi]

being a noahide seems like the religious equivalent of being a cuckold

Perhaps you could elaborate a bit on this?

 

[LoAmmi]

what role exactly do the noahides have to play in the world to come

I have no clue what role I would play in it and you're asking what other people are going to be doing?

 

[smaneck]

When some people die, it is said that they were "gathered to their people". Take Moses, for instances ,in Deut 32:50. He died alone on a mountain but was gathered to his people. That almost has to be a reference to a life after death, otherwise it's completely meaningless.

Rather vague, don't you think?

 

[LoAmmi]

Rather vague, don't you think?

Vague evidence is still evidence. We are not supposed to be focused on the afterlife. I find religions that spend too much time focused on what comes next spend too little time focused on what's happening now.

 

[smaneck]

I find religions that spend too much time focused on what comes next spend too little time focused on what's happening now.

I agree, but it is my understanding that the question was sufficiently vague that Jews themselves debated the question of the afterlife. This was one of the bones of contention between the Sadducees and the Pharisees. But since the Sadducee school dies with the destruction of the Temple, I guess it doesn't much matter.

 

[LoAmmi]

I agree, but it is my understanding that the question was sufficiently vague that Jews themselves debated the question of the afterlife. This was one of the bones of contention between the Sadducees and the Pharisees. But since the Sadducee school dies with the destruction of the Temple, I guess it doesn't much matter.

What don't Jews debate?

 

[Supreme]

I'd never heard of this till this thread. It's fascinating that Jews believe that non-Jews also have to follow laws, I had never thought there was any such idea within Judaism. Seem like very reasonable laws, mind you.

 

[LoAmmi]

I'd never heard of this till this thread. It's fascinating that Jews believe that non-Jews also have to follow laws, I had never thought there was any such idea within Judaism. Seem like very reasonable laws, mind you.

Unfortunately the perception that Judaism has a belief that HaShem only cares about Jews or that Jews only care about Jews is one that seems stuck in a lot of places.

 

[smaneck]

What don't Jews debate?

LOL

 

[Supreme]

Unfortunately the perception that Judaism has a belief that HaShem only cares about Jews or that Jews only care about Jews is one that seems stuck in a lot of places.

True. I'd always been led to believe that God only cared about the Jews in Judaism, and that they alone were His people- nobody else mattered to Him. Guess I was wrong.

 

[gord44]

I was listening to a podcast today on Isaiah 53, and it spoke from the perspective that it is the Jews that 'were pierced for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities.' That's from the point of view of the gentiles saying this about the Jews. Like saying "uh oh. looks like the Jewish people were right.' at the end of days. Of course a Christian will say it is referring to a man as it's singular, but the speaker pointed out that Israel is referred to in a singular/human fashion often in the OT including in Isaiah.

Following along that line of thought, it is then by the Jews stripes that maybe the Gentiles will be 'healed' and brought to G-d in the world to come? Fascinating.

Not trying to sell that point of view, just found it interesting is all. If anything my seeking into Noahides has lead me to understand Jewish theology a bit more and how badly it is understood by other faiths.

 

[LoAmmi]

True. I'd always been led to believe that God only cared about the Jews in Judaism, and that they alone were His people- nobody else mattered to Him. Guess I was wrong.

Very wrong.

Though it isn't scripture, one of our stories has to do with the Egyptians dying in the sea. If you remember in the tale, the Jews celebrated and danced for being delivered.

The story goes that the angels in the Heavenly court began to celebrate at the same time and HaShem said to them "How can you celebrate? Can't you see my creations are drowning?" speaking, of course, of the Egyptians.

 

[LoAmmi]

I was listening to a podcast today on Isaiah 53, and it spoke from the perspective that it is the Jews that 'were pierced for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities.' That's from the point of view of the gentiles saying this about the Jews. Like saying "uh oh. looks like the Jewish people were right.' at the end of days. Of course a Christian will say it is referring to a man as it's singular, but the speaker pointed out that Israel is referred to in a singular/human fashion often in the OT including in Isaiah.

Following along that line of thought, it is then by the Jews stripes that maybe the Gentiles will be 'healed' and brought to G-d in the world to come? Fascinating.

Not trying to sell that point of view, just found it interesting is all. If anything my seeking into Noahides has lead me to understand Jewish theology a bit more and how badly it is understood by other faiths.

We would say that it isn't "for our transgressions" or "for our iniquities" but the proper translation should be "because of our".

 

[gord44]

We would say that it isn't "for our transgressions" or "for our iniquities" but the proper translation should be "because of our".

right good point. the speaker mentioned there were translation 'issues' depending on who was translating.

 

[LoAmmi]

right good point. the speaker mentioned there were translation 'issues' depending on who was translating.

It depends on the source sometimes. Jewish translations are almost always going to come from the Hebrew whereas a lot of Christian translations are going to come from the Greek.