Friday, December 31, 2010

The Judeo-Christian, Part I. Moses, a Scientific Genius 3,000 Years ahead of His time



Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

- Ecclesiastes 12:13



Part I. Moses, a Scientific Genius 3,000 Years ahead of His time

For many of today's intellectuals, modern science, most especially Darwinism, has led them to conclude that the Judeo-Christian tradition is not only an out-dated concept, but a primitive superstition which may even prove to be incompatible with modern, secular society. What nearly everyone seems to have overlooked is the sheer ancient scientific genius that can be clearly seen in the first chapter of Genesis. In just a few short verses, this particular text mentions the Big Bang, the stellar evolution of the universe, the general geophysics of Earth formation, and the exact sequence of biological evolution as seen on this planet. In other words, secular intellectuals must admit that the Genesis account of Creation, what they usually dismiss as mythological is closer to the modern scientific understanding of the natural world than any other rival Creation legend. As one scientifically-minded Judeo-Christian believer puts it:

The ancient Bible (including Genesis 1) was written, around 3,300 years ago, as it is understood today. Only in the past two hundred years has science started to be capable of recognizing the (apparently) correct scientific sequence of those events. And they have turned out to be REMARKABLY similar.

- Genesis and Science ARE Compatible!

Seen carefully, the real question that remains unanswered is how the orphan son of a lowly Israelite mother named Moses, who was raised and educated by the Pharaoh's daughter, ever became so enlightened and informed about how the sun and the stars, along with Earth and all its life-forms ever came into existence. Since the time that Moses was still living in ancient Egypt, around 1,300-1,500 B.C., modern scholars have now determined that, in general, Egyptian civilization never really developed any actual scientific knowledge at all, except their exceptional building skills and clever agricultural know-how. Egyptian hieroglyphics, as deciphered by modern experts, reveal that the society Moses was brought up in was woefully ignorant about the skies above them and the wild-life that surrounded them. In short, ancient Egypt was a polytheistic, superstitious, slave-based kingdom completely ignorant of astrophysics, biological evolution, and nearly any other scientific field of study. On the other hand, the Book of Genesis is either an indication of supreme intelligence or one of the luckiest guesses about the sequence of evolution ever known in the history of the world.

Genesis 1 depicts the unfolding of the Divine energies in the sequence Earth, plants, marine animals, terrestrial animals, and humans – precisely the sequence confirmed by evolution.

- Orthodoxy Today

In stark contrast to the mental nonsense of ancient Egypt, the first chapter of Genesis written by Moses is like that of a well-informed modern scientist deliberately writing a semi-legendary account of Creation and clearly intending it for the common man of Israel to understand. Back then most people were illiterate, completely ignorant, and basically frightened of the unknown, which included the skies above them and the wild animals who lurked at the edges of Egyptian society. Obviously the author set out to write a short, fact-based account of the world's primordial origins which would both educate and inspire the common people, as well as the readers that came after him, yet remain absolutely valid metaphorically. Seen carefully, the story of Genesis is like an incredibly poetic saga of a wise and merciful sorcerer or wizard who looks deeply into a dark, magic cauldron and then casts His spells through His thunderous words, thus causing the universe to be magically brought in existence.

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

- Genesis 1:1-2

Even so, this fun and entertaining folk-tale of a seven-day ritual of great power and magic also remains completely embedded with scientific facts, which were probably meant to be taught centuries later when the simple minds of the ancient, gullible listeners were better able to understand them. One must remember that the precise details of the Darwinian theory of evolution can only be grasped by well-educated thinkers fully versed in physics, mathematics, chemistry, and biology. Remember, not a single one of the ancient Israelites whom Moses was addressing knew anything about the molecular structure of DNA or the mathematical concept of random chance or probability. Not only that, there is also the spiritual issue of man's special relationship to God, the mysterious entity who hides behind the curtain of material reality. A primitive mind could easily misinterpret the Darwinian model of history and then wrongly assume that their beloved pet dog, cat, or monkey, is just as worthwhile as their fellow human beings who have been blessed by God to rule the animals, not deify them as the ancient Egyptians did. The gods they worshipped were seen as humans with various animal heads placed upon them, an absurd impossibility. This was not the case with the God of Moses and his fellow Israelites, whom they had oppressed and enslaved.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.

- Genesis 1:27

Genesis clearly reiterates the obvious truth of the real world that the Biblical God's last, ultimate creation known as men and women must, like good brothers and sisters, look after each other first and foremost, because none of the other animals will ever feed, clothe, or truly love their rulers known as man. They don't know how. Rather than the violent chaos of Darwinian 'survival of the fittest', Genesis depicts a God that, in turn, rules benevolently over mankind. The account written by Moses is also followed by a repeated emphasis that all men must try to obey their Creator's instinctive commandments against theft, murder, adultery, and lying, concepts that other life-forms clearly don't and may never comprehend. Modern evolutionary scientists know quite well that mankind is far superior, and completely different, than any other animals, including the apes and gorillas which came long before God endowed Adam with a hand-made immortal soul. These moral and ethical lessons are basically what the Judeo-Christian Creation story is clearly intended to proclaim, not the exact number of eons involved in stellar evolution, or the evolutionary reason behind the horns of goats and sheep..

Evolution contradicts a literalistic interpretation of Genesis. However, according to Roman Catholicism and most contemporary Protestant Churches, biblical literalism in the creation account is not mandatory. Christians have considered allegorical interpretations of Genesis since long before the development of Darwin's theory of evolution.

- Theistic Evolution, Wikipedia

Put bluntly, modern man knows quite well that most of the stars and planets which came into being originated billions of years ago, while biological life slowly developed over the course of hundreds of millions of years. However, primitive man had absolutely no clue how any thing had been created. Most were too busy working hard to survive and feed their families to ever really question the material world that surrounded. Thus, to cater to all the ancient Israelites, Moses probably chose to keep the Creation account short and simple for the sake of his primitive audience, most of whom could not even count up to ten. However, the factual and scientific sequence of Earth's formation and the evolution of life on this planet can still be clearly seen in his Creation 'story'.

Theistic evolutionists argue that it is inappropriate to use Genesis as a scientific text, since it was written in a pre-scientific age and originally intended for religious instruction; as such, seemingly chronological aspects of the creation accounts should be thought of in terms of a literary framework.

- Theistic Evolution, Wikipedia

What does emerge from the Genesis text is a concise understanding concerning the sequence of events leading up to the present solar system (Astrophysics) along with an implied knowledge that carefully classifies life-forms into scientifically-based categories like plants or animals, birds or insects, fish or mammals, and even carnivores and herbivores (Zoology). Not only that, but the seven-day period of Creation shows an absolutely unmistakable background knowledge of the correct sequence of Darwinian evolution (Biology). Remember, this account was written more than 3,000 years ago in a culture that sincerely worshipped the sun (a hot ball of gas) and moon (a freezing cold desert rock) as supernatural gods who ruled over them.

There are very few instances where the Bible and science stand face-to-face regarding established facts. The most prominent of these is the story of Creation in Genesis.

- Genesis and Science ARE Compatible!

Once again, Moses shows a highly advanced, basically unheard of, theological outlook (Universal Monotheism) which clearly believes the one, true God created all material reality from nothing at all, except his own Divine will-power (Judeo-Christian-Islam). Where did Moses ever learn these incredibly complex and scientifically-based doctrines, thousands of years before anyone else even came close to understanding them? There is no way he was taught these things from the ancient Egyptians who were basically ignorant, primitive Pagans who left behind no scholarly or scientific writings, with the sole exception of absurd, nonsensical legends concerning many different gods, such as the Egyptian book of the dead.

The story in Genesis 1 of the Bible, about the beginning of everything, is fully compatible with modern science. It actually even PROVES that modern science is on the right track! And modern science has CONFIRMED that Genesis presents the proper sequence of events!

- Genesis and Science ARE Compatible!

Today's arrogant skeptics and agnostic, or even atheist, scientists love to point a finger at the God-fearing Christians who insist the world was created by God in just seven days. Historically speaking, the most literate Judeo-Christian believers of the past never truly believed in the seven day mega-miracle of Genesis. In reality, both Christians, and the Jews before them, have nearly always understood that the seven day time period was allegorical, like a child's educational story, and that the real world actually took much longer to form. As one source describes:

Evolution contradicts a literalistic interpretation of Genesis. However, according to Roman Catholicism and most contemporary Protestant Churches, biblical literalism in the creation account is not mandatory. Christians have considered allegorical interpretations of Genesis since long before the development of Darwin's theory of evolution.

- Theistic Evolution, Wikipedia

Although some Pagan Creation myths are quite poetic and meaningful, the fact remains that not a single ancient Creation story ever truly address the material world's origins in a scientific manner, with the sole exception of the Book of Genesis. Nearly every one of them is an obvious fairy tale composed of non-existent monsters, heroes and villains, while some of them also include grotesque imagery and even blatant sexual perversion as an integral part of biological life's creation. Indeed, they all seem to be fictional and childish renditions of numerous rival 'gods' who fight and smite each other like criminals on the loose, occasionally looking down upon mankind as worthless inferiors solely created for their amusement, and who were destined to be ruled by them due to their 'Divine' right of authority. This is far different than Genesis which depicts a singular, all-powerful, all-knowing peaceful God with His Angels silently and obediently waiting patiently for their Creator to complete His creation of the material universe. Instead of laughing or mocking mankind, the God of Genesis blesses them and their fellow life-forms, the fish and the birds, thus making a concise distinction between life (living beings like plants, animals, and man) and death (inanimate objects like air, water, fire, and earth).

With this approach toward evolution, scriptural creation stories are typically interpreted as being allegorical in nature. Both Jews and Christians have considered the idea of the creation history as an allegory (instead of a historical description) long before the development of Darwin's theory. An example in Christianity would be the earlier writings by St. Augustine (4th century)...Three noted Jewish examples are that of the writings of Philo of Alexandria (1st century), Maimonides (12th century) and Gersonides (13th century).

- Theistic Evolution, Wikipedia

Much unlike the rival Greco-Roman religion, which was eventually toppled by Christianity, the Hebrew God in Genesis does not bless the sun (Apollo), the moon (Diane), the planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter) at all. Tellingly, He only blesses the biological life-forms He has created. His blessing also includes a totally accurate prediction that mankind is destined to fill the earth with many different descendants and are intended to rule the lesser animals responsibly and wisely, just as He rules over man, His last and most God-like creation. What follows is a comparison between the Genesis Creation story and modern scientific fact which clearly shows the unbelievable, nearly miraculous, similarities between the two accounts:

RELIGION: In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.(Genesis 1:1-2)
SCIENCE: Modern Physics state that, before the Big Bang, reality was nothing than a singular point of darkness which had near infinite density and mass that eventually exploded, thus creating the known universe.

RELIGION: And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning- the first day.(Genesis 1:3-5)
SCIENCE: Modern Astrophysics now claim that the material universe started with a massive explosion of light and heat that filled the entire universe. (God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light). Over time, the light and energy subsided and either collapsed into stars or planets (God saw that the light was good) which continued to moved outwards in all directions (He separated the light from the darkness) and away from the initial Big Bang's location. This continued expansion created more and more dark space (darkness), nearly void of all energy, in between all the steadily increasing number of stars and planets (light). Planets began to revolve around larger stars called suns which then rotated upon their axis, thus causing periodic intervals of light (God called the light 'day') and darkness (the darkness he called 'night').

RELIGION: God said, 'Let there be a vault between the waters to separate the waters below from the waters above.' So God made the vault and separated the waters under the vault from the waters above it. And it was so. God called the vault 'sky.' And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. (Genesis 1:6-8)
SCIENCE: Modern Meteorology and Geophysics contends that when Earth first began to form, a large amount of water was repeatedly lost into outer space (waters above the vault) as steam was constantly being spewed upward from the hot, unstable lava flows on the planet's surface (separated the waters under the vault from the water above it). This process (separated the waters) continued until a viable atmosphere (a vault), which could retain all the water vapor rising upwards, eventually formed and became the blue sky (God called the vault 'sky'). Then, because of all the steam being released from the depths of the earth (waters below) by volcanoes, a thick layer of clouds (waters above) finally covered the whole planet. This process occurred repeatedly over the course of hundreds of millions of years (separated the waters under the vault from the waters above it). Finally, all the water once released upwards as steam then finally became trapped underground indefinitely (waters below). This additional water (waters below) has remained there as volcanic activity has slowly subsided. Nonetheless, oceans (water under the vault) have continued to condensate and rise upward to form clouds (water above it) which then fall down again via the rain and snow called precipitation.


RELIGION: And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:9-10)
SCIENCE: Modern Geology states that, at first, earth became a seething mass of lava (water) that began cooling into solid rock (dry ground). In time, the steam from tons upon tons of water trapped below ground caused torrential rains (gathered waters) which covered the earth (dry ground) with oceans. Because of all the initial violent volcanic activity on Earth's surface, there was no permanent sea level or stable land mass to sustain life. Then a single mega-continent formed slowly, but permanently (the dry ground 'land') which was then completely surrounded by a gigantic single body of water (water...gathered to one place).

RELIGION: Then God said, 'Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.' And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning- the third day. (Genesis 1:11-13)
SCIENCE: Modern Evolutionary Biology claims that, even though simple single-cell life-forms, may have first formed underwater, the first multi-cellular complex life-forms to appear on earth were plants and trees (Then God said, 'Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds'). Only during the past 2,000 years has man has confirmed scientifically that every distinct species of plants can only reproduce themselves. (The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds). Before then, the vast majority of people gathered fruit, nuts, berries, etc, from the wild because they never figured out how to keep their seeds, plant them (plants bearing seed according to their kinds), and grow enough crops to avoid starvation. Even in ancient Egypt, the most advanced civilization on earth at the time, most, if not all, of the Egyptians and enslaved Israelites, never knew that the seeds found in fruit must be buried in order to reproduce themselves. The cultivation of fruit and nuts, called orcharding (trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds) happens to be a fairly recent, post-Moses, discovery (And God saw that it was good).

Isn't that interesting? Composed around 3,300 years ago, Genesis had told us that plants came before any animals, and now science has proved why that was true, because of the animals' need for oxygen that the plants first created. Science is not confronting Genesis, but supporting it!

- Genesis and Science ARE Compatible!

RELIGION: And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. (Genesis 1:14-19)
SCIENCE: Modern Geophysics theorized that plant life on earth may have first appeared under a constant blanket of clouds that continued to obscure the stars and moon for millions of years, with the sun barely visible behind the dirty, ash-filled cloud cover. Indeed, this may well have been the case throughout the age of the dinosaurs and early mammals. For millions of years, primitive man had absolutely no sense of time or any idea about how to keep track of it. (God made two great lights-the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness). Besides for Mesopotamia (Abraham's native civilization) Ancient Egypt was the only human society in the entire world (except East Asia) that had ever mapped the stars and actually realized their repetitive positions on a yearly schedule which corresponded to annual growing seasons for crops. Even so, only a miniscule number of elite magicians and 'priests' within Egypt had ever actually learned how to do this (God said, 'Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years'). Most of man looked up and saw the lights as supernatural monsters or immortal gods ruling over them, not just inanimate, non-living lights that neither thought nor moved on their own (And God said, 'Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night').

RELIGION: And God said, 'Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.' So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, 'Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.' And there was evening, and there was morning- the fifth day. (Genesis 1:20-23)
SCIENCE: Modern Biology is fairly confident that animal life first came into being in the oceans underwater. Dinosaurs came next and are said to be the early ancestors of all of today's bird species (God blessed them and said, 'Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth'). Fish and Dinosaurs filled the entire planet long before the appearance of any mammal. Some of the ocean's animal life-forms were absolutely huge, even larger than any land-based dinosaur (So God created the great creatures of the sea) and existed long before them as well.

RELIGION: And God said, 'Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.' And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:24-25)
SCIENCE: Modern Zoology categorizes animals, all of whom bleed red blood, into distinct subgroups such herbivores (livestock), carnivores (wild animals) both of which are mammals, while distinguishing the birds and reptiles (creatures that move along the ground) as animals who are not, in fact, mammals (God said, 'Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.' And it was so). Evolutionary Biology is quite confident that warm-blooded mammals were the last type of animal to appear on earth long after plants, fish, and birds, or dinosaurs (God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds). While some rare individuals within ancient societies may have vaguely understood the modern theory of species, the vast majority had little idea that, for the most part, there are distinct species of animals that can only reproduce themselves through members of the exact same species. This includes very similar, nearly identical, types of species. Hawks cannot breed with eagles, cheetahs cannot breed with leopards, elk cannot breed with deer, and crocodiles with alligators (God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds). Moses, the author of Genesis, shows an incredible knowledge about scientifically-verifiable animal speciation, literally thousands of years before modern Zoology confirmed this reality (And God saw that it was good).

RELIGION: Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.' (Genesis 1:26-29)
SCIENCE: Modern biology is confident in their proclamation that man, the species called Homo Sapiens, was the last species to have 'evolved' on planet earth, long after every other life-form (So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them). While nearly every member of primitive society knew about the existence of many types of animals, the vast majority feared them, sometimes for good reason, and had absolutely no idea that within centuries man would have domesticated vast flocks, herds, and different breeds of many types of animals (God blessed them and said to them...'Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground'). At the same time, none of them would have ever imagined the accuracy of God's ancient recommendation (or prediction) to increase in population and colonize every corner of the earth, eventually establishing huge cities on every single continent and among every major culture in the world today. (God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it). Man is unique is not knowing or identifying different individuals by smell (like an animal), but by looking at their facial features (our likeness) thus explaining the vast diversity of facial features found in every man, woman, and child (God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness). Molecular Biology has also discovered that male sperm contain exactly 50% male sperm (xy DNA) and 50% female sperm (xx DNA) (In the image of God he created them, male and female He created them).

Modern scientists need to stop being so instinctively anti-religion and open their minds to the poetic genius that Moses and his Book of Genesis can bring to today's world once their arrogant ridicule and denial of the Judeo-Christian comes to an end. The 'primitive' scientific accuracy metaphorically hidden in the Genesis Creation legend remains completely unexplainable, even now, yet can be clearly seen in black and white for all to see.

May the LORD God bless you in the name of the Judeo-Christian.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

The Ikonophil Metropolitan, Part I. Ikons of Christianity, Ikons of Islam



Do not make for yourselves images of anything in Heaven or on Earth or in the water under the Earth. Do not bow down to any idol or worship it, because I am the LORD your God and I tolerate no rivals.

- Exodus 20:4-5



Part I. Ikons of Christianity, Ikons of Islam

Here are just a few Judeo-Christian Ikons worth seeing. Please enjoy the collection:

Ikons of Christianity





Here are some awesome Ikons of Islam, a religion closely related to the Judeo-Christian Tradition.

Ikons of Islam



May the LORD God bless you in the name of Abraham and Sarah.



The Jewish Star of David, The Christian Crucifix, and the Islamic Star and Crescent



Some Ikons of Mecca, Islam's Holy City and Capital



The Eye of Ikonophilia


The Good News Talmud, Part X. The Town and Country Animosities of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow



Every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of Heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.

- Matthew 13:52



Part X. The Town and Country Animosities of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow



A Jewish Rabbi and Catholic Priest Study Talmud Together

Because of the Internet, there will someday be a website where every single passage from the Gospels will be cross-referenced with at least two or three corresponding passages from the Talmud. A free information society benefits the Judeo-Christian tradition tremendously. Some Christians remain hesitant because of the old animosities between the Church and Jewish Rabbis and Scholars. This tendency is completely explainable. Many of the Church's best intellectuals, like Rabbi Joshua ben Joseph (Jesus Christ) Himself, were from the countryside, and were not the wealthy and important physicians, advisers, and bankers of Kings and Queens, as quite a few Talmudic Rabbis happened to be at the time. Tomorrow's Christians will understand the continuing tension between Nazareth (country), the hometown of the common man and scholar, and Jerusalem, the cesspool capital of the elite media's hypocrisy, nepotism, and corruption (town).

The debate about the wickedness of the Talmud is over as more Christians finally read and discover the Judeo-Christian goodness clearly written in the very text that has been misquoted and vilified for far too long. The real fight is between the common man and the secular elites who scoff at the Gospels, the Talmud, the Old Testament, and many other religious texts they dismiss as 'out-dated', 'superstitious', and 'mythological'. The Wisdom of the Talmud lives in throughout the country, while the city gleefully mocks Judeo-Christian believers just as Pharaoh and his magicians, Caesar and his Senatorial elite, and Greco-Roman Philosophers did so long ago. In the end, the Talmud will end up as a major study tool of the 21st Judeo-Christian scholars of tomorrow.

TALMUD: He who refuses to accept an apology from one who has offended him is wicked. (Numb. Rabba 19.
GOSPEL: If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them. (Luke 17:3-4)

TALMUD: If you have not acquired knowledge, what can you claim to be possessed of? If you have knowledge, what do you lack?(Numbers Rabba 19)
GOSPEL: After three days they found Him (Jesus) in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers. When they saw Him, they were astonished...And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (Luke 2:46-52)

TALMUD: Let not the nations of the earth say that God has favoured Israel and neglected them, for whatever benefit He bestowed on Israel was given also to other nations. (Numbers Rabba 20)
GOSPEL: These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ (Matthew 10:5-7)

TALMUD: In man's intellect there seem to be four degrees, and thus we find him losing his wits by four several degrees when indulging in strong drink. When a man drinks one-fourth more than is good for him, he loses one-fourth of his intellect; when he indulges in as much again, half of his faculties are for the time paralysed; after the third cup over and above what is good for him, he begins to speak incoherently, indeed he knows not what he says; and when he has indulged in the full four parts he is intellectually wrecked. (Numbers Rabba 10)
GOSPEL: Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. (Luke 21:34)

TALMUD: Rabbis Gamaliel, Joshua, Eleazar b. Azaria and Akiba were preachers in Rome. (Exodus Rabba 30)
GOSPEL: On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. And the Gospel must first be preached to all nations. (Mark 13:9-10)



The Talmud is not anti-Christian, but is filled with Rabbis who disagree

TALMUD: Of the many that go to sea most return, only a small percentage are lost. Also of those who plunge into the sea of matrimony most are happy, and only a small number are misalliances. (Numbers Rabba 9)
GOSPEL: Jesus answered, 'Moses allowed you to divorce your wives because you refused to accept God's teaching, but divorce was not allowed in the beginning.' (Matthew 19:7-9)

TALMUD: If any one tells you that there is no such thing as resurrection, refer him to what one of God's servants (Elijah) did (1 Kings 17) (Numbers Rabba 14)
GOSPEL: Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. (John 5:24-25)

TALMUD: If any one tells you that there is no such thing as resurrection, refer him to what one of God's servants (Elijah) did (1 Kings 17) (Numbers Rabba 14)
GOSPEL: That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question....Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. But about the resurrection of the dead-have you not read what God said to you, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.” When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. (Matthew 22:23-33)



Study Talmud Christian Scholars and Be Surprised by Goodness!

TALMUD: Man's eyes and his heart prompt him to sin. (Numbers Rabba 17)
GOSPEL: I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
(Matthew 5:28)

TALMUD: If you have not acquired knowledge, what can you claim to be possessed of? If you have knowledge, what do you lack?(Numbers Rabba 19)
GOSPEL: Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering. (Luke 11:52)

TALMUD: The truth of the Torah is a weapon to its possessor. (Numbers Rabba 12)
GOSPEL: All who stand before others and say they do not believe in me, I will say before my Father in Heaven that they do not belong to me. Don't think that I came to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:33-34)



An Illuminated Page of the Talmud

TALMUD: He who refuses to accept an apology from one who has offended him is wicked. (Numb. Rabba 19.
GOSPEL: Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.' (Matthew 18:21-22)

May the LORD God bless you in the name of the Judeo-Christian Tradition



A Young Male Reads Talmud for the Camera

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Introduction to the Good News Talmud



Every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of Heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.

- Matthew 13:52



Introduction to the Good News Talmud


I have been an amateur, Gentile Scholar of the Jewish Talmud for around ten or so years. I do not speak Yiddish, Aramaic, or Hebrew. Even so, and given everything I have learned so far without any Jewish input or instruction, I must conclude that the history of Gentile Christian animosity towards this astounding set of documents should be seen as a superstitious, unreasonable assault on common sense, let alone Biblical scholarship and practical judgment. Because of this, the Good News Talmud Series has been created to conclusively show the many astonishing similarities between the Gospels, the New Testament, and the Talmud, including the Babylonian Talmud, the Jerusalem Talmud, and all the later Rabbinical additions to them.



In reality, the Talmud is literally 99.999% acceptable to nearly all forms of Christian thought and reflects a sense of ethics and morality that is, in fact, far more strict than any form of Christianity. Those who still object to the .001% of the text which may, or may not, be offensive to Christianity, are lost in the land of irrationality and, God willing, someone will save them from themselves. Anyway, here is ABSOLUTE PROOF of an ancient, very real Judeo-Christian tradition embedded in both the Jewish Talmud and the Christian Gospel of Matthew. For those of you who have ever been mocked or ridiculed by either Jewish or Gentile intellectuals who insist that they has never been a Judeo-Christian tradition, here is your undeniable vindication.

TALMUD: Man has two hands, but he is not to rob with the one and give donations with the other. (Talmud, Midrash Proverbs 11)
GOSPEL: When you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:3-4)

TALMUD: Swear not at all, not even to the truth. (Talmud, Tanchum, Vayikra)
GOSPEL: I tell you, Do not swear at all. (Matthew 5:34)

TALMUD: The pure of heart are God's friends. (Talmud, Genesis Rabba 41)
GOSPEL: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8)

TALMUD: If you intend to put man to rights, put yourself to rights first. (Talmud, Midrash Psalms 53)
GOSPEL: Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?...You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. (Matthew 7:3-5)

TALMUD: Have no compunction to chastise where chastisement is called for. It will produce not animosity, but eventually love and peace. (Talmud, Genesis Rabba 54)
GOSPEL: Moreover if your brother should trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he will hear you, you have gained your brother. (Matthew 18:16)

TALMUD: God knows our thoughts before they are formed. (Talmud, Genesis Rabba 9)
GOSPEL: Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. (Matthew 6:8)

TALMUD: The truth of the Torah is a weapon to its possessor. (Talmud, Numbers Rabba 12)
GOSPEL: Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. (Matthew 10:34)



TALMUD: One of the characteristics of the righteous is that their yes is yes, and their no is no. (Talmud, Midrash Ruth 7)
GOSPEL: Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No' be 'No', anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5:37)

TALMUD: Man's eyes and his heart prompt him to sin. (Talmud, Numbers Rabba 17)
GOSPEL: I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28)

TALMUD: Adultery can be committed with the eyes. (Talmud, Leviticus Rabba 23)
GOSPEL: I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28)

TALMUD: Immediately when a man is born he proceeds into death, when he dies he proceeds into life. (Talmud, Midrash Samuel 23)
GOSPELS: He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 10:39)

TALMUD: The Guardian Angels are always near God's throne. (Talmud, Tanchum, Sazrea)
GOSPELS: Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say unto you that in Heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven. (Matthew 18:10)

TALMUD: God lends eloquence to the suppliant. (Talmud, Midrash Proverbs 15)
GOSPEL: Do not worry about how or what you are to say, for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. (Matthew 10:19-20)



TALMUD: No one can imagine the reward of him who accepts all his sorrows and reverses with religious resignation. (Talmud, Tanchum, Kee Saizai)
GOSPEL: Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven. (Matthew 5:11-12)

TALMUD: What Solomon meant to convey by the words, 'What profit has a man of all his labor which he does under the sun?' (Ecclesiaste 1:2) is that whatever a man may possess on earth, under the sun, he must inevitably part with, but it is different if he provides for himself above the sun, in Heaven. (Talmud, Midrash Ecclesiastes 1)
GOSPEL: A man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?'...Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, follow me.' (Matthew 19:16-21)

TALMUD: As the sea throws up its debris upon the shores, so the wicked have filthiness upon their mouths. (Talmud, Midrash Psalms 2)
GOSPELS: Jesus asked them. 'Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man unclean. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.' (Matthew 15:16-19)

TALMUD: When no justice is done here below, it will be accomplished from above. (Talmud, Deuteronomy Rabba 5)
GOSPEL: But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (Matthew 19:30)

TALMUD: Swear not at all, not even to the truth. (Talmud, Tanchum, Vayikra)
GOSPEL: I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. (Matthew 5:34-36)

TALMUD: To do justice and righteousness is more acceptable to God than sacrifices (Proverbs 21:3)...Sacrifices atoned only for sins committed in error not for presumptuous sin, justice and righteousness atone for all sins. (Talmud, Deuteronmy Rabba 5)
GOSPEL If only you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. (Matthew 12:7)

TALMUD: Let no man boast of his exalted position. Even so great a man as Samuel received a rebuke for his lack of modesty.
(Talmud, Midrash Samuel 12)
GOSPEL: Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:4)



TALMUD: God will wipe away tears from off all faces (Isaiah 25:8). This means from the faces of non-Jews as well as Jews.
(Talmud, Genesis Rabba 26)
GOSPEL: Behold, my servant whom I have chosen...I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall declare judgment to the Gentiles....And in his name shall the Gentiles hope. (Matthew 12:18-21)

TALMUD: The leper, the blind, the abject poor, and those who have no children are as though they are dead. (Talmud, Tanchum,Tsav)
GOSPEL: Another of the disciples said to Him, 'Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.' But Jesus said to him, 'Follow Me, and allow the dead to bury their own dead.' (Matthew 8:21-22)

TALMUD: When no justice is done here below, it will be accomplished from above. (Talmud, Deuteronomy Rabba 5)
GOSPEL: Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (Matthew 19:30)

TALMUD: He who hears himself abused (or cursed) and does not retaliate may be called a saintly man. (Talmud, Midrash Psalms 16)
GOSPEL: I tell you do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Matthew 5:38)

TALMUD: The proverb says, 'If you give out your money in usury you will lose what you gain as well as your original capital.' (Talmud, Leviticus Rabba 3)
GOSPEL: For whoever has, to him shall be given and he shall have abundance: but whoever has not, from him shall be taken away even that which he has. (Matthew 13:12)

TALMUD: The righteous are put to more and severer trials than the unrighteous. (Talmud, Tanchum,Vaayro)
GOSPEL: Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10)

TALMUD: When the prophets went forth on their mission the Holy Spirit rested upon them, awed and surprised their audience, and inspired them with respect for the prophets. (Talmud, Numbers Rabba 10)
GOSPEL: Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness...These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: 'Do not go in the way of the Gentiles...but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel...Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.' (Matthew 10:1-8)



These passages are proof positive that the Christian Gospels were definitively Jewish in origin, reflecting mainstream Jewish thought and sentiment as seen during the lifetime of Joshua (Jesus Christ) that has continued, parallel with Christianity for thousands of years since that time. May the LORD God bless you in the name of Israel.

The Good News Talmud, Part IX. The Wisdom of the West is Best



Every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of Heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.

- Matthew 13:52



Part IX. The Wisdom of the West is Best

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The Wisdom of both the Talmud and the Gospels is never-ending and a sweet song unto the LORD. Those in denial are always quick to say the Wisdom of the East is just as good if not better. In fact, all the wisdom of the East can be found in the West, but the even more complex wisdom of the Judeo-Christian West is still lacking. Here are even more examples of the profound similarities found in both documents, written a long, long time ago.

TALMUD: See what an excess of wine did in the world. Noah came out of the ark with his three sons, his wife and their wives, who composed the human family of the world; and a fourth of this he cursed in consequence of his indulgence.(Numbers Rabba 10)
GOSPEL: Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. (Luke 21:34)

TALMUD: R. Kahana also said, 'R. Nathan b. Minyomi expounded in R. Tanhum's name: why is it written, and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. From the implication of what is said, and the pit was empty, do I not know that there was no water in it; what then is taught by, there was no water in it? There was no water, yet there were snakes and scorpions in it.'- Shabbath 22a
GOSPEL: I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. (Luke 10:19)



TALMUD: Rabbis Gamaliel, Joshua, Eleazar b. Azaria and Akiba were preachers in Rome. (Exodus Rabba 30)
GOSPEL: Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 28:18-20)

TALMUD: It is prohibited to add to the canon of the Bible, consisting of twenty-four books. (Numbers Rabba 14)
GOSPEL: There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between. Pilate also wrote an inscription and put it on the cross. It was written, 'JESUS THE NAZARENE, THE KING OF THE JEWS.' Therefore many of the Jews read this inscription, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and in Greek. So the chief priests of the Jews were saying to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews'; just because He said, 'I am King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, 'What I have written I have written.' (John 19:18-22)

TALMUD: R. Kahana also said, 'R. Nathan b. Minyomi expounded in R. Tanhum's name: why is it written, and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. From the implication of what is said, and the pit was empty, do I not know that there was no water in it; what then is taught by, there was no water in it? There was no water, yet there were snakes and scorpions in it.'- Shabbath 22a
GOSPEL: Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him! (Luke 11:11-13)

TALMUD: Rabbis Gamaliel, Joshua, Eleazar b. Azaria and Akiba were preachers in Rome. (Exodus Rabba 30)
GOSPEL: This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 'Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight. I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.' (Matthew 12:17-18)



TALMUD: Rabbis Gamaliel, Joshua, Eleazar b. Azaria and Akiba were preachers in Rome. (Exodus Rabba 30)
GOSPEL: Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.... “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. (John 10:1-14)



TALMUD: The infliction of stripes, given in the Torah, was not a severe punishment, and was moreover given in many instances in lieu of capital punishment, which the delinquent might have deserved besides. When the punishment had been inflicted, there was to be no further reproach attached to the punished individual, but he was to be received in the community as a brother (Deut. 25).--Numb. Rabba 5.
GOSPEL: Pilate then took Jesus and scourged Him. (John 19:1)

TALMUD: R. Kahana also said, 'R. Nathan b. Minyomi expounded in R. Tanhum's name: why is it written, and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. From the implication of what is said, and the pit was empty, do I not know that there was no water in it; what then is taught by, there was no water in it? There was no water, yet there were snakes and scorpions in it.' - Shabbath 22a
GOSPEL: Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? (Matthew 7:8-10)

TALMUD: See what an excess of wine did in the world. Noah came out of the ark with his three sons, his wife and their wives, who composed the human family of the world; and a fourth of this he cursed in consequence of his indulgence.(Numbers Rabba 10)
GOSPEL: John came and did not eat or drink like other people. So people say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and people say, 'Look at him! He eats too much and drinks too much wine, and he is a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved to be right by what she does." (Matthew 11:18-19)

TALMUD: Rabbis Gamaliel, Joshua, Eleazar b. Azaria and Akiba were preachers in Rome. (Exodus Rabba 30)
GOSPEL: And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:14)



TALMUD: MOSES declared (Exodus 4) that he was not a man of words, but observe his eloquence in the book of Deuteronomy; an eloquence acquired since he gained possession of the Torah. (Deuteronomy Rabba 1)
GOSPEL: The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.... 'I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father...They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. (John 10:1-14)



May the LORD God bless you in the name of the Judeo-Christian Tradition.


The Judeo-Christian, Part III. Ancient Hebrew Magick and Witchkraft



Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

- Ecclesiastes 12:13



The Judeo-Christian, Part III. Ancient Hebrew Magick and Witchkraft

In order to maintain law and order among the both the living and the dead, past Judeo-Christian eras went a little overboard in their condemnation, and even extermination of any magic and/or witchcraft. Indeed, throughout the first seven to eight centuries of Christianity, the more basic elements of the supernatural were an integral part of the Church and Christianity. The most powerful witches were nuns who never practiced evil magic, while the most proficient of wizards were either highly-educated priests or hermit monks who had achieved an unprecedented level of communion with God. Because of the plagues, famines, Islamic invasions that tore early Christian Civilization apart, the people (and most of the Church) has slowly forgotten about the magic, the mystery, and the enchantment of the Holy Ghost.

A Chart of the Four Judeo-Christian Elements


Element Magick Witchkraft
Earth


Air



Water


Fire




Back then the Angels of the Church had combined the best and most beneficial elements of Pagan magic with the ancient, yet very powerful, Judeo-Christian magic of the Holy Bible. Spells, incantations, blessings and cursings came straight out of the Holy Bible and were an integral and fairly harmless part of European Christendom. Neither volcanoes, nor earthquakes, nor hurricanes were ever successfully summoned, but the local thunder, lightning, wind and clouds were usually under the control of the nearest Archbishop (Father Thunder) and Convent Mother (Sister Lightning).



The Magic of Early Christianity

This all ended with the violent and bloody Muslim invasions, which threw the entire continent into the Dark Ages of scientific and spiritual ignorance and superstition, while the good, God-fearing aspects of Judeo-Christian magic were tragically lost to the new barbaric order of illiterate, monolingual, tribalistic warlords, starting around the 9th and 10th Century . The truly supernatural elements of Christianity were quickly forgotten and soon enough began to be considered demonic and evil. The Church's view of magic became hostile, superstitious, and more tyrannical than the ancient prophets and priests of Israel had ever been towards the magic and fun of the common people, and that includes Moses. However, the third millennium, along with the end of the Cold War, represents new hope in the future re-enchantment of Judeo-Christian civilization and a return to the supernatural powers of the Holy Ghost throughout the West. Some of these new traditions are called Hebrew Witchkraft (for females) and Hebrew Magick (for males) and are based upon sound Judeo-Christian principles such as the following:

Hebrew Magick & Witchkraft

= Blessings, rather than Cursings

= Mind Control, rather than Mind Loss

= Tolerance, rather than Hatred

= Enchantment, rather than Sorcery

= Ghost, rather than Spirit

= Mercy, rather than Justice

May the LORD God bless you in the name of the Judeo-Christian tradition.