The Story has a point -- the redemption of the world.
Yes, it offers lots of guidance, including: the world does not belong to you. Honor your mother and father. Once a week, sit down and marvel at the world you did not create.
It's a history of the Jews and the world (I think).
I often think about a scene from Dick Gregory's autobiography (titled "N*gger"). He is sitting at a diner in the south and is about to cut into a whole chicken. Just then four guys from the Ku Klux Klan walk in and stride up to him. "Boy," they say, "whatever you do to that chicken we're going to do to you." And Gregory writes: "So I picked up that chicken and I kissed it." 😂
That's how I read the Bible. Whatever happens to us will eventually happen to everyone else. The Jewish drama is the world's drama -- same themes, same tensions, same struggles -- but rendered at a much reduced scale. The Bible is not about heroes (like the Greek myths). It's about human beings.
Judaism is (I think) a prescription for Jews (do this; don't do that) and a prediction for everyone: one day, the lion shall lay down with the lamb.
.... The Jewish story is different because when the Messiah comes, the world won't look the way it does, or the way it has looked in ... well, in forever.
Great question. I think the idea is the Messiah is able to transform a shit hole planet into a much better one. And s/he does the work on stage, in front of us all, in his/her lifetime. As I've mentioned, the job is still open. You should apply! It comes with some serious risks, though. But as they say, No risk, no reward!
https://outofbabel.substack.com/p/the-circle-vs-the-line
Re your questions:
The Story has a point -- the redemption of the world.
Yes, it offers lots of guidance, including: the world does not belong to you. Honor your mother and father. Once a week, sit down and marvel at the world you did not create.
It's a history of the Jews and the world (I think).
I often think about a scene from Dick Gregory's autobiography (titled "N*gger"). He is sitting at a diner in the south and is about to cut into a whole chicken. Just then four guys from the Ku Klux Klan walk in and stride up to him. "Boy," they say, "whatever you do to that chicken we're going to do to you." And Gregory writes: "So I picked up that chicken and I kissed it." 😂
That's how I read the Bible. Whatever happens to us will eventually happen to everyone else. The Jewish drama is the world's drama -- same themes, same tensions, same struggles -- but rendered at a much reduced scale. The Bible is not about heroes (like the Greek myths). It's about human beings.
Judaism is (I think) a prescription for Jews (do this; don't do that) and a prediction for everyone: one day, the lion shall lay down with the lamb.
.... The Jewish story is different because when the Messiah comes, the world won't look the way it does, or the way it has looked in ... well, in forever.
Great question. I think the idea is the Messiah is able to transform a shit hole planet into a much better one. And s/he does the work on stage, in front of us all, in his/her lifetime. As I've mentioned, the job is still open. You should apply! It comes with some serious risks, though. But as they say, No risk, no reward!