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b-hebrew - Re: [b-hebrew] Evil & God

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  • From: Peter Kirk <peterkirk AT qaya.org>
  • To: pawel AT kul.stalwol.pl
  • Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Evil & God
  • Date: Thu, 11 Aug 2005 13:18:04 +0100

On 11/08/2005 01:30, Pawel wrote:

Shoshanna Walker wrote:


Just so you know - Judaism does not teach that Satan "fell", that is
a Christian idea.

Well, isn't it rather a judeo-christian idea?

No, it is a Christian idea


Very laconic :-). I can only reply similarly: no, it isn't.
Now let me make my point clear.
Unlike judaism which is not dogmatic and admits
some variety of views on the same issue, christianity
has a very strict and inflexible doctrine which
is obliging for every believer. ...


This is simply not true. Well, it may be true (although I think exaggerated) within certain Christian groups or denominations, including the largest one in Poland (but then there are probably analogous Jewish groups of which it is true). But it is not at all true of the Christian faith taken as a whole. There are of course a few basics which are considered fundamental to Christian identity, but the same is also true of Judaism. However, to say that anything in Christianity as a whole is "very strict and inflexible" is a gross caricature.

... All views which
are not contained in the doctrine and do not oppose
it are acceptable - there is a principle: "in dubio
libertas". Now, when you say that an idea 'is Christian'
you suggest that it is part of the official Christian
doctrine. In case of "the fall of Satan" - it is simply not true. ...


I don't think the point was that this doctrine is official Christian doctrine (indeed I am not sure if there is any such thing - certainly none accepted since the Council of Chalcedon in 451 which is I think the last generally recognised Ecumenical Council), nor that it is the official doctrine of any branch of Christianity. The point is rather that this teaching originated among Christians and is widely believed by Christians. The latter is true, although it is not official doctrine. As for the origin of the teaching, I don't know.

--
Peter Kirk
peter AT qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/





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