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From: david@cvl.UUCP (David Harwood)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: reply to Micha Berger, about 'throwing stones'
Message-ID: <415@cvl.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 9-May-85 19:15:22 EDT
Article-I.D.: cvl.415
Posted: Thu May  9 19:15:22 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 11-May-85 08:35:54 EDT
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Organization: Computer Vision Lab, U. of Maryland, College Park
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Reply to a reply
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>From: berger@aecom.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Jews, Christians, and Mormons
Message-ID: <1537@aecom.UUCP>
Date: 7 May 85 15:55:33 GMT

I've been watching the recent attacks on the Mormon faith. I don't
understand one thing... What's the difference between what the Christians
did the the OT, and what the Mormons did to the NT?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
	I wish these attacks against the Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses,
and others would stop, even if I would disagree with them. This does no
good; it will not 'save' them, neither will it save us. We should watch
out for ourselves what we do in our everyday lives.
	Jesus did plainly summarized the Law: To love God with all
one's heart and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself.
And then he answered "Who are my neighbors?" with the example of the
Samaritan who helped the helpless stranger. The meaning of this is
two-fold: everyone you meet is your neighbor (in fact, the spheres of
existence of everyone are 'neighboring', if indirectly and even if it
is not appreciated); besides this, while Jesus acknowledged that the
Jews were 'right' about religion, nevertheless what counted was that
the Samaritan, one despised by them and 'wrong' about religion, was
right with God in recognizing and helping his 'neighbor'.
	So, which would you have -- that you would be 'right' about
beliefs, nevertheless wrong against man, therefore against God -- or 
would you be 'wrong' about beliefs, as was the despised Samaritan, who
was nevertheless right with his fellow, as would be God.
	Jesus teaches that God accepts the man who does recognize and
help his 'neighbor', even if he is mistaken in his theology.
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...
   ...
      ...

I now expect you to present me with some argument stating that I'm now
better, for I don't sacrifice animals in the temple.
1- We are discussing Christianity's claims, not modern Jewry's.
2- If we would know where on the temple mount to build it, and it were built,
   I would be there in 28 days for Shavuot.
Similarly, may tzitzith aren't colored with t'cheleth, for I have no idea
what t'cheleth is. If you can identify it, I'll provide the thread. And so
on...

	I would say therefor Ken, that you are in no position to 
throw stones at the Mormons, until you can prove to me that you don't live in 
a glass house.
-- 
Micha Berger
2525 Amsterdam Ave. Suite M406  NY, NY 10033     (212) 781-0756
{philabs|cucard|pegasus|rocky2}!aecom!berger

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	As for where is to be built the temple -- this 'high place', nearest
the heavens, is of course already well known. Therein are the 'inner
rooms' and all the furnishings -- the lights, the bread, the Ark containing
the two tablets, between the two cherubim, and the altar where our sacrifice
is made for ourselves and others.
	But as to the sacrifice I would make, I remember the sacrifice
of the Samaritan above, who was merciful to his 'neighbor'. As it is written,
'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'
	Therefore, it is our hearts which are to be indeed the Seat of Mercy,
of the One who is Merciful.
	As the Lord said, "The heavens are mine, and the Earth is my footstool
-- all these things I have made are mine -- then, where shall you build my 
temple?" And He answers, "I look upon the one who is humble and contrite in 
spirit, and who trembles at my word." So there is the Temple of the Lord.

	I would agree that we should not go around throwing stones.

						David Harwood