Interfaith
dialogue?
When we see the multitudes embracing interfaith dialogue, Jewish leaders clamoring to be
granted visits with the Pope, and the pervasive, positive sentiments expressed by both Jews and
Christians, it seems ‘sacrilegious’ to argue the sustained dialogue of two former adversaries
speaking peaceably. But as students of truth and reality, popularity is not our barometer of what is
G-d’s will; rather, G-d determines that.
the Torah’s position on “Interfaith Dialogue”
Let me first clarify matters: in no way should anyone presume that I mean to create a rift
between any peoples, or that I maintain any ill feelings towards any group. We are discussing
“religions” not adherents. People come and go, so what we wish to address are the ideas
JewishTlmes
25
r e t r o s p e c t i v e
themselves, the principles behind religions. Life is about searching for truth, even if it opposes
common beliefs. Additionally, as G-d created all men and women, we must duplicate G-d’s
kindness to all peoples. The greatest kindness is educating another person, and the greatest harm,
is to conceal the truth.
That being said, let us first determine our term “Interfaith Dialogue.” It refers to a forum in
which Jews and Christians seek to solidify friendships and remove strife; mutually accepting each
other’s practices and beliefs. However, we must ask, “Are their views accurate? Are Jews accurately
presenting Judaism to the Christians? Is the very presence of a Jew at such a dialogue
contradictory to Judaism? Is such a forum G-d’s will? Did G-d’s appointed Hebrew forefather
Abraham, engage in such dialogue, or did he in fact debate with other religions? Did not G-d
actually appoint Abraham as a leader ‘because’ of his very opposition to religions and idolatry,
creating a people who would follow Abraham’s way? This is expressly stated in Genesis, 18:19:
“For I know (him) that he will command his children and his household after him and they
will keep the way of G-d to do charity and justice.”
It is clear: Abraham led a distinct lifestyle, precisely defined as opposing idolatry, and teaching
against it. This is exactly why G-d chose Abraham and created a nation from him, “For they will
keep the way of G-d.” This means that Abraham partook of G-d’s way, while no one else did.
G-d approved of Abraham’s opposition to idolatry, and education of monotheism, as He says,
“For I know (him) that he will command his children and his household after him”.
Interfaith ‘Debate’
Abraham spent many years pondering the universe, arriving at profound ideas of philosophy,
science, monotheism, morality and justice. Since Abraham followed what G-d’s original plan was
for man, a life in pursuit of truth, G-d desired that the rest of the world benefit from Abraham’s
findings, and Abraham’s method of using reason to determine which religious ideas are true,
which are false, and to teach others of their error for their ultimate good. Therefore, G-d selected
Abraham to become a leader of a nation, a nation that would be provided with a system (the
Torah) for guiding man towards these truths. This Torah is not just for Jews, but all mankind. In
other words, G-d selected Abraham to establish and proliferate the Judaic system - one of
monotheism, which denounces idolatry, for the goodness of all humanity. Abraham did not
engage in interfaith dialogue, but in interfaith debate and education. Furthermore, Christianity
plagiarizes Judaism. We have no need for misinterpretations of the book, which we possess in its
uncorrupted, original form.
http://www.mesora.org/retro.pdf (p 24). (not that I necessarily agree with that site).
Topic: Accepting the Torah, But Remaining a Gentile (Read 62008 times)