Obama's views on religion

[spittledip]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard

Originally posted by: spittledip
It depends on the Jew you talk to. To suggest that all Jews or most believe in a figurative Creation account is misleading as many believe in a literal account. Also to suggest that all or most Jews don't believe that the Torah was written around the time of Moses or by Moses is also misleading, as many do believe that. It is misleading to suggest that scholarship only suggests that the Torah was not written during the time of Moses as some scholars believe that, and some do not.

I've never met a Jew that thinks the creation accounts should be taken literally, nor one that says Moses himself rwote the first five books. Then again, I've only been at WashU for 3 years now, so there might still be a few Jews I haven't had the pleasure to meet. 😛

There is still some debate regarding the time it was written, but it was certainly not written by Moses. Here's a book preview which specifically states that "It has long been recognized that the traditional view -- not stated in the Pentateuch itself, but already assumed elsewhere in the Old Testament -- that Moses was the author of the Pentateuch cannot be correct..."

That's odd b/c I have never met one that believes anything but a literal translation of the creation account. Same thing for Moses as the author of the Torah. To be more specific, Moses as editor and author. And one book that says that Moses isn't doesn't mean much either, b/c for every scholar that says one way, there is another scholar who says the other way, both backing up their claims with research and proof. Also, I am from MA, so I have met my share of Jews. It might be that you are younger than me too, soy uo are meeting younger ones with newer views.

 

[Orignal Earl]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard

Abstaining from meat is not really a law - it's a suggested form of penance.

Most Catholics think that Vatican II did away with the requirement of not eating meat on any Friday of the year. Most think it is now just Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent that we cannot eat meat.

This is what the new Code of Canon Law brought out in 1983 says about the matter:

Canon 1251
Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

Canon Law still requires that Catholics not eat meat on Fridays!

Of course, most Episcopal Conferences have determined that, instead of abstaining from meat, Catholics may perform an act of penance of their choosing. But, do you ever remember to abstain from a particular food or do some other penance on Fridays? And, at any rate, the main rule is still to abstain from meat on Fridays, the performance of another penance instead is an optional alternative.

It's very interesting to note that the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (the United States' Episcopal Conference) is currently debating whether to rescind the determination and require all Catholics to abstain from meat on all Fridays of the year. The Bishops are considering that a return to meatless Fridays for all Catholics would be of benefit because:

* It is an expression of one's Catholicity; and
* In reparation for the grave sin of abortion.

Meat on Fridays