Goal of this Site
From Sebomenoi
MY DESIRE IS NOT THAT YOU WILL AGREE WITH EVERYTHING ON THIS WEBSITE,
BUT ONLY THAT THIS SITE WILL IN SOME WAY BENEFIT YOU IN ESTABLISHING YOUR LIFE ON CONSISTENT PRINCIPLES AND IN BETTER FULFILLING THE CREATOR'S WILL - A FULFILLED LIFE of meaning, confidence, and peace.
This site was created for the purpose of promoting understanding between Jews and the Children of Noah (Children of Noah ["bnay Noah"] is the Hebrew term for non-Jewish peoples. "Goyim" literally means "nations" in Hebrew). It is very likely that one visiting this site will find many things he or she will not agree with. This is perfectly fine with me. The point of this website is not to make non-Jews into Jews. This is, in fact, discouraged in Judaism. Rather, this website is to inform those who desire to know about the Jewish people - our beliefs and way of life. In this manner it is my hope that much misunderstanding will go away and understanding will fill its place, bringing our world ever closer to peace. Do not be discouraged if you read things in here that pain your heart or that are hard to understand. These are specifically the things we must work through. Growth in understanding and knowledge, like most things, comes with a little pain. Pain doesn't hold us back from passing a grade in school, from being healthy, from raising children. Why should it hold us back from understanding the truth about one another? If we are willing to work through the differences, without forcing, then in the end the little pain will lead to great joy. I do not expect that a person upon reading much of this website will somehow immediately magically agree with Jewish perspectives. For a person to read through this site and afterwards continue to disagree on many points is not considered a failure of this website in my perspective. Even for a person to disagree with TRUE differences between Jews and their own opposing views after reading through this website, instead of disagreeing with misrepresentations of what Jews think as most people do, would be a positive step forward; For at least then we will better know how to work through our differences in dealing with each other during everyday life, with more understanding. It is the lack of understanding which most often breeds frustration. And frustration is a major fuel of anger, violence, terrorism, and murder. So until Messiah comes [or returns, according to Christian and Muslim perspective] and the world is lead to peace and harmony via knowledge of Truth, in the meantime we can make the best of the reality that there are different opinions in the world by knowing what those different opinions truly are; And thereby knowing the best way to go about peaceably in relating to each other, we can experience a certain level of peace even know, until that Day for which we all long eventually arrives.
For Christians:
If you are a Christian, please do not dismiss the points and questions I have brought up on this website without looking into them. Please, do not choose to hold onto any negative assumptions or misconceptions about Torah (Judaism) or Israel and the Jewish People because of "blind faith" alone or because of a stubborn heart. To do so is NOT Biblical. Going against Biblical teaching is contrary to Christianity. Prove your beliefs to yourself. Test them. If the points I have made on this website are incorrect, then you will be able to find reasonable answers to them. Contrary to popular belief, the 'New Testament' itself teaches that Christians should prove and test things; It does not teach Christians to simply believe and accept based on blind 'faith' alone:
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." KJV 1 Thessalonians 5:21;
"..prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." NASB Romans 12:2;
"..and his own work let each one prove, and then in regard to himself alone the glorying he shall have," YLT Galatians 6:4;
"..test the spirits, whether they are of God," NKJV 1 John 4:1;
"..prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach.." NASB Philippians 2:15;
"...prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves." NASB James 1:22.
"Always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks you to give reason for the hope that is in you.." 1 Peter 3:15.
A woman once told me, "I believe in Christ not because it's logical. I believe purely on faith." I then asked her, "If you believe only because of faith, and not because it's logical, then what would keep you from being a Muslim if you were raised as a faithful Muslim in a Muslim country?" She answered, "Because it doesn't make sense." I replied, "Exactly. It wouldn't make sense. It wouldn't be logical." You see! This same woman admits that it is unacceptable for a Muslim to remain a Muslim based purely on faith, because Islam doesn't make sense to her. Islam is illogical to her. Yet, if she were to have faith in Islam the same way she has faith in Christianity, she would never realize that Islam is wrong. And how did she admit that she would be able to realize that Islam is wrong? She said it herself, "Because it doesn't make sense." A faith full of contradiction is not very faithful. True faith is faithful to consistency. A belief's weakness is its contradiction. A belief's strength is its solidity [consistency/stability].
Don't be afraid to use your brain to think rationally, objectively, logically, and reasonably. These things will NOT lead you to atheism or agnosticism. With no Absolute Ruler of right and wrong / truth and falsehood, [which is G-d], the atheist has no place at which to begin his "logical reasoning." Although certainly we can make mistakes in our thinking, this is no reason to give up trying to be logical. The key is to continuously test your own reasoning with humility. Be willing to correct yourself and to receive correction. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another;" - Proverbs 27:17. A person can not be truly objective and rational without being humble. No matter the level of intelligence, a humble person will always strive for the most reasonable path. The Bible states:
"Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly." - NKJV Proverbs 16:22
In Proverbs chapter 8 Wisdom is ALLIGORICALLY [see Proverbs 1:1-6 ] personified. In verses 35 through 36 Wisdom states, "For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains grace from the L-RD; But he who is missing me wrongs his own soul; All who hate me love death.”
"There is no wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel against the L-RD." - Proverbs 21:30
