Posted on 12/23/2005 5:44:48 AM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
by Mark Finkelstein
December 23, 2005 - 08:40
What the Today show probably intended as a warm-'n-fuzzy holiday segment just veered wildly off course when a rabbi spoke some unvarnished truth.
The topic was "December Dilemma: Interfaith Holdidays," and dealt with the issue of celebrating the holidays in families with children where the parents are of different religions.
Footage was played of a family with a Jewish wife, a Christian husband and a couple of very cute daughters. They were predictably shown admiring both a menorah and a Christmas tree.
Back in the studio, David Gregory interviewed "The God Squad," Rabbi Marc Gellman and Monsignor Thomas Hartman, who for years have made joint appearances to discuss religious matters.
When Gregory asked the rabbi if there was anything wrong with bringing the children of mixed marriages up in some kind of combo religion, I had the feeling he was anticipating [as was I], a PC response. Instead, he got a shot of candor right between the eyes:
"[Kids] have to know how to answer when asked [as to their religion] 'what are you?' If they answer 'both,' that's answering that Jesus is and isn't the Messiah, that Christmas is and isn't the birth of the Savior. That's insane. That's crazy. And it shouldn't be put on a child to have to make those kinds of decisions."
Bravo, Rabbi!
Today Show/NewsBusters ping.
Frankly, I disagree.
It seems to be a nice compromise. And its probably better than providing them with no religion at all.
Raise a kid with no religion, Jewish or Christian, and might end up with a wacko like Bill Maher.
Baruch habba b'shem Adonai!
If it's insane to raise children in different religions, and I believe it is, why then is it alright if God raises his children in thousands of different denominations, sects, etc.?
I hate the holiday season because all of the holier than thou/ I know better than anyone else/ my religion is better than yours/ people are on full display.
Sadly, I have found that people do the most un-God like things in the name of God. Not just the Islamocultists, but Christians and Jews as well, in many other less obvious ways.
Also, I find that religion more often than not tends to separate people rather than bring them together.
Some of things I have heard said about Jewish people by "Chruch going people" would make even the most violent skinhead blush. I have also heard some things from some of my Jewish friends that make me just want to hit someone. I am Catholic but have many many Jewish friends.
I am not an atheist by any stretch, but believe G-D could never ever intended or hopes mankind would act is does in his name.
I always wondered about that. My friend is Jewish and he married a Christian woman who converted. I know they celebrate both now, although growing up, he always said that doesn't fly with him. I don't understand how you really do both with any real sincerity.
Call it my logical streak, but as the rabbi said, it is impossible to believe simultaneously that Jesus is and isn't the Messiah.
Raising a child in two intrinsically different religions is as sensible as raising a child to be both a liberal and a conservative.
Because the leaders of religions are no different than the worst politicians. At the core, the religions' leadership crave power and the ability to persuade no different than any politician.
It is only because the allusion of G-d's approval do these people get away with it.
My GF does matrimonial law. She says many Jewish couple treat each other worse than animals in the wild do. The same for other "straight" marriages in that sense.
The bottom line is that morality and spirituality, not the particular denomination, is what should be emphasized.
What I also find is that many people for some reason suspend all common sense and rationality when issues of religion come into play. Its actually amazing to see otherwise smart people believe the most ridiculous things just because the man in robes says so.
He doesn't. There is only one body of Christ. Denominations, sects, etc are man's invention.
I think it largely depends on how adamant on or both of the spouses is about the religion issue.
For me, I am much more concerned that my children grow up to be patriotic and moral citizens that faithful churchgoers.
To me, the fact that someone goes to church means nothing. I see people who go to church every week screw people in business all during the week and yet hold themselves out to be good people.
I see many people who never set foot in a temple or church yet are the best people on earth.
I refuse to believe that God will accept the churhgoer who treats people like crap while ingoring the moral decent person who does not.
Good Catholics are never atheists
Compromise could be acceptable in a religious context in some cases, but not when it involves two religions that don't share what would best be described as "first principles." Raising a child as both Christian and Jewish is like telling him that two plus two might equal four, but might also equal 73.
I'm sorry for your family but glad you got out of Mormonism.
God Bless you.
Let me ask you a question - a serious one - there are probably well over a billion people who have never ever even heard of Christ, and billions and billions and billions more who came before us and never heard of Christ, where do they go and are they "saved"?????
This question has never been answered to me in a way that even remotely approaches something making sense.
"They were predictably shown admiring both a menorah and a Christmas tree."
When this is considered "equivalency," we're wrong from the get-go.
I went to Catholic high school and college. I consider myself a moral person, but have left the "church" for many reasons.
I have found that religions are no different that political parties, only with far more deadly and harmful consequences.
Just look at history. Mankind, in the name of religion and God, has killed and maimed so many people.
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