[Laura Schlessinger] Dr. Laura Renounces Jewish Orthodoxy

religionnewsblog.com ^ | 08/13/2003 | LISA KEYS

[farmer18th]

What is a more basic element of any religion, than honor thy mother and father?

You would agree that a "father or mother" who required you to break the first commandment, or the second, or the third, forfeits the right to be honoured? We don't know the circumstances of that episode in her life, and--while I don't agree with every one of her on air pronouncements--she seems to be on the path to the truth. Judaism is an incomplete religion. She merely discovered that.

[veronica]

Judaism is an incomplete religion. She merely discovered that.

Glad to see you are not a religious bigot. /sarcasm

I would never say Christianity is not a complete religion, I would merely say it's not for me.

Then again, Judaism is not a religion that is into prosthletizing or seeks to convert.

[Crusher138]

What is a more basic element of any religion, than honor thy mother and father? That most basic of human callings was beyond her ability to fulfill.

From what I have read, the meaning of that commandment in the original teachings is to honor them because they have given you life and supported you. There is no basis to "homor you mother and father" if they abandon you or physically or mentally abuse you. That would be honoring evil.

From things I have read about the situation, Dr. Laura's mother was at least mentally and emotionally abusive and some indications are that she may have been physically abusinve. Dr. Laura did the bibically compelled thing - she made certain that her mother's physical needs were taken care of and distanced herself and her family from the abuse.

Coming from a similar situation in our family between my wife and her mother, I can see why Dr. Laura did not want the poison in her life.

[farmer18th]

I would never say Christianity is not a complete religion, I would merely say it's not for me.

The problem here is that Christ Himself, by your definition, is a "religious bigot." When He said, "No man cometh unto the Father but by me," you either have to accept or reject that claim. Perhaps without vocalizing it, Dr. Laura is considering that claim?

[veronica]

Interesting, that if Dr. Laura's mother was abusive, IF that is so, that Dr. Laura in some sense became her mother. If in fact - There is no basis to "honor you mother and father" if they abandon you or physically or mentally abuse you. -- didn't Laura repeat her mother's sin by abandoning her? Shouldn't such a skilled therapist be able to make some sort of peace with her mother?

And to be honest, while Dr. Laura was telling the rest of the world how to live, should she not have been honest about her own life, and her own failings?

[veronica]

There is really no debating with someone who thinks their way is the only way, as you apparently do.

[foolscap]

What is a more basic element of any religion, than honor thy mother and father?

This is true but I get the impression that Dr.Laura's mother was into a very unhealthy life style and had chosen herself to cut contact with both her children. There is only so much one can do for a person who is unwilling to receive or who is asking things of you that are unhealthy. For example if Dr. Laura's mom was a heroin addict should she have gone over and loaded her syringe. That might make mom happy but is that all one's life is about. Dr. Laura said that she and other family had sought on several occasions to get their Mom to seek psychiatric help. She refused. She cut off contact with her family. That's all mom's choice. Maybe in this case honoring her mother involved honoring her choice to have the live she made for herself. That it ended in tragedy may will be the consequences of her choice not that her children didn't honor her enough

[Salman]

Judaism and Jews have long tended toward the direction of the Episcopal church and Marxism.

Not Orthodox Jews.

[farmer18th]

There is really no debating with someone who thinks their way is the only way, as you apparently do.

You've got me wrong. I know I make lots of mistakes. However, Christ claimed that "no man" comes to Father in Heaven "but by" Him. When someone makes an absolute claim, it's wrong, and false-hearted, to pretend the claim was not made. We can disagree, but--given the consequences--we shouldn't be too comfortable in that disagreement.

[Sabertooth]

Schlessinger began her program last Tuesday by noting that, prior to each broadcast, she spends an hour reading faxes from fans and listeners. "By and large the faxes from Christians have been very loving, very supportive," she said. "From my own religion, I have either gotten nothing, which is 99% of it, or two of the nastiest letters I have gotten in a long time. I guess that's my point — I don't get much back. Not much warmth coming back."

Schlessinger even hinted at a possible turn to Christianity — a move that, radio insiders say, would elevate her career far beyond the 300 stations that currently syndicate her show. "I have envied all my Christian friends who really, universally, deeply feel loved by God," she said. "They use the name Jesus when they refer to God... that was a mystery, being connected to God."

Dr. Laura might want to look into Jews for Jesus

[paulklenk]

No, it's the filmmaker, John.

[veronica]

Schlessinger began her program last Tuesday by noting that, prior to each broadcast, she spends an hour reading faxes from fans and listeners. "By and large the faxes from Christians have been very loving, very supportive," she said. "From my own religion, I have either gotten nothing, which is 99% of it, or two of the nastiest letters I have gotten in a long time. I guess that's my point — I don't get much back. Not much warmth coming back."

Her conversion sounds more like a career move than a deeply-felt religious experience. She tried Judaism, but her Jewish fans were, apparently, not appropropriately sycophantic, so now she'll see if she gets the "proper respect" from her Christian fans. What a superficial lady.

[veronica]

From things I have read about the situation, Dr. Laura's mother was at least mentally and emotionally abusive and some indications are that she may have been physically abusinve. Dr. Laura did the bibically compelled thing - she made certain that her mother's physical needs were taken care of and distanced herself and her family from the abuse.

In light your defense of Laura's abandonment of her "abusive" mother, which for the sake of this argument I will accept, it's interesting to note that this supposedly terrible mother was the Catholic parent, and that Laura's father was the Jewish parent.

[lelio]

Maybe you can answer question #2 then:

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

[Sabertooth]

I don't know enough to draw any real conclusions. I listen to an hour or two of her show once or twice a month.

To my eyes there are a few subjects, like religious inclinations, or tastes in a mate, or the experience of grieving, where people are so publicly diffferent about matters that are so innately personal, that it's a wonder that we're all from the same species. It's a really random list, I know, but I think that is a nice reflection of the unpredictability of people. I like to give a lot of latitude in those areas.

Speaking of grieving, didn't Dr. Laura's estranged mother pass away in the last six months? I understand she was estranged by her own choice from her own family, not just Dr. Laura. Sometimes a painful situation like that can have blowback in other areas of our lives. Just a thought.

[dennisw]

"By and large the faxes from Christians have been very loving, very supportive," she said. "From my own religion, I have either gotten nothing, which is 99% of it, or two of the nastiest letters I have gotten in a long time. I guess that's my point — I don't get much back. Not much warmth coming back.".

The reason is obvious. Her audience has few Jewish listeners. By and large Jews are too liberal to appreciate her perspective. She seems to have a lot of committed Christians phone her up. If she becomes Christian she'll be more like her target audience. I'll bet in the next year or two she will come out as Christian.

[farmer18th]

I'll bet in the next year or two she will come out as Christian.

I agree. For those of us who have listened to her, on and off, since she was the silent one at the "Meeting of the Mouths" on KFI, (meaning she was too shy to speak up in the presence of the Rush-master), it's apparent that her political and spiritual migration has been ongoing. Ever notice that most thinking people become more conservative and more Christian as time passes?

[veronica]

Ever notice that most thinking people become more conservative and more Christian as time passes?

More conservative perhaps, not necessarily more Christian. There are many conservative Jews, more all the time.

And religion is about one's relationship with God, not about one's relationship with one's fanbase. Maybe Dr. Laura's Jewish listeners were more disturbed by her hypocrisy. Since Jews tend to be live and let live, perhaps her moralistic tone, which turned out to be a facade, grated on them.

[veronica]

If she becomes Christian she'll be more like her target audience.

So it's all about ratings...how sad for her. She's very confused. Physician - heal thyself.

[truthkeeper]

Your post was probably the best thing I have read on this forum in 5 years. Thank you very much for taking the effort to share your well-thought out insight. I think my 18 year old daughter will get something out of it too.
Peace.