On 'Perfecting' the Jews

Concerned:
"Instead, Jews tend overwhelmingly to believe that Judaism is the best religion for Jews, Christianity is best for Christians, Islam is best for Muslims."

And Paganism is best for Pagans.

"Some Jews do qualify this by stating that all of mankind is bound by the seven Laws of the Sons of Noah (or "Noahide Laws"), which are as follows:

1. Idolatry and polytheism are forbidden."

Only for Jews, Christians, and Muslims. I have Goddess images in my home and car.

"4. Cursing the name of G-d is forbidden."

Only if it happens to be the god you worship.

"6. Eating the flesh of a living animal is forbidden."

I would strongly caution you against coming between me and a sack of oysters.

"7. Mankind is commanded to establish courts of justice and a just social order to enforce the first six laws."

Not all of those six are enforcable upon all mankind.

Ms. Miller states that "Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Jews believe the Messiah is yet to come. Each group believes at some basic level that theirs is the best, right path, or they would choose a different one."

This is very misleading because it ignores the fact that the great majority of Christians (Coulter included) believe that Christianity is the only correct path for all of humanity, while Jews almost never indulge in such arrogance. Instead, Jews tend overwhelmingly to believe that Judaism is the best religion for Jews, Christianity is best for Christians, Islam is best for Muslims. Some Jews do qualify this by stating that all of mankind is bound by the seven Laws of the Sons of Noah (or "Noahide Laws"), which are as follows:

1. Idolatry and polytheism are forbidden.

2. Incestuous and adulterous relations are forbidden.

3. Murder is forbidden.

4. Cursing the name of G-d is forbidden.

5. Theft is forbidden.

6. Eating the flesh of a living animal is forbidden.

7. Mankind is commanded to establish courts of justice and a just social order to enforce the first six laws.

However, even these principles do not suggest that one must cease to be a Christian or a Muslim in order to lead a moral, godly life.

Pablo you are not blessed but cursed. read below

You have the mind of who you worship, you are as wise as a serpent. The words of your god "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" This is one of your gods "therefore wise as serpents" You are a god. Look "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:" Do you see "Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him" Look "And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." Do you see "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven" This is your god "and lighting upon him" "beheld Satan as lightning" You have the spirit of your god, you are a god. The judgment of the LORD is clear "And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." You are the seed of the serpent. "thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field" You have the mind of christ "carnally minded is death;." the words of Paul are clear "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."

Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken. The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.
Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.

Look “they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same” “By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed” All word of GOD is breathed in, according to the faith of sinner creatures, “by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed”. Who is it that destroys you, God. Look “The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion” Who came to destroy the gentiles. Who is sent in his image to speak the gospel to the world. Do you see “Now a thing was secretly brought to me”, have not I revealed a secret.

The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the Lord, and with your children's children will I plead.

This is who stands behind the pulpit of the churches of the gentiles “pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal” Look “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Is not this an answer “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” Christians are God’s chosen, “the world is the enemy of God.” “preach the gospel to every creature.” “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” The missionary work of the gentiles is clear “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Look “ye therefore wise as serpents” Here is the kingdom for the Christians “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” Look “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” The words are clear “pray for them which despitefully use you.” “ye therefore wise as serpents” “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” “how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.

Do you see who is with the sons of God, “when the sons of God came, Satan came also among them” It is Satan who dwells with the sons of God. The LORD dwells with Israel, is it not your desire to have the LORD with you.

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.

Look, “Again there was a day when the sons of God” “Satan came also among them” It clearly represents Satan is always with the sons of God before the Lord.

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Look, “The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants”, I ask you wise creatures of the Christian and catholic faiths who are the sheep. Who is with you at the judgment seat. Look “God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. His eyes shall see his destruction” “and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”

You will have satan with you forever.

"Coulter is evil and should not be viewed as merely funny or irritating. She is dangerous to our laws and our very way of life."

While you have an excellent point, Coulter is really a symptom of the larger problem of theistic religion. Coulter's despicable bigotry is very likely based in a belief in divine command. Perhaps she really believes that God has commanded Christians to disrespect Jews. (I haven't rejected the possibility that Coulter believes none of what she says and is simply trying to provoke people.)

Thanks, Tim. I will try to go to the link when I have time. Coulter is clearly bigoted, and so is anyone else who thinks their faith is more "true" than other faiths, and that they are more "perfect" in their beliefs than Jews, or Muslims, or whomever. That is simply utter nonsense.

In case anyone still reads here- I'm posting a link to:

Alan Colmes Accuses Coulter of Anti Semitism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeYXOf8BEEY

I agree that what Counter said is offensive. However, I believe her comments ARE dangerous because people are influenced by the them to think that bigotry is acceptable and that acting out that bigotry is also acceptable. The government does not adequately enforce the Constitution and other laws- people like Coulter get away with discrimination all the time. People are physically attacked for being Jewish, Islamic, Sikh, etc. Coulter is evil and should not be viewed as merely funny or irritating. She is dangerous to our laws and our very way of life.

I think we are missing the point here. Ann Coulter is a racist, neo con. I cant believe the media plays her up like shes some sort of scholar. As a muslem, she has offended me numerous of times. Now, she is going after our Jewish brothers. Whats next? Every other religion and race in the world but hers? Jews do not need to be perfected. They have their own religion that they believe in. To condemn that many people of the world who are Jewish just shows you the extent of the crap that spews out of the mouths of right wingers. Fox news channel must be proud to have Ann Coulter on their payroll.

One of the most profound statements I've ever read was on a bathroom wall. It simply stated: "Do not blame God for man's mistakes".

Religion only exists because man created it. God didn't. That's why there are so many of them. It is impossible that there is only one true religion. If that is true, then most of us are going straight to hell. I'm sorry, but my God is not that intolerant, only those who created religions in his name are.

God may be the biggest jokester of all. He must be laughing his ass off at the stupidity of man and his creation of ways to worship him. Each one saying, "my religion is the only TRUE religion and God will punish you if you don't believe the way I do". How obsurd.

I respect all religions and have been to the services of many places of worship. In each, I try to come away with the same thing: Some new thought or idea that will make me a better person toward others. Because ultimately, your religion is between you and God.

It has nothing to do with books or prophets or religious leaders or houses of worship. It's just you and God. In the end you will answer to him not because of a religious affiliation, but because of the type of person you were and how you treated others. For what resides within YOU, not what others say you should believe.

Many of the comments here have attempted to quote scripture from their own religion. That is meaningless to others, unless you happen to be of that particular faith. The only true religion would be one that's inclusive to all.

Each of us has within ourselves the ultimate religion. The goal of our religion should be to work toward peace within ourselves and harmony with others. Only then will religion truely be worthwhile.

Why on earth would anyone care what this nut case
has to say?

Some Christians' views that Jews must be "perfected" by accepting Jesus as the messiah--
which is tantamount to converting to Christianity--is not just a matter of being the right religion. Of course, as you say, almost all religions aver that they alone are right. In this case, stating that Jews must convert to be acceptable, to be equal to Christians, is clearly anti-Semitic. Some Christians see conversion is their mission, spreading, if you will, the "good news." They think they're doing a good deed so that when the Day of Reckoning arrives, the converted, now as Christians, will be allowed into heaven.

Jews have their own route to heaven and it does not include picking up sidekicks along the way. The missionary route is anathema to Jews who are often criticized for being exclusionary.

One religion's rightness is all well and good as far as its posturing goes and trumpeting its rightness is fine. But, in this case, spreading the good word is bad when it condemns its non-believers.

It's okay. I'm Jewish, and I'm an expert in first century history, and I wasn't offended at all. The Christians of this world should study who Jesus really was. Jesus in his day was trying to turn Judaism more towards the Torah and against the temple money changers, and against Roman pagan gods. He succeeded in that since today's Judaism is Torah based as Jesus wanted, and is not temple based. Look at all the stars in Hollywood running towards the spiritual side of Judaism today to get their life back together. Jesus would be proud. That's what he was about. However, Jews should call Christians "pagan Jews". Because that's what they are. The three headed monster of Syria that St. Paul took and made into the Trinity concept after the death of Jesus is a pagan concept. December 25th which all Christians celebrate around the world as the birthday of Jesus was a pagan holiday that Jesus himself rejected. He celebrated the Jewish holidays of Passover and Hanukkah. Even the name of Jesus is Greek/Pagan, and Jesus called himself the Hebrew name of Joshua during his life. Jesus/Joshua preached and taught the Torah while he was alive, and if he returns to life as so many Christians claim, he will tell the world to return to the Torah and reject their pagan symbols. The prayers modern Jews wake up and say every day are to treat others like they wish to be treated, and to Love God with all their heart which is straight from the Torah that Jesus preached and quoted from. So if there is a second coming, Jesus will tell the world to be Jewish like he was. Just laugh at any silly pagan Christian friends you have when they tell you that they are superior. I'm sure Jesus wouldn't think so. Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!

The Jews like Lisa Miller were happy as long as Coulter was merely bashing the Muslims. Where was all this condemnation when Coulter said of Muslim nations "invade them, kill their neighbours and convert them to Christianity"? Why didn't Donny Deutsch condemn her then? Why did she keep getting invited to every talk show and make millions off her books? Is Deutsch only outraged when she says something faintly anti-semitic? I bet he used to like her when she talked about invading Iran. Zionists in this country have no problem with prejudice against Muslims, but say something against the Jews, and bam, you are a pariah.

Refresh my memory. How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

Pepole,why give this self-serving racist exclusivist empty head who claims her faith holds the ultimate truth-all this undeserved attention and publicity??

There are NO christian leaders who are ethical and intellectually honest, let alone just plain honest. There are NO jewish leaders supporting Israel's treatment of the Palestinians who are ethical and honest, let alone intellectually honest. I thnk perhaps the Dalai Lama is the closest person to an honest religious leader. All the others have hate and or greed that they cannot overvome.

How about they all go jump in a lake and leave us to worship without their hateful, lying, greedy interference?

None of them are any better than Mann Coulter.

So my faith is: "Nunya!"

You should be offended because talk of perfecting Jews has led to forced conversions and death for hundreds of thousands if not millions of Jews. My belief that my faith is better for me does not require me to believe that it would be better for you or that you can be perfected by conversion.

Coulter is an idiot, but unfortunately, she is just one of many. One of the most profound statements I've ever read was on a bathroom wall. It simply stated: "Don't blame God for man's mistakes".

Religion, as an institution, may be the biggest mistake man has ever made. It has caused more wars and death than most all other reasons combined.

Religion is subjective. It is totally owned by the person who believes in it. No two people have the same religious beliefs, even if they are of the same faith.

Probably 90% of all the faithful, worship in the religion into which they were born. Therefore, if I was born in Isreal, I'd probably be a Jew. If I was born in Pakistan, I'd probably be Moslum...etc.

The purpose of any, and all, religions should be to make each of us a better person toward each other. If not, its useless. Therefore, the only true religion is the religion that resides within you and it makes us all the same in the eyes of God.

"Each group believes at some basic level that theirs is the right, best path, or they would choose a different one."

I wonder whether this is completely true. Might there be room for the one who sees either path as equally good? I am a Christian and a seminarian. But I don't believe because I think Christianity is the best tradition. I believe because it is my tradition (emphasis on "my").

Now don't get me wrong. I don't blindly believe. If there were some portion of Christian ethics that were morally objectionable, I would reject it. I find Judaism and Islam to contain equally true moral injunctions, and I applaud them. I do not find them to be, in any way, "less good" religions. (I distinguish here between the religions and their adherents. Practitioners of all three Abrahamic faiths have historically fallen below the ideal of their respective faith traditions.)

But I remain a Christian because neither Islam nor Judaism are my traditions. When someone proves to me that the Gospel does not call followers to love God and neighbor (without discrimination), then I will give up Christianity.

As such, Coulter should admonish Jews to become better Jews and Muslims to become better Muslims. But first, she (along with all Christians) should press on toward the goal of becoming better adherents to Christ's call to love.

I left off one more pithy comment.

My decision to go from Lapsed Catholic to Full-Blown Agnostic seems to be justified every time I go any where near this part of the WaPo website. Some of you people are crazy. And yes, you do serve your masters when you fight endlessly among yourselves. Keep it up.

Can I get an email alert as to when the "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin" argument starts?

I do think that we're definitely at the point where we can talk about religion openly - without suggesting supremacy or indicting inferiority. The issue, I believe, is the media that still hangs on to the idea that conflict and the outrageous will sell. And for all of those who remain glued to the television, they still believe that everyone is out to get everyone else.
I wish that media channels would understand the wonderful amount of good that can emerge from conversation and how our country is crying out for it. But it seems that there will be other venues where this discussion can take place - sometimes on here, and then in mosques, synagogues, temples and churches.
There's so much we can learn from one another - and it is my belief that we are never "perfected" but continue to become.

Okay, Lisa, you say so.

I'm not Jewish, so I can't say -precisely- how far off Ann's remark was. All I know is that Jews' rights in America are conditional, because we now have a sitting President--a "unitary executive"--who could suddenly decide to take Jewish rights away in the name of national security, like he's tried with Muslims. It's also a little naive to not notice that just 2 generations ago, Jews in Europe were being systematically executed for their "Jewishness", so any cute comments about being complete or not seems to insult that memory.

But what do I know? I'm not Jewish.

I can't wait to hear how Ann "perfects" her message of hate to actually get through to you, Lisa--and perhaps finally piss you off the way she has the rest of us.

But I guess as long as mAnn Coulter is making $$$ for somebody, she's "okay."

Or are you just trying to be provocative? Why is the idea the Jews need to be "perfected" or converted to Christianity offensive?

Because for over 5000 years other people have been trying to "perfect" Jews and it always ends in the same way the slaughter and diaspora of the Jewish people.

Then I guess Muslims would like to see Christians
who converted to Islam as "completed" or "fulfilled Christians". I was raised as an evangelical, and eventually rejected its tenants. Both Christianity and Muslims both feed on conversions. Religion is best kept at home.

Harold: dead on!

Also, I think the word "perfection" might be used in its archaic meaning, from the King James Bible, which means something like "ripe." That seems somewhat close to completion.

I agree with this article, but as we saw with Madeline Albright and former Senator Allen, if you aren't effusively pro-Jewish all the time, then to them it means you're an anti-semite.

Purgatory is not a Christian invention - prior to the Jewish Council of 90 AD the second book of Macabees was part of the Old Testament - in that book warriors that took the amulets of the pagans and were slain were to be prayed for - now if they were prayed for that means they weren't in heaven for those in paradise need not prayer and they weren't in hell because those in hell benefit not from prayer - so where were they - an in between place which the catholic church named purgatory but which was alluded to in the old testament. The catholic bible includes the second book of Macabees. Martin Luther eliminated that book because he didn't believe in purgatory either but that book also contains the heroic sacrifice of 7 Jewish brothers who died for their faith and made a testamony to the resurrection of the dead by their own blood in their fight with the Greek king and tyrant.

If Ann Coulter is an example of a perfected anything, then I'll embrace my imperfections and thank the Goddess for every single one.

Even as a commentry on our times, and even recognizing your use of quotes I still find and think your news title (web news title) is offensive.

No one prints or gives air time to such annodine inhuman rubbish about perfecting other races.

Using "Ann Coulter Logic", aren't Muslims "Perfected Christians"?

I mean they believe in Jesus Christ, and they think he is coming back and all. They just think Mohammed is the last and best Prophet. They think Islam isn't a new religion. They (like Christians) think Jesus was the messenger to say the Jews have left the path. But they also think Islam was brought my Mohammed because the Christians did it too.

So to a Muslim, the Old and New Testaments are just "Two Thirds of the story".

I want a Muslim to offer to bring Ann Coulter to their Mosque and see if she takes them up. If she's got the "express route", Muslims must have "Warp Drive".

-Joe (a Jew)

Ann Coulter not only believes that Christians are perfected Jews, she believes that white people are perfected people of color (wait a minute, that might imply a belief in evolution), that the rich are the perfected middle-class, and that Republicans are just plain perfect.

Harold,

You are thumping the words of the Jewish fiction writers aka scribes.

CONCERNED THE CHRISTIAN NOW LIBERATED says “New Torah For Modern Minds”

Moses said “And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the Lord hath not sent me.” Do you see “for I have not done them of mine own mind”

And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the Lord hath said will we do. And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel.

Do you see “told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments” The LORD is an enemy of the enemies of Israel.

Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the Lord thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers: And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee. Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.

Do you see “if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them” “he will love thee, and bless thee” “he will also bless the fruit of thy womb” “Thou shalt be blessed above all people”

Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Do you see “Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger”

For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever. If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy. Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.

Look at the Words of Moses “I will render vengeance to mine enemies” “I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh” “for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries”

Now Look at the Words of David:

The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.

The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
Do you see “He made known his ways unto Moses” ” “I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh”

The Words of Isaiah:

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Do you see “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it” the Words of Moses “I will render vengeance to mine enemies” “I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh” “for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries”

But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

Now look at “And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine” Do you see “Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger” Do you see “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it” the Words of Moses “I will render vengeance to mine enemies” “I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh” “for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries” Those of the faith of the sinner creatures eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood. It is their own flesh and blood.

What do you have to see to understand the Words of David, “The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth”

David said “Howbeit the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:” Do you see “chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever” David will always be the only King of Israel. Do you see “he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father” JUDAH is the Name of the LORD. Next verse “And of all my sons, (for the Lord hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.” Solomon is to sit on the throne, David is and will be the only King of Israel.

CONCERNED THE CHRISTIAN NOW LIBERATED says “New Torah For Modern Minds”
You have the mind of who you worship, you are as wise as a serpent. The words of your god "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" The judgment of the LORD is clear "And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." You are the seed of the serpent. "thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field" You have the mind of christ "carnally minded is death;." the words of Paul are clear "For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."

Harold Z,

Yes most of the OT is fiction as per 1.5 million Conservative Jews and their rabbis.

""New Torah For Modern Minds

Abraham, the Jewish patriarch, probably never existed. Nor did Moses. The entire Exodus story as recounted in the Bible probably never occurred. The same is true of the tumbling of the walls of Jericho. And David, far from being the fearless king who built Jerusalem into a mighty capital, was more likely a provincial leader whose reputation was later magnified to provide a rallying point for a fledgling nation.

Such startling propositions -- the product of findings by archaeologists digging in Israel and its environs over the last 25 years -- have gained wide acceptance among non-Orthodox rabbis. But there has been no attempt to disseminate these ideas or to discuss them with the laity -- until now.

The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, which represents the 1.5 million Conservative Jews in the United States, has just issued a new Torah and commentary, the first for Conservatives in more than 60 years. Called ''Etz Hayim'' (''Tree of Life'' in Hebrew), it offers an interpretation that incorporates the latest findings from archaeology, philology, anthropology and the study of ancient cultures.

To the editors who worked on the book, it represents one of the boldest efforts ever to introduce into the religious mainstream a view of the Bible as a human rather than divine document. "

Quoting “Next time just reference the mythical story of Job.” Is the whole book a myth to you.

This is what is written in Genesis of the sheep

And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

This is what Moses said of the sheep

Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd.

This is what David said of the sheep

But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling.

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

This is what Jeremiah said of the sheep

But thou, O Lord, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the Lord. I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.

This is what Paul said of the sheep

As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

This is what Job said of the sheep

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

The Words of David

For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.

Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.

O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.
But the Lord shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

Israel walks upright, they walk in faith before the LORD. The have the Spirit of the LORD. Sinner creatures whose faith is in Jesus FOLLOW him like sheep, they are beasts. They have the spirit of the beast. "thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep" "Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them" As Paul said “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Don you really think the sons of Israel, who you call saints, went into the world to save the Romans and Greeks? Look "To execute vengeance upon the heathen" "To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints."

Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;
To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord.

Don't Christians believe that all people, not just Jews, need to be "perfected" by accepting Jesus as the messiah? If so, then she is merely expressing Christian exceptionalism, the idea that Christianity is the one true path. There's nothing new in Coulter's obnoxious, and childish, remarks, and they are probably shared by other true believers. We regularly see this kind of immaturity. Big deal. It's a wave that will subside.

Harold Zeller,

Next time just reference the mythical story of Job.

Anne Coulter provides a valuable service for those of us who like to rely on reason rather than religion to explain the world. Any time I find my agnosticism beginning to waiver, I have only to read her idiotic comments to snap me back to reality. You go, Anne! We need you more than ever.

Amen!

The biggest problem facing the atheist community is the fact that one does not exist. Yes, possibly atheists tend to gravitate to each other more just like people of other religions, but there is no place of meeting like a temple, church, or masque. There is no asigned time or place where only atheists meet together to talk, socialize, and form contacts. It seems to me that it would be impossible or at least highly improbable that a place could exsist whre atheist would meet on a regular basis and discuss atheist topics because it would turn into a 'religion.' Also because atheism represents independence, and there are no set of beliefs like other religions that we all share other than there is no god.

Much can be learned from the writings in Job.
Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said, Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind? Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good? Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God. For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty. Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee.

Look “Thine own mouth condemneth thee” whose words are in your mouth “For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity.” Do you not see “thine own lips testify against thee” Look “thou choosest the tongue of the crafty” whose words are on your tongue. Remember Paul said it is the spirit in you that’s speaks when you are before the Lord for judgment.

Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed. The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken. The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.
Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.

Look “they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same” “By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed” All word of GOD is breathed in, according to the faith of sinner creatures, “by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed”. Who is it that destroys you, God. Look “The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion” Who came to destroy the gentiles. Who is sent in his image to speak the gospel to the world. Do you see “Now a thing was secretly brought to me”, have not I revealed a secret.

Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again: God shall cast them out of his belly. When he is about to fill his belly, God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him, and shall rain it upon him while he is eating. This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.

Look “He hath swallowed down riches, and he shall vomit them up again” Who is the dog who eats his own vomit. “God shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him” The words are clear “This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.” Who has the mouth of God, “hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God” Have not I revealed another secret. Whose table is that of the Christian and catholic faith. They eat the flesh of the son of man.

But Job answered and said, How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the almighty. For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high.

Do you not see “God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.” Are you a son of God, the children of God. Is it not your desire to be among the children of the LORD. What is revealed “His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.” What is the cup of the gentiles, their own blood.

It is the spirit in you who speaks, All word of GOD is breathed in, according to the faith of sinner creatures, “by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed”. ” Who has the mouth of God, “hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God” It is revealed in Job “For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity” Who goes into the world, sheep as wise as serpent and harmless as doves “thou choosest the tongue of the crafty” They have the tongue of the serpent. Look “thine own lips testify against thee” The cup of wrath comes to their lips. “His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.” What is the cup of the gentiles, their own blood.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.

Do you see who is with the sons of God, “when the sons of God came, Satan came also among them” It is Satan who dwells with the sons of God. The LORD dwells with Israel, is it not your desire to have the LORD with you.

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord.

Look, “Again there was a day when the sons of God” “Satan came also among them” It clearly represents Satan is always with the sons of God before the Lord.

While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Look, “The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants”, I ask you wise creatures of the Christian and catholic faiths who are the sheep. Who is with you at the judgment seat. Look “God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. His eyes shall see his destruction” “and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”

Look form Revelation, “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” “I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.” “But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.” “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.”

It is clear “where Satan's seat is” The serpent is cursed above the beasts. “where Satan dwelleth” Satan dwells among the sons of God “I will make them to come and worship before thy feet” They worship their god at the cross. Coulter is as wise as a serpent, a dog who eats its own vomit and drinks it own blood. She has the spirit of the beast. Look “they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same” Do you not see “God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.” Do you see “Now a thing was secretly brought to me”, have not I revealed a secret.

Christians and catholics say they are saved, have life in them, and are born again. I say, they were dead at birth and when they die, theyare cast into the fire. That is their eternal life.

Why shouldn't we be offended when others tell us that we deserve to burn in hell because we haven't accepted Jesus or Muhammed or whoever? Coulter and her cohorts are not just making value judgments about religions. They're also making value judgments about the believers in those religions. No one has the right to determine another human being's worthiness to exist. I respect the point that Lisa Miller is trying to make. But she implies that when someone tells you that you don't deserve to exist, that you should just get over it.

You asked:
"why should I, a Jew, be offended because Coulter or any other Christian believes that her religion is superior to mine?"

It's a fact of life that we will always run into people with views like this throughout our lives. First, I'd say that it takes a lot for you to acknowledge and have the ability to look at what people like Coulter are saying from their own perspectives. In general though, people like Ann Coulter who blindly seek divisiveness are worthless to society.

This whole thing brings up a glaring truth, though.
What is the main divisive factor between people all over the world who claim to believe in God?
It's always a human factor. This, by no means applies to all people of faith, but it does apply to most.

For the Jews: years upon years of following additional writings and teachings from religious leaders, outside of their God given scripture has left them with an ethno-centric view on the world, largely concentrating on their identity as a group, instead of the pure worship of the Creator.
This again does not apply to all, and there are plenty of righteous devoted Jews who know better.

Christians: misled by man-made ideologies, mainly established _300 years!!!_ after Jesus brought his message (look up Nicene on wikipedia), many have idolized him as the son of God, and/or God, and fail to see how this contradicts various facts from the Gospel and logic (God is Omniscient, he knows all of our feelings and does not need to incarnate Himself to gain knowledge or experience, we on this earth could never stand the presence of God)... The trinity was established as formal religion 300 years after Jesus. Who pays attention to these facts. Still there are many Christians who really focus on God and are exemplary people.

Muslims: again, misled by religious scholars who seek their own material gain, they focus on their prophet and/or saints. They uphold ludicrous laws and cultural things that can never be upheld based on their holy scripture alone, even though the scripture tells them that it is complete and fully detailed. Instead they mostly follow what they claim are sayings of the prophet and others. Many bring muhammad's or some saint's names in their prayers. Overall, where they've gone wrong is a combination of what the Jews and Christians have done. Still there are many among them who recognize what is correct and lead righteous lives.

The point is, if we all realize that we are here to uphold God's absolute authority, and to focus on worshipping and appreciating Him alone, as our Creator, the One with all power, the Omniscient, who has given us this great chance to redeem our souls, then we'll realize that the only thing that distinguishes us as better or worse is how righteous we are. How good we treat each other. How well we choose to uphold morality. All while believing in God.

We are all here to try prove that we can uphold the absolute authority of the One and only God, and to recognize His authority. Let's compete in righteousness. And there is no compulsion necessary in religion. We were all given free will. Let's not get diverted from respecting our Creator by the human factors that will always divert us and which we were never meant to focus on.

The best person in the sight of God is the one who respects God, His qualities, and His authority, and lives the most righteous life... not the one who says "you are inferior to me" or who spreads hatred and wreaks havoc.

I just think that is sad that "Christians" are now being defined by one group of Christians.

I do feel that Christianity is under attack and I do believe it always will be because the Bible is filled with God's truth and we are born into sin with sinful desires. That is why it is required to become a new man in Christ. (Natural vs.Spiritual)

Never did Christ ever brag about His relationship with His Father or the power that He received, but all those against Him made it appear that way.

It is sad that people will now use Ann Coulters' comments as a way to discredit Christianity and to keep them from searching for God. The True God. God is one and there are not many ways to get to Him...just one. He is not the author of confusion.

It takes a strong and humble person to look beyond flawed human beings to the perfection that surrounds us in creation, as the reality of God.
One thing is for certain, God holds each person responsible for finding Him, not Ann Coultier, not your parents, siblings, friends or spouse.
God has set eternity in the hearts of man and He is mericful and just that if you really want to find it you will.

If you feel confident that you have, you won't be offended by ignorance.

One of the most troubling things about Anne Coulter is not why she incites people with her provocative comments, but rather that she says it at all. Lets assume for just a minute that she doesn't believe anything that she says, and she's just creating a clever image for herself in order to gain fame and wealth. While she may not believe what she writes, others do.

Adolf Hitler did not start the anti-Semitic movement in Germany when he came to power, it had begun decades before. In the late 1800's, many fringe thinkers started pushing anti-Semitic ideas, but they didn't really take hold until after WWI when Germany was in the midst of a national crisis.

Provocative writers always seem harmless until someone who believes what they write come to power. Coulter has a clear track record of inciting hatred and violence against specific ethnic or religious groups.

God is a concept by which we measure our pain.

Don Deuthsch is only partially correct when call Ann Coulter an anti-semite. These statements are those of exclusion and indeed lack the noble philosophy of Jesus. People trying to excite unrest by their metaphysical beliefs should be quarantined and certainly kept away from any mass communication outlet. How much death, torture and destruction are needed to satisfy someone like her with such parochial thoughts. There is certainly places for free speech on cable or public airways. Her speech was nothing more than hate.
Why do kids place nooses in trees? Why do people use the "N" word? Take your choice hate or ignorance....Ann does not seem to be ignorant.

As a practicing Jew and theologian of sorts, it is easy to see where this is all coming from. People are misconstruing Ann's entire statement--- not that I am condoning her obviously naive and obnoxious nature. Ann's beliefs are that Jews should become Christians because, to her, Jesus is the only path to salvation. She did not say everyone should convert right away. She did not go on to call Jews names or incite violence. Historically, Christians were converted Jews, pagans, and various other religions. Why focus on the Jews? Because Jesus was a Jew. Perhaps that is a blessing and curse on Judaism.

Coulter is a lost soul. Most people have tired of her and few take her seriously. It is amazing that some radio and TV hosts still do. As for her remark, it just showed how little she knows about religion, any religion. She is like the proverbial "atheist" who proclaims to be a Jew. She is an embarrassment. We are taught not to judge the unfortunate but it is hard sometimes. As for her remark, indeed, Christians are Jews who have accepted Jesus as the Messiah and Jews are still waiting. Yet it must be said loud and clear: people do not have religion to "perfect" themselves so much as to have an explanation of what happens after death and how to prepare for that inevitable day. This is the reason for all religions. Sure there are those who can live without, but they have to realize that it is only because there are believers around that the world does not fall apart, which is what may happen if religions really disappears.

Mike: At least get the politics right. Bill Maher is a libertarian - the antithesis of progressive thinking. I'm a liberal and Bill ain't here at all.

Who cares what Ann thinks. She's right you know, that Christians do fancy themselves completed jews, but that's nothing new.

Imagine, if you will, that you were a big enough loser to obsess for weeks over stupid comments by professional flamethrowers like Anne Coulter or her liberal counterpart, Bill Maher.

Pretty sad.

********************************************
********************************************
********************************************
********************************************

Why do you people continue to discuss the human filth that is Ann Coulter?

She has no redeeming qualities. She has nothing of any use to say. And, if she has had anything intelligent to say, she keeps it as a well-guarded secret.

We have seen her kind before in Joseph McCarthy, Morton Downy Jr, Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Joseph Goebbels, and Adolf Hitler -- all people who had nothing to contribute but hatred and race-baiting.

The best thing to do is to turn off the TV or change the channel when you see her face. She thrives on people commenting on her next stupid comment.

She is a bigot, and she is pure hatred. She feeds on the controversy she creates. If you all just ignore her, she WILL go away. Let her vile minions continue buying her books and feeding at the trough of bigotry and hatred, while the rest of us listen to more rational and positive messages from the boob tube and other news.

********************************************
********************************************
********************************************

Haven't had time to read all these posts but I can tell this lot one thing: Ann Coulter has not a clue what Christianity is. I think she is equally ignorant of Judaism. Don't worry about Ann. It's for people like her that the good wise and merciful God created Hell. I am a goy and not privileged to be a Jew; I practice my faith in the Episcopal Church. Ann C does not like us either. According to Luke 10:25 and following Jesus said God wants us to live according to Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. If it's good enough for Jesus it's good enough for me.

Haven't had time to read all these posts but I can tell this lot one thing: Ann Coulter has not a clue what Christianity is. I think she is equally ignorant of Judaism. Don't worry about Ann. It's for people like her that the good wise and merciful God created Hell. I am a goy and not privileged to be a Jew; I practice my faith in the Episcopal Church. Ann C does not like us either. According to Luke 10:25 and following Jesus said God wants us to live according to Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. If it's good enough for Jesus it's good enough for me.

The problem with Ann Coulter is that she divides rather than brings people together. Nevertheless this is a divisive issue and a little generosity of spirit is unlikely to make it less so.

I am a Jew who has become an Evangelical Christian, a "Messianic" Jew. The position that Evangelicals believe the Bible teaches is that the only way to Eternal Life is through Jesus (which he himself said in John when he said "I am the Way the Truth and the Life).

That is why Evangelicals believe it is the Mission that Christ has given them to show the light to the world, i.e. to convert non-believers into believers in Christ. If you truly believe these words then you have an obligation to act on them, and it is love that drives you. This has nothing to do with superiority or inferiority, it has to do with truth. If Jesus is who he says he is then we must preach Him to the Jews (and the Buddhists and the Atheists and the Moslems, and the Christians in name who haven't given themself fully to Him).

We Evangelicals are driven by love and not hate or intolerance. It is very sad that it looks the other way to Jews and it is doubly sad that people like Ann Coulter reinforce this view.

If an person from birth told, brought up on an diet of only christian teaching,then have mercy on a child.If an person from birth told, brought up on an diet of only islam,then have mercy on a child. If an person from birth told, brought up on a diet of nothing,then have mercy on a child.

Regarding the “perfecting of the Jews.” In 17th century Cromwellian England, Oliver Cromwell, a staunch Puritan and millenarian, invited the previously expelled Jews back into the country, because he believed the end was near and Jews needed to be converted first.

Unlike Cromwell whose motives were honest although misguided, Miller writes that “Ann Coulter incites and revels in hate talk for profit.” But I bet it’s safe to say she (and other right and left wing pundits like her) are working for persons or groups unknown, whose interests lie in fomenting divisiveness in the country, because dividing people on matters of religion, diverts their attention away from asking questions and seeking solutions to the problems of war, economic disparities and corruption, all of which contribute to the unease, anger and hate in this country, thus making it impossible to solve conflicts.

Doctrinal points in religion have always been contentions subjects. The final war of the Reformation went on for thirty years before the warring factions realized they were getting nowhere, and had to sit down and talk in order to stop the fighting.

A starting point in neutralizing the raucous voices of Coulter and others is to recognize the truth that before doctrine all three of the major religions of the world—Christianity, Judaism and Islam are monotheistic faiths—People of the Book as Muslims have it. With one God in mind, we can ask ourselves what we have to fight about, and demand that our leaders confront the major problems of our time before they get any worse.

We can ask ourselves whether we want an angry and hateful world, or a peaceful and safe one.

The fundamental difference between Judaism and Christianity is not about messiahs. Its about God.
When a Jewish messiah comes, he will be a prophet perhaps, but a very human prophet. "The Lord Is ONE" goes the prayer. He does not have sons. Godzilla has sons.

By the way, if orthodox Jews stood on subway platforms and prosthetized to Christians that Jesus was NOT Lord (as Jews for Jesus does to Jewish passers by) how long would those Jews keep their teeth?

why on earth must one set of religious believers necessarily believe they are right and others are wrong. This is what is wrong in the world whether it be Islamic fascists or Jewish west bank settlers (at least the settlers are not as an organized principle trying to kill all non believers in sight) I thought religion was about a set of moral beliefs, a way to live and act, and finding meaning in a confusing world. This is why so many are turned off by religion: the premise of all these creeds seems to be my way or the highway (the highway leading straight to hell) Coulter is just a symbol of the problem.

There is no God.

Ann Coulter? I'd do her.

"Each group believes at some basic level that theirs is the right, best path, or they would choose a different one."

Just one thought - I believe that Christianity is right for me, but I also believe that there are many paths to God, and therefore many "right" religions. Religions are inextricable from culture, so I don't think Christianity is right for all cultures.

Harold Zeller,

Other than the OT, there is no proof that Abraham existed. After reviewing all the possible historic and archeological sources, 1.5 million Conservative Jews and their rabbis have concluded that Abe was a myth along with most everything else in the OT. http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/ConservativeTorah.htm

And even National Geographic basically came to the same conclusion a few years ago finding only a few tourist traps on Abe's mythical journeys.

Dave you are SO right. You can add if she was not blond and white she would be ignored. It is so sad that she is given a platform. Nothing against her looks (although she could use a side of beef and a few pounds of potatoes and bread) but it does play into the current "news" personalities. The number of "pretty people" giving the news has drastically increased over the past few years. Wonder how many more competent folks are being passed over because they do not have "the look". Give me substance any day.

Dave in Oregon:
The point about Ann Coulter that is rarely mentioned is that she would be completely ignored if she were short, fat, and unattractive. Her personal appearance, when juxtaposed with the ugliness that comes out of her mouth and books, makes her such a fascinating curiosity that people pay attention to what are otherwise banal, forgettable, and totally uninteresting statements. It is this odd combination of looks and potty-mouth, and the willingness of the press to buy into her schtik, that has made her rich. Who cares what she has to say?

What being remarkable is GOD's love no matter the wronging or doer,GOD having sent a legion of his closest,to Planet Earth,where they give all. Day as night they serve the needy the poor the sick the confused,the impotent,that they arise, once more,standing proud,fully erect,crying the praise of GOD in... HALLELUJAH... .. .

Thanks Peter.

Its easy to forget- Yeshua was in fact a Torah-observant Jew.

It seems that thre are some folks that consider Coulter just an amusing aberation. It reminds me of the pictures from World War 2 showing Adoph Hitler smiling and playing with his puppy. No, she makes me very uncomfortable.

An excellent examination and perfect reproach to "mild" hate mongers like Coulter: I'm comfortable with who I am, and I don't care what you think; still, you have the right to THINK what you want and there seems to be some religious basis for your thinking; nuf' said.

Coulter lives in the now. If we all take enough deep breaths when people are intolerant, yet not violent, she'll be dust long before pluralistic democracy ends in America.

OK LETS BE HONEST NOW AND REPEAT 10 TIMES AFTER MOI.
"RELIGION POISONS EVERYTHING IT TOUCHES"

Ann Coulter is probably my least favorite person in the world, but I sort of half understand what she is trying to say in this instance. It's not quite correct in the way she might be able to say it about the Protestant reformation improving or correcting Catholicism. Without Judaism, there is no Christianity and Western Civilization would be nothing like what it is today. Coulter, as is the usual truth, has no biblical ground to stand on.

The left is where the problem lies. Do we write articles and pontificate when Jessie Jackson has an illegitimate child....when Al Sharpton is calling the white race....racist? No because all media outlets are left and socialists in the making. God help us if Hilary wins the White House, this type of censorship of the right will happen even more. Let Ann say what she wants, then say a rebuttal and let it be!! Why to we have to kick people off the air and ask that they be censored because of what they believe. Where is this country going???

I thought the only perfect person was crucified 2000 years ago.

Peter Huff,

Hello Peter,

Thanks for your question:

"Sorry to be serious again, but Jihadist had some high words of praise for you. I'm curious as to what you actually believe about God?"

Welcome to On Faith [I think you haven't been posting here for very long]. Old timers here have heard me answer your question many times before and are probably tired of my exposition, but I'm always happy for the chance to say what I think.

It all started when Mary Cunningham, whom I love to debate [she's a feisty and historically savvy lady], kept calling me an atheist. I protested that I wasn't and after a time she stopped, though I imagine she still believes that I am.

Anyway, with that preamble:

I call myself an "agnostic Buddhist sympathizer".

"Agnostic", because, while I do not have a positive belief in God, or a God, I have never denied the possibility that a Being who could reasonably called God does in fact exist.

"Buddhist sympathizer" because I think Buddhism's ethical precepts are the best ever devised. I particularly like the fact that Buddhism says that human beings and animals have the same inner "Buddha nature" and are on an equal footing on the path to enlightenment.

The Abrahamic religions, of course, treat animals as being inferior to humans and subject to their dominion. I think the Buddhist view is more accurate and certainly more humane [I'm profoundly a cat person].

I also think that the psychology of the human mind developed within Buddhism over two thousand years ago is a remarkably accurate description of how our minds work, and still has relevance for us today.

I call myself a "Buddhist sympathizer" rather than a "Buddhist" for a couple of reasons. I've never affiliated myself with any Buddhist group and I've never received Buddhist teachings from a Buddhist practitioner.

All of my thinking about Buddhism has been based on my own reading. My "Buddhism" is my own personal version, Westernized and shorn of Buddhism's oriental and historical baggage and its rituals.

I'm also agnostic as to some of traditional Buddhism's core beliefs such as reincarnation, karma, the Bardo, the seven planes of existence, and so on.

These things may well exist but I don't have a positive belief that they do. It's just like my agnosticism concerning the Christian God.

I know that I simply don't know about the existence or nonexistence of these things.

********************

Thanks again for your question. I hope I haven't bored you to death.

And welcome to On Faith.

Best wishes.

ON PERFECTING HUMANITY. GOD ....sent forth the prophets,hence,bringing humanity all knowledge. Response of Humanity,informed mere pawns in an game of illusion,was to kill the prophets.Thus the present situation for humanity we be alone, upon our knees in the vastness of the universe. Having rejected GOD as killed the prophets. Per'aps it be we having acted too hastily, let us make peace with GOD accepting the prophets, gain in knowledge,thus giving peace a chance.

Coulter's belief in the superiority of Christianity is Judaism's belief in itself as the creed of the "Chosen People" coming back at you, Lisa. Minus the racial superiority of Jewish belief and Israeli practice.

You, like almost everybody else on this story, completely miss the point. You see, Ms. Coulter talked about "perfected Jews," not as her original statement, but in RETREAT from her original statement. She first said her ideal America was filled with only Christians, a "Judeen Frei" dream from days gone by. THEN, when Deutsch challenged her on it, she pulled the "perfected Jews" fantasy out to attempt to justify her hateful comment. The original comment, Coulter's dream of a Jew-free America (and a Muslim-free America, and an Atheist-free America, etc.), is the real ugly truth of Ann Coulter. The rest, including the tripe about "perfected Jews," was not the source of her comment, but the justification for it.

Begone,

Just as I thought you have no answer just a bunch of incoherent gibberish.

Lisa Miller

One of the many differences bewteen Jewish and
Christian beliefs is the discrepancy between the
original Hebrew of the Old Testament Bible
and the King James Bible, which is a "version" of the Latin translated from Greek , which is a "version" of the original Hebrew.

Translation is wrought with difficulty, but offers a means by which the translator may color or shade the meaning to suit his purposes.

example:
Hebrew : Thou shalt not MURDER
English (King James : Thou shalt not KILL

The difference is obvious. Along the way, the translator can easily add nuance, changing the meaning of the text.

moshe shen

Lisa Miller

One of the many differences bewteen Jewish and
Christian beliefs is the discrepancy between the
original Hebrew of the Old Testament Bible
and the King James Bible, which is a "version" of the Latin translated from Greek , which is a "version" of the original Hebrew.

Translation is wrought with difficulty, but offers a means by which the translator may color or shade the meaning to suit his purposes.

example:
Hebrew : Thou shalt not MURDER
English (King James : Thou shalt not KILL

The difference is obvious. Along the way, the translator can easily add nuance, changing the meaning of the text.

moshe shen

Lisa Miller

One of the many differences bewteen Jewish and
Christian beliefs is the discrepancy between the
original Hebrew of the Old Testament Bible
and the King James Bible, which is a "version" of the Latin translated from Greek , which is a "version" of the original Hebrew.

Translation is wrought with difficulty, but offers a means by which the translator may color or shade the meaning to suit his purposes.

example:
Hebrew : Thou shalt not MURDER
English (King James : Thou shalt not KILL

The difference is obvious. Along the way, the translator can easily add nuance, changing the meaning of the text.

moshe shen

Lisa Miller

One of the many differences bewteen Jewish and
Christian beliefs is the discrepancy between the
original Hebrew of the Old Testament Bible
and the King James Bible, which is a "version" of the Latin translated from Greek , which is a "version" of the original Hebrew.

Translation is wrought with difficulty, but offers a means by which the translator may color or shade the meaning to suit his purposes.

example:
Hebrew : Thou shalt not MURDER
English (King James : Thou shalt not KILL

The difference is obvious. Along the way, the translator can easily add nuance, changing the meaning of the text.

moshe shen

Lisa Miller

One of the many differences bewteen Jewish and
Christian beliefs is the discrepancy between the
original Hebrew of the Old Testament Bible
and the King James Bible, which is a "version" of the Latin translated from Greek , which is a "version" of the original Hebrew.

Translation is wrought with difficulty, but offers a means by which the translator may color or shade the meaning to suit his purposes.

example:
Hebrew : Thou shalt not MURDER
English (King James : Thou shalt not KILL

The difference is obvious. Along the way, the translator can easily add nuance, changing the meaning of the text.

moshe shen

Lisa Miller

One of the many differences bewteen Jewish and
Christian beliefs is the discrepancy between the
original Hebrew of the Old Testament Bible
and the King James Bible, which is a "version" of the Latin translated from Greek , which is a "version" of the original Hebrew.

Translation is wrought with difficulty, but offers a means by which the translator may color or shade the meaning to suit his purposes.

example:
Hebrew : Thou shalt not MURDER
English (King James : Thou shalt not KILL

The difference is obvious. Along the way, the translator can easily add nuance, changing the meaning of the text.

moshe shen

Lisa Miller

One of the many differences bewteen Jewish and
Christian beliefs is the discrepancy between the
original Hebrew of the Old Testament Bible
and the King James Bible, which is a "version" of the Latin translated from Greek , which is a "version" of the original Hebrew.

Translation is wrought with difficulty, but offers a means by which the translator may color or shade the meaning to suit his purposes.

example:
Hebrew : Thou shalt not MURDER
English (King James : Thou shalt not KILL

The difference is obvious. Along the way, the translator can easily add nuance, changing the meaning of the text.

moshe shen

Sorry Norrie,

Ha, ha! Very funny! Never thought of using it. Please stop, you're killing me.

Sorry to be serious again, but Jihadist had some high words of praise for you. I'm curious as to what you actually believe about God?

Hi David,

Your question,

"Did Yeshua come to undo 4000 years of His Father's work?"

No, to fulfill it.

By writing an entire column about how you are absolutely not worried about her, you are doing her the service you recommend others not to. This is what she wants. Just drop it.

bgone- usually you keep your ducks in a row-so im not trying to shoot them down- its the LOVE of money that is the root of all evil
just so some unkind smarty in the future doesnt get you on it
peace

ms miller- id say you made more effort in understanding the position of christians than has been reciprocated-

ann does loves the spotlight, doesnt she.

enough about her-

good comments ms miller

peace

If Jesus Christ has an evil doppelganger, it is Ann Coulter. I have friends and relatives who are Christians who are loving and warm people. I'm not a Christian but it irritates me tremendously to see a religion formerly associated with love and forgiveness used to bully people.

Those that are of the seed of Abram are already perfect. look

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.

What is revealed “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect” Abram walks before the LORD. Here are words of Moses “Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.”

All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.

What is revealed “All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart” “all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king” Israel has never accepted Jesus as their king, king of the Jews. They are not Jews but Israeli’s. They walk before the LORD.

Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.
Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

What does it say “for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the Lord” Look “Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father” The LORD is the Father of Israel, Abram is the father of the Jews. This is the Truth “thine hand is power and might” “to give strength unto all” The Words of Moses are clear “And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. And he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.” Moses blesses the children of Israel like David does. Look “from his right hand went a fiery law for them. Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand” The words of David are clear “thine hand is power and might” “to give strength unto all”

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
The teachings of David David is clear “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul” “Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand” Souls are saved by the LORD. This is Truth “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever”

Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day. And the king, and all Israel with him, offered sacrifice before the Lord. And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the Lord, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord

What does Solomon say “Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord” “to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments” “Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings” “hundred and twenty thousand sheep” Who are the sheep is the faith of the sinner creatures. “Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the Lord, and until it was finished. So the house of the Lord was perfected.”

And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the Lord to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein. Look “whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the Lord” “offering in beeves or sheep”

Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.

The Words out of the mouth of David are clear “I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord”

Who does those of the faith of sinner creature’s FOLLOW, “let the dead bury the dead” They walk not before the LORD.

And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant. And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?

Look “Abraham took sheep” “gave them unto Abimelech” this represents “my father a king, or a father of a king, a common name for a Philistine king, as Pharaoh was the Egyptian king.”

The priests said not, Where is the Lord? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the Lord, and with your children's children will I plead.

This is who stands behind the pulpit of the churches of the gentiles “pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal” Look “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Is not this an answer “Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” Christians are God’s chosen, “the world is the enemy of God.” “preach the gospel to every creature.” “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” The missionary work of the gentiles is clear “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Look “ye therefore wise as serpents” Here is the kingdom for the Christians “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” Look “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” The words are clear “pray for them which despitefully use you.” “ye therefore wise as serpents” “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” “how can ye escape the damnation of hell?”

O Lord, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit. Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are no gods? Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The Lord.

The prophecy of Jeremiah is clear “I will this once cause them to know” “to know mine hand and my might” “he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them. Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand” Have not I revealed the name of the LORD, “they shall know that my name is The Lord.”

What is revealed “All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart” “all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king” Israel has never accepted Jesus as their king, king of the Jews. They are not Jews but Israeli’s. They walk before the LORD.

Coulter needs to read Romans, then maybe she will have a different viewpoint. It is wrong to think Christians are superior to Jews or the opposite. Each are following their beliefs.

It is obvious that Coulter is not a diplomat, and I believe you have correctly characterized her motives.

Bgone,

Be Gone With You and please take all those "ugly wingie talking flying fictional thingies" and your demented webpages with you!!!!

Historically context is very important here, if the last 2000 years had seen these two branches of Abraham in the western world on equal footing I would accept your point. However when a majority religion sees fix to "perfect" a minority group it has put in Ghettos, disallowed land ownership, and killed by the thousands, we should all be offended. This is dangerous talk, how many good Christians in Hitler's Germany believe that if only the Jews would be Christians they would be ok? A famous German theologian wrote a book: "Moral Man, Immoral Society" in which he pointed out the western world's biggest religious pit fall: we focus so much on individual good or bad that we fell to see what we do collectively can do far more harm than what we do individually.
As a deeply religious Christian, I think we Christians should just back off the Jews, we've "loved" them toward Christianity a little too much.

Wayne McCoy:

Without the media, "Hardball" - MSNBC I would never have known there was a "Swiftboat Veterans for Truth" or that Ann Coulter was alive. I never went to the web site yet know everything there and I never read Coulter's book but know everything in it, at least more than I care to know.

The last proverb left standing, "money is the root of all evil."

Did any of the founding fathers have a financial interest in democracy?

No God Pablo?

There must be a God. Look about you. Where did all this come from? There must be a God.

And, there's a Devil too! http://www.hoax-buster.org/sellyoursoul Without Devil God has nothing to do for salvation is assured. No Devil would make Jesus just another skid-row bum looking for a free gulp of wine.

But of course there's a God and IT wouldn't be caught dead in a "church, temple, synagogue, or mosque" where people of faith worship, honor, adore, glorify and make sacrifices of their hard earned money to Devil's agents - priests, rabbis, ayatollahs, pastors and ministers. Calling the biggest Devil of them all, Lucifer God doesn't make Lucifer God but surely makes Lucifer happy.

How great thou are oh mighty Lucifer.

Pablo, you do know that the being in the burning bush is the father of Jesus? Oh yeah! Are you buying a ticket to hell or selling them? The big money goes to those selling tickets to hell, vicars who represent the being in the burning bush that collect and spend His tithes, (taxes paid to God's representatives). They claim to represent God when IT's really Devil. The money on the plate is Lucifer's fee to them for their souls.

Just one question. If God came to see you how would you know it was God? Keep the faith for there's plenty of room in hell.

Did you forget the first commandment, "no strange Gods"? There's a world of difference between, "no God" and "no strange God." I believe in God. What do you think you believe?

I think THE MODERATE missed the point:

"What we have here is an essay on tolerance in the face of a misdeed by a well known provocateur with a financial interest in stirring this kind of thing up. What does your line of anti religious bigotry have to do with that? Give it a rest, dude."

The person was stating that Christians have a mission to try to perfect others. Only the degrees vary.

Don't believe it? Read a history book sometime, "dude". It's funny how Christians accuse others of bigotry when they have no argument.

all of the apostles were jews. all of the old testament prophets spoke against the spiritual leadership of the hebrews , causing some to ne killed. the jews of john the baptist time believed him to be a prophet. you will also be amazed to find out that when the evil comes to the jew to slit their throats, the christians of the present, who know the BOOK of truth,will be the jews only defender.

Roy? Do you have a WHUYA?

Dear Jacob Jozevz,

Would you please send me some to that you are smoking? :-]

I would like to see the Christian extremists neocons and their pet b*tch Ann Coulter perfected - in hell.

Bgone,

On what basis go you argue that there is no God?

Ray,

Your love and tolerance is overwhelming. Please teach us more about tolerance and love.

Someday, perhaps, there will be no need for religious bombshells. Until that day, here are few for the Jewish side to use:

"Perhaps someday Christians will be able to count to one. They claim to be monotheists, but never seem to be able to stop at one."

"An omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient diety has no need for an intermediary."

And, "If God wanted Jews to be different, he knows how to make them that way."

Coulter doesn't know Gita from pita. People grow up to accept the religion that surrounds them in youth. Take any American Christian and have them grow up in Mecca and, guess what?, they will be Muslim.

Give me that old time religion and it's good enough for me.

Religion is a cloak that we toss over our true selves. Spirituality is our true self. Jews, Hindus, Muslims and Christians have more in common than they care to recognize. None has the whole picture, but each has part.

The only spiritual leaders worth listening to are those who have learned all the paths. Listen to Thich Nhat Hanh, not Ann Coulter.

Christians are Perfected Jews? What kind of Jews and Christians are Muslims? And how many angels can dance on the head of pin? These are pointless questions that only serve to foment war. One thing all religious people share is that they are human. That makes all of them have sufficient in common to get along.

Christians are Pefected Jews? What kind of Jews and Christians are Muslims? And how many angels can dance on the head of pin? These are pointless questions that only serve to foment war. One thing all religious people share is that they are human. That makes all of them have sufficient in common to get along.

Coulter doesn't know Gita from pita. People grow up to accept the religion that surrounds them in youth. Take any American Christian and have them grow up in Mecca and, guess what?, they will be Muslim.

Give me that old time religion and it's good enough for me.

Religion is a cloak that we toss over our true selves. Spirituality is our true self. Jews, Hindus, Muslims and Christians have more in common than they care to recognize. None has the whole picture, but each has part.

The only spiritual leaders worth listening to are those who have learned all the paths. Listen to Thich Nhat Hanh, not Ann Coulter.

I don't have the Pope's statement in front of me, but I'm pretty sure what he said was that the Catholic church is the one, true church in so far as it is the only Christian church that can trace its origins back to the apostles. Essentially, he was saying that the Catholic church is the oldest Christian *institution*, not that it was the only path to heaven. As far as I know, the Catholic church hasn't laid exclusive claim to heaven since, at least, Vatican II.

Dear Carl,

"Then, they engage in doing "God's work", which, apparently, involves inquisitions, wars, torture, death, and smallpox blankets."

What we have here is an essay on tolerance in the face of a misdeed by a well known provocateur with a financial interest in stirring this kind of thing up. What does your line of anti religious bigotry have to do with that? Give it a rest, dude.

Ann Coulter makes money by telling people what they need to hear. She appeals to a subset of humanity that want to be reassured that they don't have to think through complex issues. I call them IRIS - "it really is simple" - Americans. Just give them answers to the hard questions, make them feel right and they are happy. Any one who doesn't accept the given answer is a difficult person - un-American.

The IRIS do not like discourse. They don't want to hear any indication that their pat answer is wrong. Go to Freerepublic and post a liberal argument. It will take seconds, not minutes or hours, for your post to be removed. Try the same on Ann Coulter's site or try to find the forum on Foxnews.com. Discourse means there may be gray area in an argument and that threatens the very identity of IRIS folks.

So as long as we have lazy people in our society we will have smart people feeding upon them just as Ann Coulter feeds on them now.

And this past year, after much study and contemplation (both of which shall continue the rest of my life), I have begun the process of converting from life-long Protestant Christianity to Judaism. And so it goes, Annie C.! Shalom.

The problem, Lisa, is that you, like Deutsch and the media in general continue to spread the BS that Coulter spouts. It's best to ignore what she says, or to continually retort, whenever she opens her filthy mouth, "BS, BS, BS, BS, BS, BS, BS, BS, ..." Let her defend her views, and don't be on the defensive with yours.

All of these people who believe that Christianity is somehow better than Judaism are the same idiots that watch the "Ten Commandments" and fail to see the obvious parallels to themselves and the pharaoh.

Then, they engage in doing "God's work", which, apparently, involves inquisitions, wars, torture, death, and smallpox blankets.

Was it last week this panelist sought comments ,on her previous topic? She must be good to have her back so soon with another rivetting piece. A claimant to the Jewish faith, 'chosen people.' Take your skill of inciting stupidity to the Arab-Israeli peace delegation. Your solution of peace is approaching a hornets nest with a stick.

I am convinced there are at least 5 levels of heaven. This panelist will not be on the same level as others, she'll be denied entry at the gates.

Much ado about nothing.

Terra Gazelle,

"Norrie,

"You do The Cailleach a dishonor over saying that Anne Coulter should join Her.

"The Cailleach might be ugly on the outside, but She has mercy and life within. Not what one can say about Anne Coulter."

Terra,

I agree completely with you about Ann Coulter.

It was never my intention to dishonor The Cailleach, and I don't believe did.

I was saying that Ann Coulter, as a purported Christian, should try to perfect herself, by joining a group that tries to perfect itself by understanding and worshipping the Cailleach.

All good wishes to you.

All Glory, Laud, and Honour to The Cailleach.

It is good to have Christian views of Jews, the real ones not the pretend ones, out in the open. Then everyone can see Christianity for what it is: a hateful, bigoted, sado-masochistic religion of violence and plunder.

Peter Huff,

In my post I was attempting to use a new literary device that seemed interesting to me.

It's called humor.

You might want to look it up.

Regards.

Let me remaind you of great answers of atheist Stalin. Breathtaking!!!

"When it comes to religion, only atheists have the answers."

Pretty fanatical comment of someone who has "the answers." Congrats.

Laura

And Christians become "perfected" when they submit to Allah.

All this shows the dangers of monotheism, the worst blight to ever afflict humanity.

When it comes to religion, only atheists have the answers.

"While I agree regarding the basic schism between the Jews and the Christians; on a practical level there are a few more differences; say 6 million, 953,856 or so!"

You imply that Hitler and his SS were devoted Christians motivated by their religion when killing the Jews. At the same time you ignore thousands of true Christians who lost their lives trying to save the Jews. Interestingly, it didn't happen in Denmark or Holland, but... in Poland. Read their names in Yad Vashem memorial and bow your head (if you want to).

Peter,

Your commentary makes a strong case that Christianity is far from being perfected. Time to give up on "pwtfft"s and demons of the demented. They are ancient myths. We have evolved way past believing in tinker bells and fortune teller aka prophets.

Bgone,

Again, your website looks like something created by a demon of the demented.

Peter Huff-

Did Yeshua come to undo 4000 years of His Father's work?

One should not be offended by the claim that one's grasp of truth is incomplete, or conversely that one's grasp on truth has been weakened by misinterpretation/excessive veneration for a particular figure or that one has made a basic mistake somewhere. One shouldn't express this sort of opinion in abusive terms but we are all doomed to think each other mistaken. 'Incomplete' isn't an abusive term: polite philosophical discussion would be impossible without it. Same for 'excessive' or 'misguided'. - Martin

One should not be offended by the claim that one's grasp of truth is incomplete, or conversely that one's grasp on truth has been weakened by misinterpretation/excessive veneration for a particular figure or that one has made a basic mistake somewhere. One shouldn't express this sort of opinion in abusive terms but we are all doomed to think each other mistaken. 'Incomplete' isn't an abusive term: polite philosophical discussion would be impossible without it. Same for 'excessive' or 'misguided'. - Martin

One should not be offended by the claim that one's grasp of truth is incomplete, or conversely that one's grasp on truth has been weakened by misinterpretation/excessive veneration for a particular figure or that one has made a basic mistake somewhere. One shouldn't express this sort of opinion in abusive terms but we are all doomed to think each other mistaken. 'Incomplete' isn't an abusive term: polite philosophical discussion would be impossible without it. Same for 'excessive' or 'misguided'. - Martin

Norrie,
You do The Cailleach a dishonor over saying that Anne Coulter should join Her.

The Cailleach might be ugly on the outside, but She has mercy and life within. Not what one can say about Anne Coulter.

Coulter's heart is as cold as Cailleach's winter and Anne is as fleshless as a 6 month corpse, she eats her own spirit. She is filled with hate and self satisfaction..a deadly combo for inner light.

keir

As for Christianity being superior to Judaism, it is superior in that it offers a better sacrifice, it has a better high priest, as its covenant, Prophet and King is better. (The book of Hebrews explains in detail why the covenant made through the life and sacrifice of Jesus is better in every way; that very life and sacrifice being foretold in the Old Testament, starting in the Pentateuch, then in the Psalms and prophets.

"In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word." (Hebrews 1:1-3)

Most of the book of Hebrews contrasts the difference between the old and new covenants, and the superiority of the new one.

LISA v ANN..Lisa's,objection as complaint agin ANN,it be clear at start,the response of jury favouring Lisa,(overwhelming).Thus, complaint against Ann justified,as upheld.Punishment be that ANN can expect points deducted from her, spiritual account.There be no appeal agin such an decision,once made,the fat lady having sung. It also being noted, there those whom attacked Ann,as criticised Lisa,without any just cause. Rather, uncalled acts of malice,punishment,as Ann, points deducted from,spiritual accounts.

Hello Norrie Hoyt,

When you say,

"Cailleach-worshipers are perfected Christians."

"Cailleach (Scottish) She is an ancient goddess, both in worship and in form and is referred to as the "Mother of All" in parts of Scotland. She is a sorceress who created the earth. Also known as Scotia, she is depicted as an old hag with the teeth of a wild bear and boar's tusks."

This shows your ignorance of what it means to be a Christian. Christians are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, who taught us, as a Jew, as well as the second Person of the Godhead, to have no other god's, but God alone. (Mark 12:29) This is the common theme both in the New Testament and the Old Testament.

As for a Christian being perfect, our faith in Jesus Christ is what God counts to us as perfection, for He is the Author and Perfecter of or faith. (Hebrews 12:2) We have no merit of our own.

Here is an old hymn that I love because it describes so beautifully what Christ has done on behalf of the believer.

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One with Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

One with Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

He is my perfect spotless righteousness. What is your righteousness based on, Norrie Hoyt? How do you stand perfect before God Almighty? How does your god judge and justify you before him, if you have one? Will he/she/it turn a blind eye to sin or wrongdoing?

mike in LA:

Sounds to me like there's going to be trouble. Highly unusual what with all that Jesus love, Christian charity and so on.

chaotician:

i'm just happy christians are not chanting for our death, calling us apes and pigs, and strapping on bombs. i'm willing to embrace ann coulter or any other christian who supports my right to live free. although it is a struggle to press forward- i won't return to egypt.

I find it hypocritical for conservative Jewish groups like the JDL to condemn Ann Coulter for her remarks. She is merely expressing the beliefs of the Christian right, which has provided enormous support to the Israeli right wing. Christian Evangelists support Israeli annexation of the West Bank because it fulfills biblical prophesy regarding the coming Rapture and the End of Days. And right wing Jewish groups have welcomed this support because it justifies Israeli expansion. But to these Evangelists, the End of Days means the end of the Jews, because according to "prophesy", the Jews will then be given a choice: become "perfected" and convert to Christianity, or perish in Hell for all eternity. But either way, the "End of Days" means the end of Judaisim. So Ann Coulter merely spoke the ugly truth about this unholy alliance between Zionists and conservative Evangelists. So to the JDL and all their sympathsizers, I say, get over it. This is the deal you made, so live with it.

This is without a doubt one of the weirdest discussions of a religious issue I have ever witnessed. Perhaps starting the discussion with a focus on Ann Coulter got it off on the wrong foot. Let's be honest. She's a fellow human being, and I wish her all the best, but she has some serious isues. Continuing to make her a public figure this way does not help her or anyone else at all. Christians and Jews need an ongoing dialogue--they have a lot to learn from each other--but this is not the way. How about if we start by liberal and conservative Christians having some dialogue with each other, worshipping together, and not denouncing each other? How about Jews letting fellow Jews show religious and political independence without calling them "self-hating Jews?" Then how about a little intelllectual and practical hospitality to strangers and some love for one another? Then how about learning each other's languages and reading each other's literature, and working together on matters of mutual concern? Maybe then we would have the beginning of conditions for a dialogue on issues like this.

What a shame, that Ann Coulter would make such a remark and that Lisa Miller felt compelled to comment on it.

Ann Coulter has a serious problem and probably should see a therapist. She seems to believe that her opinion, as uninformed and biased as it is, is the only opinion that counts. And yes, it is her intention to offend as many people as possible by formulating her opinion in the most offensive terms possible.

Lisa Miller, on the other hand, seems to genuinely make an effort to see the other person's point of view - without giving up her own standards. She is right not to be offended by Ann Coulter's remarks... Ann is a nobody pretending to be somebody, screeching and howling to get attention from people who really have better things to do than listen to her foul mouth.

While I agree regarding the basic schism between the Jews and the Christians; on a practical level there are a few more differences; say 6 million, 953,856 or so!

As a Jew, I feel particularily upset with the Christianized old testament! They have added Heaven; Hell; Purgatory; split God into 3 male parts; added creation imperfection,original sin, to justify the torture and murder of their God part, Jesus, as a "human" sacifice to another God part,the Jewish God, to allow these poor tortured souls, another addition, to sit at the feet of the combined God forever in slavish devotion on some distant cloud! Please!

They then use their perverted text to justify persecutions of their followers and the nonbelievers alike; then you get Coulter and the whole FNC rabble to blatter on about the perversion of the month; and lo, yoy have the Christian Evangelical movement complete with real mansions for their "leaders"!

"The likelyhood would seem to that we ourselves create the Gods,and that without such supernatural creations we would have fewer differences,and fewer reasons to go to war,or blow people up."

Being honest means admitting that the worst horrors of the XXth century (and of all times), were committed when God was clearly not invoked at all. Starting with the invention of Dr. Gillotin, through Napoleonic wars, 1st and 2nd WW, Soviet gulags, Holocaust etc., the crimes were perpetrated in the name of "reason" or "progress" not God. Pol-Pot was educated in Sorbonne before murdering 2 million Cambodians in the name of "progress". Please, make a distinction between different religions. I am not aware of too many Christians, Jews or Buddhists on this matter, who want to "blow people up" in the name of their religion.

Lisa Miller;

You say;

"When you take a deep breath, you see that from a Christian perspective, the term "completed Jew" makes a certain kind of sense. For Christians, Jesus is the Messiah prophesied in the Pentateuch. He is the risen Lord and the way to salvation. For a Christian, the Torah is just half of the story. For a Jew, the Torah is the whole story; the phrase offends some Jews because it implies that without Jesus, they are incomplete or imperfect".

I'd say the trouble is there are so MANY perspectives,and sorting out which is the one correct perspective is impossible.
It would seem that the more honest perspective (and the one not based on any dogma) is the agnostic perspective which says we can know nothing of Gods.
The likelyhood would seem to that we ourselves create the Gods,and that without such supernatural creations we would have fewer differences,and fewer reasons to go to war,or blow people up.
Shouldn't we be focusing on phasing out belief in the supernatural?,which,after all,is a very primitive way of rationalizing existence;and makes no sense at all anymore.

Ann Coulter doesn't make her statements as a Christian, but rather as a promoter of her best-selling books. I think, more representative for genuine Christian attitudes would be John Paul II, who lived the faith.

Somebody commented on relationships between the three "Abrahamic" religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam). Despite all the volumes on tolerance in Islam, the vast majority of Jews preferred to live in Christian principalities. Does it say us something about real tolerance there? Otherwise, I cannot understand why the Jews would move from more to less tolerant countries where they developed sophisticated religious doctrines (e.g. Chasidism in Poland). In terms of doctrine the orthodox Jews were always closer to Islam due to the Christian doctrine of Trinity, and this created some religious tensions indeed.

Lisa: as noted by others, you should be offended by Coulter because she meant to offend. while it is perfectly true that it is christian orthodoxy to say that a Christian is a Jew who accepts Jesus and a Jew is a Jew who didn't, any humble Christian would just say our faith is in Jesus and leave it at that. Coulter attracts the crowd who need a spokesperson to make hatred acceptable. So she can make the world safe for those who want a white, american, baptist (or whatever) homophobic, zenophobic world where McCarthyism is just fine. It's dangerous to try to make her message PC, in fact she is the one who would be insulted at the effort. She really does mean to say she is superior. that's her point, without which, she has nothing particularly creative or insightful to attract attention.

which brings us to the real point of religious superiority claims. I have posted elsewhere that all religious should speak of their faith with the humility that is dictated by the sheer improbability that if a Jew, a Muslim, and a Christian are walking down the street, that only two out of three are mistaken. It's possible, but for goodness sake one should not act like it in public.

Ann Coulter is a well-known jerk. The another wild man comedian, Michael Savage, carried a headline on his web site web that said something like:

DERANGED HAG SAYS ALL JEWS SHOULD BE CONVERTED

And that is enough said. Ann is not worthy of further notice. She has made a lot of money with stunts like this and can retire wealthy any time now.

Since Anne Coulter is concerned with perfecting other people, I suggest that she first be concerned with perfecting herself.

I suggest she start by joining "CHRISTIANS FOR CAILLEACH".

Cailleach-worshipers are perfected Christians.

For readers who have forgotten about Cailleach:

Cailleach (Scottish) She is an ancient goddess, both in worship and in form and is referred to as the "Mother of All" in parts of Scotland. She is a sorceress who created the earth. Also known as Scotia, she is depicted as an old hag with the teeth of a wild bear and boar's tusks.

"...an old hag with the teeth of a wild bear and boar's tusks."

Remind anyone of Ann Coulter?

Interesting posts, which lead me to three comments:
1) Someone has gone off his meds or needs to up the Prozac dose
2) Regarding promises in scripture, without a Bible handy to confirm, I seem to remember Genesis 39 or somewhere around in there the promises of Israel blessing his children, that "a rod shall not depart from Judah until Shiloh comes." Shiloh, "the peaceful One" or "In the image of God",at least to Christians, is interpreted to be the first reference to a Messiah, a divine person who will come to restore the relationship between God and man that was broken by Adam's disobedience. So, that's a reference in the Torah, not in a prophetic book.
3) Lisa's post makes perfect sense. It may be offensive to Jews to hear Christians say they are not "perfected" or "completed", but that is exactly the essence of any one religion - to believe that the beliefs one has chosen are superior to those of others. It's just that this is a hidden implication most of the time, not flung into people's faces as a provocative slur. That Coulter is one nasty rightwingnut, who should be ignored.

Ann Coulter. I don't know what that boyfriend did to her, but she should get some professional help and stop taking it out on the rest of the human race.

The Perfected Jewess. According to the Book of Isaiah, an Annointed One or "Messiah" (the second one, David being the first) will arrive and usher in an age of universal monotheism and with it, peace and good will among all Men. No war, no crime, no poverty, no persecution or idolotry of any kind, etc. The ancient Rabbis divided history into three Ages: the Age before Torah, the Age of Torah, and the Age of the Messiah. Christianity, the belief that Jesus was that Messiah, entails the the secondary belief that Christianity is "perfected Judaism," universalized monotheism purged of unnecessary "laws" and rituals. It's not news: they've been saying this since Saul of Tarsus aka St. Paul.

Jesus. Maybe he was the Messiah. It's up to Christians to prove it by establishing universal theism, and with it peace and good will among all men. Bashing people who follow the religion of Jesus (Jews) won't get it done. Nor will tormenting women who find themselves pregnant in circumstances where they are unable to bear the child -- the "pro-Lifers" are the stone throwing mob of our time. Nor will electing right wing nuts to the Presidency and placing right wing nuts on the Supreme Court-- these are the Pharisees of our time. Not sprinkling water on infants or taking communion, either-- both as silly as the prohibition on eating pork. ANY AND ALL fetishes and forms of persecution are anti-Messianic and, as such, un-Christian. On the day I wake up and the entire human race consists of enlightened Unitarian and Quaker types inspired by the example of Jesus and poverty, war, crime, ignorance and persecution of all kinds have disappeared as a result, I will conclude that Jesus was the Messiah. I wish the Christians luck in this endeavor. It is a good idea -- but it is clearly in its very early stages when there have been and continue to be so many Ann Coulters who are so clueless about the substance of the Messianic prophecy.

If God doesn't have a problem with people being born into and practicing different faiths, I don't see why anyone should care what Coulter or others like her think or say. If the second coming of Christ is dependent on everyone converting to christianity, it might be an extremely long wait, and who knows if it will ever occur. If people like Coulter cannot wait for this second coming, I pray they experience rapture immediately and leave the rest of us alone to get along with each other.

Pablo:

Dear Lisa,

Do you believe in the Messiah? If so how would you recognize Him?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pablo, let me add to your question and add you to the addressee. How does one recognize God? Messiah is way down stream from God. In the case of God seeing cannot be believing because it's impossible to positively identify God.

We hear all the noise about an anti Christ. A better case can be made that Jesus is actually the anti Christ than the Christ, Messiah.

Ref: http://www.hoax-buster.org/sellyoursoul makes a fairly good case that the supernatural being, (faith required there was a supernatural being) in the burning bush was actually the biggest Devil of them all, Lucifer.

Faith says the father of Jesus was the supernatural being in the burning bush. The "official" Christian church, Roman Catholic holds that upon His death on the cross Jesus "descended into hell." Why? Just before His death Jesus described the place He and the "good" thief would be "that very day" to be paradise. Sounds a lot like there's much more to the Lucifer tale than hoax buster folks have aired yet, unless it's been updated recently.

That wins no prizes for Jews for the being in the burning bush is their God too, impotent like Allah, needs people to get IT's way. At least they recognized that Jesus was NOT their Messiah. They're just one little step removed from discovering the source of all the misery and agony Jews have suffered down through the ages by correctly answering the question - Was that really God in the burning bush?

Christians have two steps while Jews are almost there and have more incentive than anyone else to make a proper judgment. Of course that does not apply to all Jews. The big money still goes to those leading the multitudes to hell be it the pope or Rabbi X.

The point about Ann Coulter that is rarely mentioned is that she would be completely ignored if she were short, fat, and unattractive. Her personal appearance, when juxtaposed with the ugliness that comes out of her mouth and books, makes her such a fascinating curiosity that people pay attention to what are otherwise banal, forgettable, and totally uninteresting statements. It is this odd combination of looks and potty-mouth, and the willingness of the press to buy into her schtik, that has made her rich. Who cares what she has to say?

Just because a person can pick up a microphone doesn't make them a singer. In the same respect, simply because Coulter calls herself a Christian doesn't make it so. After 911, Coulter made statments indicating that liberals should be suspects as terrorist sympathizers. She said that she wished they had flown a plane into the NYT's building. She is under no circumstance a Christian and I am offended that she is being considered a spokesperson for a Christian belief. She is a hate monger who uses her books to divide people against eachother to make money for herself. Her statement about Jews being imperfect is only a sampling of her attitude that all people are inferior to right wing extremists. Christianity is cover not a part of her soul.

Jews, Christians, and Muslims have a relationship that can't be compared to their relationship with other religionists. While they're quite different faiths, Christianity is certainly a broadened, well-defined church of Jewish origins, made available to the people of all nations and based on the messianic prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures. It's not strange to think that Christians believe they've completed the faith. Jews believe that Christians have extended the faith incorrectly. Muslims, of course, believe that the faith was restored and completed when God came to his "last" prophet Muhammad.

So Ann Coulter is the equivalent of a perfect Jew but an imperfect Muslim.

I had the privilege of spending a weekend at a seminar where noted theologian Paul Van Buren spoke of his (then) developing works, A Theology of the Jewish Christian Reality. Van Buren pointed out that there is no need for Jews to come into relationship with God by accepting Jesus as the Messiah, because the Jews were always in relationship with God - based on the promises to Abraham and many other promises in the Bible that Christians (of whom I am one) hold to be sacred. And, Van Buren pointed out, God keeps the promises God makes.

Coulter is not alone in believing that Jews and Judaism need to be "completed" - this is an accepted belief in apocalyptic Christianity. It is fairly well known that those groups termed "right-wing" Christian groups support the state of Israel *because* they believe that Israel must exist, all Jews must return to Israel, and all Jews must convert to Christianity for the second coming of Christ to occur.

And, Coulter is not alone in promoting the anti-Semitic belief that Jews who do not accept Jesus as Messiah are somehow incomplete and disobedient to God. However, as many Jewish friends have pointed out to me, the coming of Messiah, in Judaism, is supposed to bring an end to war, a perfect peace, and a fulfillment of all of God's promises - which did not happen with Jesus. Each viewpoint makes sense from the perspective of the person stating/believing it.

What does not make sense, to this Christian, is for Christians to behave in an unloving, unkind, and, frankly, un-Christian way to members of other faiths (and to each other).

Lisa Miller | Why should I, a Jew, be offended because Ann Coulter or any other Christian believes that her religion is superior to mine?

Because Ann Coulter wants you to be offended. Educating without offending is very difficult sometimes. Ann takes the "slap them up side the head with a 2 by 4 first to get their attention" method, standard for talking to mules. So you leave me wondering if you really avoided getting hit or are you trying to convince her you ducked.

Try ignoring her. The one thing she can't stand is to be ignored. Otherwise she's bullet proof. In the world of believe, (make believe) there are no boundaries or rules of engagement. She got that very straight and uses it to get attention.

Dear Lisa,
You are very kind to dismiss Ann Coulter's demeaning comments on Don Deutsch's program. I saw the comments in context and Deutsch himself appeared offended.
As a Catholic, this puts me in mind of Pope Benedict recently making the statement that the Catholic Church is the ONLY faith which assures a path to salvation. My Baptist friends take umbrage at that comment and I understand their feelings.
Just because I choose to believe that MY faith in God is best expressed through my Church doesn't mean that others, even if they are Buddhist or Hindu or Moslem, much less a member of other Christian sects, like Methodism or the Lutheran Church or the Baptist Church or Pentacostalism, don't have the right to seek God in their own way through their own faith.
I have great respect for the Jewish faith, especially since Jesus Christ was Jewish. I personally would consider He would hold me to account if I dishonored the roots of His faith.
Therefore, I was most pleased when Pope John Paul II pointedly condemned those in Europe especially who cling to the attitude that the Jews deserved the Holocaust because Jews "murdered" Jesus.
In the New Testament, Christ excoriated people who held themselves out as superior to others in the practice of their faith.
I remember when a good friend of mine, who is Baptist, told me she had to think long and hard about having any association with me because she saw my Catholic faith as a "Satanic" cult. (Actually, that blew my mind!)
Maybe my tolerant attitude stems from being born in America, with its rich tradition of the separation of Church and State.
As a small child living in the Bible Belt in Texas, our pastor taught us to honor the American political tradition because developing an attitude to superiority could snap back on us if another Christian sect turned America into a theocracy in which it would not be politically correct to be a Catholic because the next step is discrimination. He maintained we had to learn from our Church's history and keep that separation of Church and State sacrosanct and to treat all others with respect.
This attitude also comes into focus lately, as I have torn into the pedophile scandal in the Church. I have the right to criticize my Church when it is wrong, just as I criticize others when they intolerantly try to impose their particular religious practices on me.
I think you are absolutely right that Ann Coulter tends to make statements that shock so she can garner attention.
The best remedy for Ann Coulter's nasty remarks is to ignore her and relegate her back to the oblivion she richly deserves.

Coulter is a one-trick pony. Her essentially boring act is to be mindlessly and needlessly provocative and/or offensive. With the racists, bigots and xenophobes who form her fan club, her opinions have value since they reinforce their troglodyte views.

To the rest of the world, she is a valueless curiosity who does not deserve the media exposure that both you and Deutsch have given her.

Her views on Jews are as meaningless as her views on Muslims. And just as biased.

So the sum total of this column, which asks:

"Why should I, a Jew, be offended because Ann Coulter or any other Christian believes that her religion is superior to mine?"

is that all religions think they are the correct religion. Oh, and that the author hates Ann Coulter for everything else she says, though not for this statement.

Not exactly a notable post.

Dear Lisa,

I believe you're perfectly right. Ann Coulter's statement - Ann Coulter, incidentally, is everything you say she is, and worse - is entirely in keeping with Christian doctrine, which is that Christians, because they believe in Jesus Christ as the Messiah, have completed or perfected (if you will) the Jewish faith and kept faith with God where Jews did not. One may or may not agree with this, and one may find it antisemitic - but only to the extent that it is also anti-Islam or anti-Hindu or anti-any other religion - but it is not unChristian, technically speaking. All religions (as I believe Sam Harris says in his book 'End of Faith') are convinced they have a monopoly on truth. Some say it more of less openly (like Benedict XVI) but all believers think so implicitly, otherwise why not practise, say, mainstream Protestant Christianity rather than the much more demanding Jewish faith? Or practise Jainism rather than the much more bellicose Evangelical Christianity? If you are a fervent practitioner of, and committed believer in, one faith, than ipso facto all other faiths have to be wrong. If you do not think so, then you do not fully and wholeheartedly accept the precepts of your faith. Hence, Sam Harris' message that religion is dangerous per se. And I tend to agree.

Ray? How long has it been since you've actually spoken to a Christian or been inside a Church?

As usual, the Post is two or three years late to the party. I'd like to hear something new from the religious apologists. The Christian wing of the Republican Party IS the religious right. These are the same people who resisted integration for generations. This is a xenophobic, ignorant group of haters who are told by their leaders who to hate.

Anne Coulter speaks for a majority of these people. They don't like gays, liberals, blacks, abortion supporters, etc. Although the right has shown a knee jerk support for the state of Israel, remember folks; true American Christians don't like you either

For Lisa only,

It is not about perfecting religions. It is , however, all about correcting and "deflawing" religions.

A synopsis of said flaws: (Please peruse and comment if you have time.)

1. Abraham founder/father of three major religions was probably a mythical character. If he was real, he was at best a combination of at least three men. 1.5 million Conservative Jews and their rabbis have relegated Abraham to the myth pile along with most if not all the OT. ***http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/ConservativeTorah.htm

2. Jesus, the illiterate Jewish peasant/carpenter possibly suffering from hallucinations, has been characterized anywhere from the Messiah from Nazareth to a mythical character from mythical Nazareth to a mamzer from Nazareth (Professor Bruce Chilton, in his book Rabbi Jesus). Analyses of Jesus’ life by many contemporary NT scholars (e.g. Professors Crossan, Borg and Fredriksen, On Faith panelists) via the NT and related documents have concluded that only about 30% of Jesus' sayings and ways noted in the NT were authentic. The rest being embellishments (e.g. miracles)/hallucinations made/had by the NT authors to impress various Christian, Jewish and Pagan sects.

The 30% of the NT that is "authentic Jesus" like everything in life was borrowed/plagiarized and/or improved from those who came before. In Jesus' case, it was the ways and sayings of the Babylonians, Greeks, Persians, Egyptians, Hittites, Canaanites, OT, John the Baptizer and possibly the ways and sayings of traveling Greek Cynics.
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/theories.html

3. Mohammed, an illiterate, womanizing, warmongering, hallucinating Arab, also had embellishing/hallucinating/plagiarizing scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the koran but also a militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers.

This agenda continues as shown by the conduct of the seven Muslim doctors in the UK, the 9/11 terrorists, the 24/7 Sunni suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the 24/7 Shiite suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the Islamic train bombers in the UK and Spain, the Bali crazies, the Kenya crazies, the Pakistani koranics, the Palestine suicide bombers/rocketeers, the Lebanese nutcases, the Taliban nut jobs, and the Filipino koranics.

And who funds these acts of terror? The Islamic Shiite terror theocracy of Iran aka the Third Axis of Evil and also the Sunni "Wannabees" of Saudi Arabia.

4. Luther, Calvin, Smith, Henry VIII, Wesley et al, founders of Christian-based religions, also suffered from the belief in/hallucinations of "pretty wingy talking flying fictional thingie" visits and "prophecies" for profits analogous to the myths of Catholicism (resurrections, apparitions, ascensions and immaculate conceptions).

5. Hinduism (from an online Hindu site) -

"Hinduism cannot be described as an organized religion. It is not founded by any individual. Hinduism is God centered and therefore one can call Hinduism as founded by God, because the answer to the question ‘Who is behind the eternal principles and who makes them work?’ will have to be ‘Cosmic power, Divine power, God’".

The caste/laborer system and cow worship are problems when saying a fair and rational God founded Hinduism."

6. Buddhism- "Buddhism began in India about 500 years before the birth of Christ. The people living at that time had become disillusioned with certain beliefs of Hinduism including the caste system, which had grown extremely complex. The number of outcasts (those who did not belong to any particular caste) was continuing to grow."

"However, in Buddhism, like so many other religions, fanciful stories arose concerning events in the life of the founder, Siddhartha Gautama (fifth century B.C.):"

Archaeological discoveries have proved, beyond a doubt, his historical character, but apart from the legends we know very little about the circumstances of his life.

Bottom line: There are many good ways of living but be aware of the hallucinations/embellishments/superstitions and myths surrounding the founders of said rules of life.

For a senior editor at Newsweek, Lisa Miller displays a shocking ignorance of both Christianity and Judaism. First, the coming of the Messiah is not prophesied in the Pentateuch, which is only the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, known as the Torah. All of the Christological references in the Bible are contained in the books of the Prophets. More noteworthy is Miller's ignorance of 16 centuries of antisemitism, beginning in the 4th century CE continuing through the Holocaust. The predicate for "Jew hatred," replaced by the more benign-sounding term, "antisemitism," was their unwillingness to break their covenant with their Lord and worship three gods, as Martin Luther stated in "The Jews and Their Lies," instead of one. So of course, Danny Deutsche was rankled when Coulter called on Jews to convert and used phrasing that suggested their inferior spirituality.

Dear Lisa,

I have thought long and hard about what it means to be a person of the Christian faith.

In my many years of journeying through the vast and complicated world of the "Christian" ideal I have yet to find one sect or church that does not think of themselves as the only ones who are going
to heaven and the rest of the world going to hell
in a handbasket.

This has happened in a context that is quite bizarre. In 1999, I found out that my paternal grandfather was an Orthodox Jew who married for love and was declared dead and his family sat shiva for him. This took place in or about the year 1934.

To find out that what I thought was my family heritage was completely false and was in fact a downright lie, was to me a heartwrenching experience.

I have come now to the present and your article,
it occurs to me that I know nothing about my paternal grandfathers family and the heritage of his faith. Because, what I know of the faith and heritage of the Hebraic lineage is filtered through the eyes of either fundemental christianity or the Roman Catholic church, I feel that a large part of my life, has a hole in it.

To me, for someone to say that they are perfected in their faith, by becoming a "christian." is ludicrous and deceptive. That person is deluding themselves into thinking that any person is "per-
fected," through one faith or another.

I would certainly like to think that I have more sensitvity to the "other," now that it is a certainity that there is more than one faith involved in the lineage that I have.

Yet I long to know more of the family that I know nothing of. Any thinking person would wonder how and why their forebears did something so drastic and eternal, such as declaring a person dead for marrying outside their faith.

For Ann Coulter to denigrate in any way a person's
faith and say, " Christian's are perfected Jews,"
is downright bigoted and disgraceful. That anyone
in this day and age would say that they agree with
her shows the depth of the hatred and anti-semitism that is still prevalent in today's society.

I have yet to know of one thing that Ann Coulter has said that has made a, "lick of sense," and to
know that her simple-minded and backward thinking
ideas are promoted by the many "right-wing fudementalist
backward thinking christians," is to me one more indication of the work that has yet to be done in this world.

I hope one day to be able to acknowledge that part
of my heritage that includes the "people of the book," and learn from them of the trials and tests
that make them what they are today.

Thank you for such an insightful article, it has caused me to think, that I need to learn more of who I am and where I come from.

LISA..It be ANN has a healthy spiritual account, this gives her some privliges of trust,as leeway which others as yet not earned.That being given such an limited freedom,it taken for granted,one always use such very wisly,in a balanced manner. LISA,I doubt ANN would take a deliberate stand of projecting malice untowards you,it most as like you having,taken what said wrongly,however be the case proved you having been an victim of delibrate wrongdoing by ANN,then as for ANN the result severe.Points would be deducted from her spiritual account,such for ANN be a great blow to her spiritual development if charge agin her prove true...Per'aps if she have done wrong,you can show mercy,By withdrawal of charge agin her.

Thank you for a sound and reasonable look at the Coulter-inspired hype. Interesting how it seems so many self-described believers in Jesus are so defensive about him: they can't tolerate us Jews and other non-Christians because our presence leaves open the possibility -- gasp!-- that they just might be wrong: If everyone believes, then it must be true, right? Yes, live and let live, you're right on about that!

Lisa have cleverly dropped the name of Ann Coulter into her essay and now it will get over 300 posts.

If indeed Coulter is a christian she would realize that her meager role in the "perfecting" to simply to turn the page and let God do the heavy lifting.
She certainly sounds as if she believes herself to be much mor important than that. It would also help if she where not such a colossal butthole.
She might also learn a thing or two.
As a christian I was at one time very hesitant to discuss these matters with Jewish friends.
What I soon discovered however is that simple inquiries into the details of what they personally thought of the Messiah and then juxtaposing that against what the actual scriptures detail would have them questioning their own understanding much quicker than if I were to come on to them like Anne "green onions" Coulter.
I also learned a great deal in these exchanges as well.
For instance I never realized that Jews while believing that the Messiah will be imbued with some amazing supernatural capabilities, do not believe that the Messiah will actually be God incarnate.
That he will in fact be quite mortal.
Which raises a whole host of questions when compared to the scriptural concept of Messiah.
For instance, what does the future hold for this earthly kingdom of peace that has been established when the Messiah breathes his last,and is no longer present to reign over it?

BTW, I do not agree with Anne Coulter's presentation but what is wrong with quoting Scripture? You did say you were Jewish right?

Dear Lisa,

A Jewish person without the Messiah of Israel is incomplete. You choose to make it about making Christianity better than the Jewish faith. Why do you think we call it the Judeo Christian faith?

God's promise to Abraham was that all the nations (people groups) would be blessed through Abraham (See Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 22). God is keeping His promise by blessing all those who believe in Abraham's descendant Jesus Christ from every nation (See Matthew 1). I am a gentile and I have been blessed through the Messiah of Israel the descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob the Lord Jesus Christ.

Do you believe in the Messiah? If so how would you recognize Him?