I'd say we've demonstrated plenty of times that "Divine Revelation" can lead to pretty bad behavior. For instance, the Crusades, certain jihads, or even Joshua's battle.
Well as a ["exclusivist"] Jew, I would say the Crusades and Jihad are just clear examples of claimed Revelation, and hardly the Real McCoy, but you had to throw Joshua in there to confound my "easy answer" option. ;-) So for starters I'll say that we Jews, have rather strict rules on what a claimed prophet can and can not claim, and how to test the validity of a prophet. Obviously, from our POV, none of the various Popes with their ex cathedra statements, nor any Immams, qualify. Regarding Joshua, you are also making the statement that assumes his decimating the Canaanites was actually a Bad Thing [Tm]. Current archaeological evidence pretty much supports the Biblical claims that these nations had sunk far beyond "redemption" with their depredations especially in context of murdering their own children, as human sacrifices. They had managed to combine the Three Cardinal Sins, while "keeping it all in the family", and this in the "name of G-d". You bet G-d is going to be steamed!
In any case, the above was not my point at all, as I was using the term "Divine Revelation" NOT in the present-progressive context of prophesy (which is always the exception to the general order of the world), but in context of G-d having to clearly define The Law for us humans (i.e. Give us the Torah), because we are clearly incapable of knowing "what is Right" by ourselves.
He says that everything we desire, we can fulfill...
Like WOW!? I know C.S. Lewis was weird, but that is just so totally bizarre and twisted, from a Jewish POV. Reducing our tendency to seek the Divine to the level of an "animal urge"? That's almost as pathetic as the proponents of The G-d Gene (see referenced articles). Never mind that his metaphor is so incredibly flawed, what if he don't have any food, or are still single? His metaphors and parables are usually superb, if often hard for a Jew to stomach (I loved the near-pagan Space Trilogy, but couldn't stand Narnia [Whoa qatar! Please put DOWN that pitchfork!])
I think he blames the Devil for the perversions we come up with.
Blame it all on the Devil! Yeah, WTG. :-D We Jews don't believe in the Adversary at all, especially in this context, as it is G-d Almighty that comes out and puts the "blame" clearly at our own feet - "the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Genesis 8:21). Back to your interpretation of "Divine Revelation", when Christian zealots tell that "Jesus talks to them" and guides them in their daily lives, I am always compelled to ask "How do you know this internal 'guiding voice' is that of Jesus, and not your natural Inclination for Evil?"
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timeasmymeasure
Divine Revelation
Date: 2005-06-08 07:31 pm (UTC)In any case, the above was not my point at all, as I was using the term "Divine Revelation" NOT in the present-progressive context of prophesy (which is always the exception to the general order of the world), but in context of G-d having to clearly define The Law for us humans (i.e. Give us the Torah), because we are clearly incapable of knowing "what is Right" by ourselves.
Like WOW!? I know C.S. Lewis was weird, but that is just so totally bizarre and twisted, from a Jewish POV. Reducing our tendency to seek the Divine to the level of an "animal urge"? That's almost as pathetic as the proponents of The G-d Gene (see referenced articles). Never mind that his metaphor is so incredibly flawed, what if he don't have any food, or are still single? His metaphors and parables are usually superb, if often hard for a Jew to stomach (I loved the near-pagan Space Trilogy, but couldn't stand Narnia [Whoa
Blame it all on the Devil! Yeah, WTG. :-D We Jews don't believe in the Adversary at all, especially in this context, as it is G-d Almighty that comes out and puts the "blame" clearly at our own feet - "the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Genesis 8:21). Back to your interpretation of "Divine Revelation", when Christian zealots tell that "Jesus talks to them" and guides them in their daily lives, I am always compelled to ask "How do you know this internal 'guiding voice' is that of Jesus, and not your natural Inclination for Evil?"