Word: judaisms
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...ethnically Jewish nonbeliever, I find this fuss over conversion utterly baffling. Jewish leaders complain that conversion attempts imply that Judaism is an inferior religion. This seems unavoidably true. Any attempt to convert implies that the faith on offer is superior. "Theological arrogance" isn't a bad description...
Rosenthal's marketing strategy does not inspire confidence. It is a comic-book variation on the classic conversion strategy used by proselytizers of all sorts, from cults like the Moonies to communists in their heyday to sects within Judaism that recruit among Jewish tourists in Israel. You befriend your targets when their guard is down, disguising your true intent; then you gradually draw them over to your side...
...theological arrogance is insulting to rival theologies, the insult is inherent in religion itself, isn't it? Unlike Christianity, Judaism does not claim to be a universal faith and does not seek converts. It doesn't believe that non-Jews are damned. But even Judaism considers itself to be right and Christianity to be wrong about some pretty basic issues. All religions claim to have answers to life's most central questions. Any one of them may be right, but all of them can't be right. And each one's claim to be right necessarily implies that others...
...insulting to Jews that Fundamentalist Christians don't try harder to convert us. Oh, sure, they're friendly enough now. But wait until Judgment Day. Then it will be, "Sorry, we seem to have lost your reservation." And from this perspective, the Jewish policy of actively discouraging converts to Judaism starts to seem like "theological arrogance" indeed. At the same time, when you object to noncoercive conversion, it starts to look like the opposite of arrogance: theological insecurity. What are you afraid of? The decision will be made by you or by God, and in either case, there...
...editors of the Talmud followed Rava's one-liner with this story in order to warn against the dangers of excessive alcohol use and to express strong ambivalence or even opposition to Rava's line itself. Thus, to portray Judaism as unequivocally alcohol-friendly is a distortion of the Jewish tradition...