Philosopher

Well I'm jewish, and its not that simple. We know G-d doesn't show His power with miracles each generation, you have to look for the smaller miracles in your life.

That's pretty interesting. It seemed to be that way in your TaNaKh, but i can see why you believed it. THe historical portions of your books doesn't tell of miracles in every account of kings, and in the latter end of it, in Esther and Nehemiah you don't see much of the miraculous either.

Am i correct?

Yes sorta. In the book of Esther the whole point of that account is that the miracle is hidden. No-one knew what happened to Vashti (sorry I don't know the English version of some of the names) To put Esther on the throne. You don't see miracles outright, like the splitting of the sea, but they are there and they are always there. Think about the simplest things, like waking up in the morning, I saw a meme that said sleep was an 8 hour trial of death and its true. Your soul leaves you and only G-d gives it back. Each morning when I wake up, the first thing I do is thank G-d for giving me back my soul, cuz that is a miracle. When a little kids runs into the street and narrowly misses getting hit by a truck, that's a miracle.

I have never heard of that emphasis before on the Book of Esther, the underscoring of hidden miracles. I also have never heard of the notion that the soul leaves the body when the person sleeps. Have you learned it all from the Talmud?

PS. Vashti in the written form that you've present is definitely used in English

Thanks for the PS. The whole idea of Purim, one of our upcoming holidays, is that the miracles were hidden. As opposed to Hannukkah where the miracles were outright. Finding the jug of oil and having it burn for 8 nights. Outright miracle. The book of Esther is all about the hidden miracles. Esther didn't know that becoming queen would allow her to save the Jews. Did you know that she actually was still married to the king after the story? All jews were saved, but she still suffered. Its fascinating to hear the different parts of the story you've never heard b4.
The soul leaving the body, I can't quote exactly where it is, but I do know its well known. Thats why we thank G-d each morning. Maybe look it up, I don't really know if you'll find anything though. The soul returns to its creator, and comes back when we wake up. Thats why dying in sleep is painless, cuz all that's happening is the body not getting the soul back. Its really interesting to hear all these different parts of life that can be interpreted these ways. If you have any other questions, id be happy to try to answer, but I cannot guarantee ill know the answer. I know some, but a lot is hidden, or im just not learned enough.

Thank you; I may have questions later; one I can think of now is your view of the end times... eschatology... how will the world end, or is there an end, or merely a transition?

We Christians believe that there is a technical end of the world... that the world will burn up with a fervent heat, the rule of Satan will cease, judgment will fall upon the wicked, the believing to new life, and a new kingdom will be for a thousand years.

What do you believe that will happen in the end?

I've heard about Hanukkah, the eight days when the Jews were beseiged and trapped, having only a lamp and a little supply of oil. It's in the Maccabees, am I correct? But have yet to read it myself. Yes, that is indeed an outright miracle. But what I didn't know is that Esther suffered.... I could imagine that being married to a non-jewish heathan is hard enough spiritually, but ... I'm not aware of any other. It would be a terrible shame if she did suffer. She saved her people, should she not enjoy at least, the married life with the Persian King?

Now that's facinating... the soul departs... comes before the G-d, but returns. I presume that God judges whether they're worthy of returning? Have you ever heard of outer body experiences?

For my part, if you also have questions about my faith feel free to ask it, I would be equally be happy to answers but like you, I cannot guarantiee I'll know it. :)

We believe in the Messiah. There will be stages. im not entirely sure, because that is Kabbalah and im not old enough to learn it. There is a book that only men over 50 could learn because it is so deep. From what I've heard, it comes in stages. So no, I cannot really answer that question. But I do know, we don't believe it will come in heat, sorry I cannot answer you more than that.

There is a lot more to Hanukkah than that, you need to know the thoughts the rabbeim had on it from what their grandparents passed down to them.

She did suffer, not only because he wasn't jewish, but cuz he was a bad person. Kings generally were bad back in those days. She gave up so much to save the Jewish people and we are so thankful to her, even though she did stay married to that pig of a king.

so for the sleep, I've heard He judges, but im not so sure. He has a plan of when each person will die, so yeah..

I might ask questions, but I can't think of any right now.

Ah, Kabbalah is a type of Judaism you practice. Am I correct to say that it is a mystic sect Judaism?

There is a lot more to Hanukkah than what I can read from the book of Maccabees? This is something not written down is it?

You're right, kings generally are bad. THey are certainly bad by our standards as we now as a whole, champion women's rights but even in scripture,I've heard that when the king wanted to present his wife before his party attendants, he wanted to show off her body.

Vashti was not a spoiled, contemptuous, or arrogant queen from what I rmember from my memory of reading Esther, and so if what I've heard is correct, she merely refused to sacrifice her dignity before his very drunk guests. After the humiliation he had made a law that all wives "great and small" shall give honor to their husbands... that is I think, obey their husbands.

But this Persian King might have been slightly different. One thing he didn't do is that he did not execute her, but banished her from him. When he have come to learn of Mordecai's deed in saving his life one night when he couldn't sleep, he was shocked and asked whether he was rewarded. He also did not kill Esther despite her approach being not called to his inner court but after being served a full course meal asked her what is her request "(inexact quote)...and it shall be granted, even to the half of the kingdom".

And when he came to learn of Haman's genecidal plans he left in a rage. It is likely that he came to an area where he could calm himself and think clearly in what to do next.

Later in Esther he hearkened to every request of the Queen regarding her people and theri enemies. Afterward, nothing more is said. We can only guess the epilogue, and given his drunken party we can only speculate what would come to her, but he seemed genuinely kind... if not in love with her.

As for the questions you might have for me, take your time.

Kabbalah is not a type, its a part. Yes the mystic and unknown. But not a seperate type. It is merely a section. I can't really explain it more than that.
There is so much more to every part of the torah, not just the story of Hanukkah. There are hundred of commentaries on each paragraph, each telling us more than we thought. Telling us that even the simplest words are not as we seem. In the original Hebrew, G-d created the Bible perfectly, not one word extra. So yes there is more that isn't written down.
As for the story of Esther, it is a lot more than that. Many. commentators say different things, and I cannot answer them all. I just don't have the time. Im sorry.
If you do write back, I may not answer right away.

What you've just said, reminded me of the notion of the so-called "Bible Codes" where according to it's proponents, there are hidden prophecies that are discreetly built according to the layout of the original text. In terms of sentence structure, word usage, etc..

That has since been debunked, but nevertheless, the idea that there is possibly more to the story than plain reading intrigues people. There is some merit to it as we've seen with Prophecy.

Like the poetical books, the prophetical books of the bible are not to be taken literally. Some should but others not. It is cryptic for a reason as for examplle, the future King of Israel in the line of David is spoken in parts that does not give the whole detail; only that God gives bits of characteristics of this king.

The cryptic nature of this messianic prophecies has value to it as it prevents false messiahs from easily deceiving people while those who put good time into studying it will be able to tell the difference between true and false persons.

For the other books however, the historical books, and the 5 books of Moses... it's debateable if Issegesis can be done to them.

For Kaballah. I can see that... s there are more to it than plain details. the mystic nature of that theology drives one to find deeper meanings of its doctrines through the given means to find it... be it meditation or prayer, or scripture reading.

Hi puppylover04, I'd like to invite you to a stream I am part of; called World_Religions

imgflip.com/m/World_Religions

There you can discuss with those of othe religions about what you believe and visa versa. We have 2 Catholics there, 2 Protestants (I'm one of them), 1 skeptic as far as I know, and 1 Muslim so far.

Feel free to join!

Sounds interesting, but Im good. Im very busy and don't have time to respond everytime someone asks me why I believe in the wrong thing or something. Some arguments are better left undisputed. Don't take this the wrong way, I'm just not interested.

Not offended at all; we all have lives to live. I also recognize that some thing are too personal or painful to be discussed.

In the meanwhile, you're always welcome to ask me anything. :)

Actually, I do have a question. What is baptizm and what is its significance.

Hi, I'll try to get back to you soon, but to give you a short answer, it is a Christian version of Circumcison as both serves to set apart them from the world.

The obvious difference is that Baptism is a rite that doesn't involve a surgical proceedure. It evolved from the Hebrew rite of purification, via, water. A preview to the kind of Baptism that is practiced today by Christians was when Elisha instructed Namaan the Syrian to dip himself in water seven times so that he will be healed of Leprosy.

In the New Testament the practice was carried on by John the Baptist for purification "I baptize you with water for purification but he will baptize you with fire". Eventually, Baptism became an illustrative rite of passage.

When the person is submerged and re-emerged from the water, s/he is not only illustrating the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ but also demonstrated what has happened to him/her spiritually. "An outward sign of an inward change". We call that change Born Again, when one is transformed from a God-hating soul (Genesis 8:21 & Psalm 14) to one who loves God and obey His commandments. Ezekiel spoke of this change in ch 36:

24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Back to Baptism Paul, the writer of the book of Romans that is in the New Testament said that they participated in the death, burial, & resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:3-4). The Baptismal rite is done publically as so to identify him/herself as a Christian

I actually decided to join your stream. I probably won't post anything though

That's perfectly fine, welcome to that stream!

I think God has ways of revealing who he is by revelation and speaking to the human heart. I see the beauty and order in creation and I believe it points to a perfect God.

Definitely in agreement with you there. In theological terms: there's Natural Revelation, and there is Special Revelation

General Revelation are things that reveal God's existence in creation (Romans 1:19-20)

Special Revelation are the things or means in which God's plam of salvation, through prophetsm scripture, and miracles.

https://www.ligonier.org/blog/general-and-special-revelation-reformed-approach-science-and-scripture/

As we say on the internet: Pics or it didn't happen

How about the Big Bang... no photo exists of it, yes? :)

Not a direct photo, no. However, we are able to measure the universe’s background radiation which is basically ancient light from back when the Universe was newly created. It shows that the background radiation is uniform which suggests that the Universe is expanding and that it expanded from a single spot. If the Universe wasn’t expanding and remained at a consistent state, the background radiation would not be uniform; instead, it would be uneven as different stars emit different light.

I've heard the same, that the universe is expanding, but also heard it's contracting. I'll have to find where I've heard that.

Be that as it may, what caused the Big Bang in your opinion? Or the opinion of science?

Science doesn’t know what caused it, although there are some educated guesses. One of those is that a black hole in an older alternate universe exploded into the fabric of reality which for us was the Big Bang. It’s only a potential theory though, not enough to base scientific consensus on.

Do you believe that matter have always existed?

It’s hard to say, as there is still a lot that science has yet to explain. However I am going to say that it’s very unlikely that it didn’t exist and then “Poof!” and now it exists.

Foe me it is difficult to imagine that something has always existed without a cause. That of course could be argued against God too, but between an atom that just "sits" there unless moved I'm more inclined to believe the bible which says that God has always existed.