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Law
of Moses Not Intended as License to Barbarism
Responding to
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 4:35 AM
Subject: Re: (off topic): 911 Attack 144 Years Prior -- Mormon Terrorist, John D. Lee
Hi Sterling,
Sorry, but I need to point out a correction that needs to be made on your recent
article. The law of an "eye for an eye" according to the Torah has nothing to
do with literal blood atonement vengeance. It was a law of giving monetary value to replace
what was taken from someone or done to someone to compensate. It was completely figurative
in its language, but non-Jewish translators and interpreters who were unfamiliar with
Jewish/Hebrew interpretations used it to try to paint the Torah as a barbaric, inferior law in
order to promote their own agendas. In fact, capital punishment was extremely rare and
hardly ever carried out in ancient Israel. Many conditions had to be present to protect the
rights of the accused....including two witnesses to have seen the act take place.
The whole Torah laws are there to promote fairness, compassion, and love among individuals
and between all the people of Israel. It also wasn't correct to say it was a lesser law than
Christianity. There is no teaching in Christianity concerning love for our fellowmen that
didn't originate in the Torah and spring from it. The whole point of Torah law is to foster
greater love and compassion by showing how to treat others, including animals, in a more humane
and ethical way.
Vicki Porritt
Middle Way
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2003 5:09 PM
Subject: permission: Re: (off topic): 911 Attack 144 Years Prior -- Mormon Terrorist,
John D. Lee
Hi Vicky,
Your point illustrates well how people can take doctrines in their literal reading to a crazy
extreme; but that it is usually interpreted in a much more balanced way, in tune with conscience.
I'm sure "eye for an eye" as it reads has been used as justification for some terrible
deeds in the history of this planet. But, as you point out, God had hopes that people will find much
higher meanings; and for the most part, they do aspire to the higher ground.
Sterling
See also:
visits since June 23, 2003
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