Friday, March 22, 2019

Vatican states Jewish Noahide Law is Biblical, but is it?


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On the same day that the Vatican met with the delegation of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and issued a proclamation stating that the Jewish Noahide Laws supersede "individual freedoms" (here) the Vatican also released a statement that the Jewish Noahide Laws can be found in the Bible books of Genesis 9:9-12 and Acts 15: 28-29, and that they are "incumbent for all of humanity", but is this true? The scripture of Acts quoted by the Vatican only prohibits the consumption of animals that have been sacrificed to idols or strangled, the consumption of blood and "sexual immorality" and Genesis only gives humans permission to eat animal flesh after the flood. Not only are all of the Seven Noahide Laws not stated here but the 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia makes it clear that the Noahide Laws cannot be found in their entirety within the Bible but are enumerated only in the Talmud. Further the Talmud proclaim that Christians are "minuth" (believers in plural powers) and that Jesus was a blasphemer and a sorcerer (here).  The respected Jewish legal scholar Maimonides also made it very clear that Christians are "idolaters" and "pagans". If the Jews have made it clear that the Noahide Laws are not Biblical but Talmudic and that Christians are most certainly idolaters why is the Vatican using obvious deception to mislead Catholics into believing the Noahide Laws will not negatively effect Christians who are supposed to submit to these laws which override their "individual freedoms"?
Genesis Does Not Delineate The Whole Of Noahide Law 
12 God said, “This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow will be seen in the cloud, 15 and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow will be in the cloud. I will look at it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” - Genesis 9:9-12
Acts Does Not Enumerate All The Noahide Laws
For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay no greater burden on you than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality, from which if you keep yourselves, it will be well with you. Farewell.” - Acts 15:28-29
The Noahide Laws Come From The Talmud, Not The Bible 
Although only those laws which are found in the earlier chapters of the Pentateuch, before the record of the revelation at Sinai, should, it would seem, be binding upon all mankind, yet the Rabbis discarded some and, by hermeneutic rules or in accordance with some tradition (see Judah ha-Levi, “Cuzari,” iii. 73), introduced others which are not found there... Thus,the Talmud frequently speaks of “the seven laws of the sons of Noah,” which were regarded as obligatory upon all mankind, in contradistinction to those that were binding upon Israelites only (Tosef., ‘Ab. Zarah, ix. 4; Sanh. 56a et seq.). - Laws, Noachian, 1906 Jewish Encyclopedia 
Maimonides Considers Christians Idolaters And Pagans 
 Halachically, Maimonides says in three distinct places that the Christians are idol worshippers. 
1. In his interpretation of the Mishna, tractate Avoda Zara 1:3, he writes: “Know that this Chriatian nation, who are making the claim of a messiah, with all their many different sects, are all idol worshippers and all their holidays are forbidden, and we deal with them regarding religious issues as we would pagans.” 
And he adds (AZ 4): “Therefore one must know that in every one of the Christian nation’s cities which has an altar, meaning their house of worship, it is a pagan house of idolatry without any doubt. 
2. In the uncensored version of Hayad Hachazaka (Hilchot Avoda Zara 9:4), Maimonides issues the edict: “The Christians are idol worshipers and Sunday is their religious holiday, therefore in Eretz Israel we may not trade with them on Thursday and Friday of every week, and needless to say on Sunday, which is forbidden [for trade with Christians] everywhere.” Trade in this context refers especially to paying back loans, which would enhance their joy on the day of their idol. 
3. Also in Hayad Hachazaka, the laws of forbidden foods, the uncensored version (Hilchot Maachalot Asurot 11:7): “The Christians are idol worshippers and their regular wine if forbidden to be consumed” by Jews since it is likely to be used as libation in their pagan service. - "Maimonides: Islam Good, Christianity Bad, Muslims Bad, Christians Good", Jewish Press, By Yori Yanover, November 15, 2013


VATICAN STATEMENT: 
NOAHIDE LAWS ARE BIBLICAL


COMMISSION FOR RELIGIOUS RELATIONS WITH THE JEWS
THE DELEGATION OF THE HOLY SEE'S COMMISSION
FOR RELIGIOUS RELATIONS WITH THE JEWS
AND THE CHIEF RABBINATE OF ISRAEL'S DELEGATION
FOR RELATIONS WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
BILATERAL COMMISSION MEETING
Jerusalem, March 11-13, 2007; Adar 21-23, 5767

1. At the seventh meeting of the above commission, held in Jerusalem, the chairmen Cardinal Jorge Mejia and Chief Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen noted the significance of the number seven within the biblical tradition as indicating fullness and maturity. They expressed the hope that the fullness of the relationship between the Catholic and the Jewish members of this commission will be a source of blessing to both faith communities and the world at large.

Cardinal Mejia also noted the recent passing of Cardinal Johannes Willebrands former president of the Holy See's Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews and a central figure in the historic transformation in Catholic-Jewish relations. May his memory always be for a blessing.

2. The subject of the meeting was the Freedom of Religion and Conscience and its Limits. The human capacity to choose is a manifestation of the Divine Image in which all people are created (cf. Gn 1: 26-27) and is foundational for the Biblical concept of human responsibility and Divine justice (cf. Dt 30: 19).

3. God has created the human person as a social being which by definition places limits on individual human freedom. Moreover freedom of choice is derived from God and therefore is not absolute, but must reflect Divine will and law. Accordingly human beings are called to freely obey the Divine will as manifested in the Creation and in His revealed word.

Jewish tradition emphasizes the Noachide Covenant (cf. Gn 9: 9-12) as containing. the universal moral code which is incumbent on all humanity. This idea is reflected in Christian Scripture in the Book of Acts 15: 28-29.

4. Accordingly the idea of moral relativism is antithetical to this religious world view and poses a serious threat to humanity. Even though the Enlightenment helped bring about a purification from the abuse of religion, secular society still requires religious foundations to sustain lasting moral values. Critical among these is the principal of the sanctity of human life and dignity. Ethical monotheism affirms these as inviolable human rights and therefore can provide inspiration in this regard for society at large.

5. While on principle the state should not at all limit freedom of religion for individuals and communities nor of moral conscience, it has the responsibility to guarantee the wellbeing and security of society. Accordingly it is obliged to intervene wherever and whenever a threat is posed by the promotion, teaching or exercise of violence and specifically terrorism and psychological manipulation in the name of religion.

6. In addition to respecting the freedom of religious choices, the integrity of faith communities should also be guaranteed. Accordingly it is legitimate for a society with a predominant religious identity to preserve its character, as long as this does not limit the freedom of minority communities and individuals to profess their alternative religious commitments, nor to limit their full civil rights and status as citizens, individuals and communities. This obliges us all to safeguard the integrity and dignity of holy sites, places of worship and cemeteries of all religious communities.

7. In the course of history, religious communities have not always been faithful to these values. Therefore there is a special obligation upon religious leaders and communities to prevent the improper use of religion and to educate towards respect for diversity which is essential in order to ensure a healthy, stable and peaceful society.

In this regard, there is a special role for families, schools and the authorities of state and society as well as the media to impart these values to future generations.

In conclusion the bilateral commission having met in the Holy City of Jerusalem, expressed the prayer that the Almighty would bless and inspire both religious and political leaders in the region and beyond, to work determinedly to promote peace, dignity, security and tranquillity in the Holy Land for all its peoples and for the world as a whole.


Jerusalem,
March 13th, 2007 - Adar 21-23, 5767
Chief Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen 
(Chairman of the Jewish Delegation)
Jorge Cardinal Mejía 
(Chairman of the Catholic Delegation)
Chief Rabbi Ratson ArussiGeorges Cardinal Cottier, O.P.
Chief Rabbi Yossef AzranArchbishop Antonio Franco
Chief Rabbi David BrodmanArchbishop Elias Chacour
Chief Rabbi David RosenBishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo
Mr Oded WienerMons. Pier Francesco Fumagalli
P. Norbert J. Hofmann, S.D.B.

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