While one religion teaches us that we are all born as sinners onto this earth, and that God will forgive us if we are saved and believed to be saved, the other religion strictly forbids the idea of sins and becoming sinners altogether. I myself would like to believe that we are not perfect and all have ill bred thoughts from time to time. Or use negative words to express our agitated feelings in certain situations, like standing in line at the grocery store and a customer three people in front of you decides to pay for $25 worth of groceries using all coins. Who the heck does that?! With lustful temptations lurking around every corner, and a little bit of road rage dwelling inside us all, it has become increasingly difficult to live your everyday life free of sins in this day and age. Less I am wrong and there is a way to live a care free life without sinning and succumbing to the everyday temptations that make up our lives such as prime- time cable television, sleazy everywhere you look in your face advertisements, and that will do anything for a quick buck attitude? Someone please inform me.
I agree with your view that we all sin and make mistakes now and then. However, I disagree with your opinion that Judaism has the view that a sinless life is possible. It’s true that for the most part there seems to be less grace given to the sinner in Judaism than in Christianity. For example in the core of the Hebrew bible, The Torah (which is the first five books of the New Testament), it says in Exodus 21:23 & 24 that, “you are to take life for life… wound for wound” while in the Christian bible in Matthew 5:39 Jesus changes things around saying, “Do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek turn to them the other cheek also”, giving more grace to the sinner.
ReplyDeleteThere is still forgiveness offered in Judaism, in the form of sacrifices, burnt offerings, and cleansings. In fact, sin was viewed as an inevitable act committed by everyone at some time or other, and periodic sacrifices to atone for these sins was mandatory. So, Judaism does not strictly forbid “the idea of sins and becoming sinners.” It is harsher in punishing sin, and takes a whole lot more work in dealing with sin. However, the idea of sins is not forbidden, there is at least one whole book in the Hebrew bible full of ideas about and of sin, with descriptions of how to deal with each type individually.
-Team Three
I completely agree that we as people sin or slip-up from time to time in life. However I also agree with team three’s statement that Christianity allows more grace towards the sinner. I feel this way because according to the bible, every sin is equal and no matter what the sin, as long as one asks for forgiveness he shall be forgiven. Additionally, in the bible “The Original Sin” committed by Adam and Eve goes to show that even before so many ungodly and tempting things bombarded the world, man was likely to sin. The only thing that tempted Adam and Eve’s flesh was a forbidden fruit, if that was all it took to make man disobedient to the will of God in the beginning then imagine what a person in today’s society endures on a regular basis. Also when comparing Judaism and Christianity one must take note of how we are born. In Judaism we are born of free will and thereafter are liable for those temptations that we may face, yet in Christianity we are born sinners and are only responsible for asking for the amnesty of the sins we take part in.
ReplyDelete-Team Two