The Reverend Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church
***
Dear Fred,
Thanks for your email.
"Righteousness" -- to the exclusion of Justice and Charity -- is the Achilles' Heel of American Christianity.
I am happy to learn that the Jewish virtue of tzedakah remedies this by fusing all three.
Tzedakah ([tsedaˈka] or Ṣ'daqah [sˤəðaːˈqaː] in Classical Hebrew (Hebrew: צדקה; Arabic: صدقة), is a Hebrew word literally meaning righteousness but commonly used to signify charity.[1] It is based on the Hebrew word (צדק, Tzedek) meaning righteousness, fairness or justice, and it is related to the Hebrew word Tzadik meaning righteous as an adjective (or righteous individualas a noun in the form of a substantive). In Judaism, tzedakah refers to the religious obligation to do what is right and just, which Judaism emphasises are important parts of living a spiritual life. Maimonides says that, while the second highest form of tzedakah is to anonymously give donations to unknown recipients, the highest form is to give a gift, loan, or partnership that will result in the recipient supporting himself instead of living upon others. Unlike philanthropy or charity, which is completely voluntary, tzedakah is seen as a religious obligation, which must be performed regardless of financial standing, and must even be performed by poor people. Tzedakah is considered to be one of the three main acts that can annul a less than favorable heavenly decree. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzedakah
"Righteousness" -- to the exclusion of Justice and Charity -- is the Achilles' Heel of American Christianity.
I am happy to learn that the Jewish virtue of tzedakah remedies this by fusing all three.
Tzedakah ([tsedaˈka] or Ṣ'daqah [sˤəðaːˈqaː] in Classical Hebrew (Hebrew: צדקה; Arabic: صدقة), is a Hebrew word literally meaning righteousness but commonly used to signify charity.[1] It is based on the Hebrew word (צדק, Tzedek) meaning righteousness, fairness or justice, and it is related to the Hebrew word Tzadik meaning righteous as an adjective (or righteous individualas a noun in the form of a substantive). In Judaism, tzedakah refers to the religious obligation to do what is right and just, which Judaism emphasises are important parts of living a spiritual life. Maimonides says that, while the second highest form of tzedakah is to anonymously give donations to unknown recipients, the highest form is to give a gift, loan, or partnership that will result in the recipient supporting himself instead of living upon others. Unlike philanthropy or charity, which is completely voluntary, tzedakah is seen as a religious obligation, which must be performed regardless of financial standing, and must even be performed by poor people. Tzedakah is considered to be one of the three main acts that can annul a less than favorable heavenly decree. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzedakah
Catholicism would be better off if it were more like Mother Judaism - a religion that values boisterous, round table discussion of scripture more than rigid definition of same.
As currently constituted, bible belt Christianity is its own worst enemy --- ferociously determined to be as unappealing as possible.
Oddly, this self-uglification is done for "righteousness' sake" - mostly a self-interested effort to "be" saved than to save. http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2012/10/why-bible-belt-is-christianitys-enemy.html
There is good material in Frontline's two and a half hour study, "From Jesus to Christ" - http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2013/01/frontline-online-clickable-icons-with.html
Pax
Alan
On Sat, Jan 5, 2013 at 11:26 AM, Fred Owens <froghospital911@gmail.com> wrote:
tzedakah --- Hebrew, combines justice, righteousness and charity into one word -- or, as the beggar said, "the world owes me a living"