Re: [Pan-users] Re: OT: freedomware vs... Was: Building Panon Windows?

[Joe Zeff]

On 03/09/2010 11:33 AM, Duncan wrote:
> Interesting, and something I didn't know.  But I have a Christian friend
> of Jewish heritage, that speaks often of the six-hundred-some (?)
> commands, and with the below as well, "being a properly observant Jew is
> not exactly easy" would definitely seem a truism, so an aspect of "you're
> sure you know what you're getting into" would indeed seem prudent.

We consider ourselves "a nation of priests, and an example to the 
nations," and the fact that "we answer to a higher authority" isn't 
*just* an advertising slogan.  We don't expect everybody to live as we 
do, but we do try to show the world that it's possible for people to 
live in peace and in reasonable harmony with each other.  Believe what 
you want, worship as you please, but try to follow our example and live 
a righteous life.  (BTW, the very first of the 613 commandments is, "Be 
fruitful and multiply.")

Please note that the Israelites had no problem with the people of Edom, 
Amor or Moab worshiping other gods, because they were righteous.  The 
Amalikites, OTOH, who were in effect amoral, were an entirely different 
matter.  (They had, apparently, no concept of Divine Retribution, either 
now or in an afterlife.)