Friday, October 31, 2014

"in remembrance in the sight of God" - Who is a Jew and What is the Solution?



Around Tokyo



Who is a Jew and What is the Solution?


Now the mainstream religion in the world is Christianity in terms of success of material civilization and spiritual culture realized by believers of a religion.

So, it is very dangerous for anybody to be identified as an enemy of Christianity, since Christians have great weapons of material wealth and spiritual influences.

As everybody sees, there are two major groups of people who might face this danger: Jewish people and Muslims.  But Muslims are large in the number; there are 1.5 billion Muslims.  They can well cope with pressure from Christians whose number is 2.3 billion.  But there are only 15 million Judaists in the world.  Being Jewish or being identified as a Judaist can be so dangerous sometimes as having been observed in Europe in WWII.  If you are subjectively no more a Judaist, you could be still persecuted, provided that you were identified as such by others with power.

But who would be identified as Jewish by dangerous Christians?    
Who is a Jew?

The 2013 Pew Research study of American Jews found that 62% thought that being Jewish was mainly a matter of ancestry and culture, while 15% thought that it was mainly a matter of religion. Of those who stated themselves to be Jews by religion, 55% thought that being Jewish was mainly a matter of ancestry and culture, while two-thirds thought that it was not necessary to believe in God to be Jewish.

Israeli immigration laws will accept an application for Israeli citizenship if there is proven documentation that any grandparent—not just the maternal grandmother—was Jewish. This does not mean that person is an "ethnic Jew", but Israeli immigration will accept that person because he or she has an ethnically Jewish connection, and because this same degree of connection was sufficient to be persecuted as a Jew by the Nazis. See Jewish ethnic divisions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_is_a_Jew%3F#Jews_who_have_practiced_another_religion
In the past, many Jewish people living in the Iberian Peninsula were forced to convert to Christianity by Spanish and Portuguese Christians around 1490 or when the era of Columbus started.  Otherwise, they were forced to leave Spain or Portugal.  But, most of these converts were not trusted ant put into the Inquisition.

At this stage of history, it seems that conversion cannot be a solution to a question on how Jewish people could secure safety if they have to resort to any means to save themselves from evil Christians such as Hitler.

Probably, the solution is for people of any religion to study harder religions, including their own religion and others' religions.

The more you learn Christianity, for example, the more you don't like to make Judaists suffer for the only reason that they are Judaists.





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Act 10:31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

"the very hairs of your head" - The Most Influential Judaists of Today




Tokyo



The Most Influential Judaists of Today

Who are the most influential Judaists of today chosen by Israelis?
The Jerusalem Post's  Top 50 Most Influential Jews of 2014  list:
1. Jack Lew
2. Janet Yellen
3. Binyamin Netanyahu
4. Shimon Peres
5. Sheldon Adelson
6 Malcolm Hoenlein
7. Avigdor Liberman
8. Adina Bar-Shalom
9. Yair Lapid
10. Naftali Bennett 
http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-Features/The-Jerusalem-Posts-top-50-most-influential-Jews-of-2014-355215
JACK LEW is the most powerful Jew in the US administration, the world’s top superpower. Formerly President Barack Obama’s chief of staff, his current post of secretary of the Treasury puts him in one of the key jobs in the executive cabinet: proctoring economic recovery, forecasting future debt, and managing a complex infrastructure of international sanctions. The Treasury, not the Pentagon, would be responsible for the weapon of choice used by Obama against a nuclear Iran, and Lew has been central in shaping the policy.

JANET YELLEN made history this year when she became the first woman ever appointed chair of the US Federal Reserve. This made her one of the most influential people in the world, and arguably the most influential woman.
She was voted No. 2 on Forbes’s list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women this year.

Binyamin Netanyahu, Prime minister of Israel
BY THE very nature of the position, the prime minister of Israel – regardless of who occupies that office at any given time – must be high atop any list of the world’s most influential Jews.


Shimon Peres , President of Israel
ANYONE WHO thinks that after July 26, when his seven- year term as president expires, Shimon Peres will fade into oblivion is greatly mistaken. Let it not be forgotten that he is the country’s only president who was also prime minister and vice president of the Socialist International.

Sheldon Adelson, CEO and owner of Sands Hotel and Casino, philanthropist
A TENDENCY towards entrepreneurship was already evident when Sheldon Adelson, chairman of the board, CEO and principal owner of the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, was still a boy in his native Boston. He was only 12 years old when he first went into business by borrowing $200 from his uncle to buy a license to sell newspapers.

Malcolm Hoenlein, Vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
A NUMBER of poky rooms in the back of the Jewish Agency’s New York office on Manhattan’s East Side appear to suffice for the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and its longtime president.

Avigdor Liberman, Foreign minister of Israel
WHAT A year it has been for Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman. He was acquitted on charges of corruption, ending a legal saga that stretched for nearly 17 years.

Adina Bar-Shalom. Founder of the Haredi College for Women
ADINA BAR-SHALOM is not a radical revolutionary. But since the death of her father Rabbi Ovadia Yosef – the leader of the Shas party – last October, the 69-year-old Tel Aviv mother of three has been increasingly daring, at least according to the standards of the ultra-Orthodox community into which she was born.

Yair Lapid, Finance minister of Israel
LAST YEAR, Finance Minister Yair Lapid topped this list.
He was chosen because he had rocketed his way to the top of the Israeli consciousness and redefined the country’s priorities away from security concerns and toward domestic issues, galvanizing an otherwise splintered Center bloc.

Naftali Bennett, Economy minister of Israel
WHENEVER BAYIT Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett was asked about the Palestinian conflict during the election campaign, he gave a short answer and tried to change the subject to what he really cared about.

http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-Features/The-50-most-influential-Jews-of-2014-1-10-355218
It seems that Judaists or Israelis regard at least part of America, from Las Vegas to Washington DC, as an extension of Israel, though Israel must be destined to be part of the US and finally abandoned.




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Mat 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

"for my sake, and the gospel's" - Who Instead of Judaists?



The Tokyo Station


Who Instead of Judaists?


This great era that started with the emergence of Christ Jesus should end with a final solution of difficult relationships between Judaists and Christians and , probably, those between Judaists/Christians and Muslims.
Persecution of Jews has occurred on many occasions and at widely different geographical locations. Persecution has been a major part of Jewish history, and it has affected the history and social development of the countries and societies in which the persecution occurred. Europe and the Middle East have been chief areas of persecution throughout the ages.

In the Middle Ages Antisemitism in Europe was religious. Though not part of Roman Catholic dogma, many Christians, including members of the clergy, have held the Jewish people collectively responsible for killing Jesus, a practice originated by Melito of Sardis. As stated in the Boston College Guide to Passion Plays, "Over the course of time, Christians began to accept … that the Jewish people as a whole were responsible for killing Jesus. According to this interpretation, both the Jews present at Jesus Christ's death and the Jewish people collectively and for all time, have committed the sin of deicide, or "god-killing". For 1900 years of Christian-Jewish history, the charge of deicide has led to hatred, violence against and murder of Jews in Europe and America."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Jews
However, along with prevalence of non-religious material civilization and modern culture, more and more Europeans, Americans, and other peoples seem to lose their adherence to religion.  Accordingly, only money counts but not religions.  If somebody is rich, nobody seems to care about what religion he believes.  But can it be a true solution to the inherently difficult relationships between Judaists and Christians.

Anyway, we have come to a point in history where such a solutions is requested by God, but we seem to forget even our religions.  Outwardly, the situation might look as if there were no such a problem of the difficult relationships, but probably we cannot enter a true new era if we cannot solve it definitely once and for all.

Today, no Jewish people are persecuted in Europe, America, or any part of the world only because they are Judaists.  But, has mankind truly and honestly conquered this most difficult problem in these 2000 years?

If not, the majority of people might start to find another scapegoat instead of Judaists.





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Mar 10:28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
Mar 10:29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
Mar 10:30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

"this do, and thou shalt live" - The Bible vs. Witch-Hunts




Around Tokyo


The Bible vs. Witch-Hunts


The most critical incident immediately before the era of Columbus and Martin Luther was intensification of witch-hunt movement, though witch hunts continued to the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries even in Protestant countries.
 In 1484, in the Late Middle Ages, Pope Innocent VIII issued Summis desiderantes affectibus, a Papal bull authorizing the "correcting, imprisoning, punishing and chastising" of devil-worshippers who have "slain infants", among other crimes. He did so at the request of two inquisitors, Heinrich Kramer and Jacob Sprenger, members of the Dominican Order, who had been refused permission by the local bishops in Germany to investigate.

(In 1487 Pope Innocent VIII endorsed the Malleus Maleficarum [the 'Hammer against the Witches']. It accused women of destroying men by planting bitter herbs throughout the field.)

In 1487, Kramer and Sprenger published the notorious Malleus Maleficarum (the 'Hammer against the Witches') which, because of the newly invented printing presses, enjoyed a wide readership. The book was soon banned by the Church in 1490, and Kramer and Sprenger censured, but it was nevertheless reprinted in 14 editions by 1520 and became unduly influential in the secular courts. In 1538 the Spanish Inquisition cautioned its members not to believe what the Malleus said, even when it presented apparently firm evidence.[25]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch-hunt
The reason why witch hunts ceased to be exercised in Europe around the 17th century is not clear.  No Popes, no kings, or no revolutionary leaders in Europe delivered a strong request or order to stop witch hunting, but it gradually vanished from the European society.

Probably, it must have been wider circulation of the printed Bibles. With the invention of letterpress printing machine, many copies of the Bibles were made available in Europe since Gutenberg printed the New and Old Testaments in 1455.

The Bible defeated Satan who drove people to witch hunts, eventually.

Then, what did the Koran defeat?








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Luk 10:26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
Luk 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Luk 10:28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
Luk 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

Monday, October 27, 2014

"found many that were come together" - A Story at a Tomb around Jerusalem



Around Tokyo


A Story at a Tomb around Jerusalem


I can interpret the Resurrection of Christ Jesus in the following way.

Prior to his arrest by Roman soldiers in the night when Judas Iscariot betrayed Him, in a mountain Christ Jesus met one of His brothers and a Roman officer to plan and make arrangements about His Resurrection.

Then at the Crucifixion, a Roman soldier who had come to believe in Christ Jesus pretended to be a cool executor of the crucifixion prevented other soldiers from harming the body of Christ Jesus fatally, but let women who followed Christ Jesus take His body in a state of apparent death.

The women wrapped the body of Christ Jesus in a big shroud a rich old Israelite provided.  They carried His wrapped body into a tomb while armed guards were watching as Jewish priests asked the Roman authority.

And in the night of the next day when new guards took over, they rolled the rock that blocked the entrance to the tomb and let the brother of Christ Jesus come into the tomb chamber to help Him revive and get out of the tomb.  Then they set the rock again at the entrance.  And, in the second day, new guards took a turn.

In the early morning of the third day, Christ Jesus and His brother performed something astonishing to the guards who then fell in.a faint.  They together rolled the rock to the side so that some women, expected to come soon, could enter the tomb easily.  They also checked the shroud with an image of Christ Jesus mysteriously imprinted there and waited for His followers to come.  When the female followers of Christ Jesus came to the tomb, they saw Christ Jesus and His brother who looked like wearing snow white clothes like angels.

In this way, the miracle of the Resurrection was completed with love, faith, and cooperation of a brother of Christ Jesus who loved his brother so much and a certain Roman officer and soldiers who believed in Christ Jesus so enthusiastically.

Nonetheless, you may think that simply a miracle happened in the tomb and the rock rolled off its entrance by itself through the power of Christ Jesus.

But, as betrayal looked like so common in those days, one Roman office must have betrayed the Roman authority and anti-Christ Jewish priests to balance with the betrayal of Judas.




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Act 10:25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
Act 10:26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
Act 10:27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.
Act 10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

" because ye are not of my sheep" - Jesus' Miracle on Lazarus




 Sagami Bay on the Pacific, Japan


Jesus' Miracle on Lazarus

Without the descriptions about miracles Christ Jesus performed, the Gospel might be very short and simple.
A List of All The Miracles of Jesus 
Control of Nature
1. Calming the storm – Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:37-41; Luke 8:22-25
2. Feeding 5,000 - Matthew 14:14-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14
3. Walking on water - Matthew 14:22-32; Mark 6:47-52; John 6:16-21
4. Feeding 4,000 – Matthew 15:32-39; Mark 8:1-9
5. Fish with coin – Matthew 17:24-27
6. Fig tree withers – Matthew 21:18-22; Mark 11:12-14, 20-25
7. Huge catch of fish – Luke 5:4-11; John 21:1-11
8. Water into wine – John 2:1-11
 
Healing of Individuals
1. Man with leprosy – Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-44; Luke 5:12-14
2. Roman centurion’s servant – Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10
3. Peter’s mother-in-law – Matthew 8:14-15; Mark 1:30-31; Luke 4:38-39
4. Two men possessed with devils – Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-15; Luke 8:27-39
5. Man with palsy – Matthew 9:2-7; Mark 2:3-12; Luke 5:18-26
6. Woman with bleeding – Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48
7. Two blind men – Matthew 9:27-31
8. Dumb, devil-possessed man - Matthew 9:32-33
9. Canaanite woman’s daughter – Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30
10. Boy with devil - Matthew 17:14-21; Mark 9:17-29; Luke 9:38-43
11. Two blind men – including Bartimaeus - Matthew 20:29-34; Mark 10:46-52;
 
Luke 18:35-43
12. Demon-possessed man in synagogue – Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:31-37
13. Blind man at Bethsaida – Mark 8:22-26
14. Crippled woman – Luke 13:10-17
15. Man with dropsy – Luke 14:1-4
16. Ten men with leprosy – Luke 17:11-19
17. The high priest’s servant – Luke 22:50-51
18. Nobleman’s son at Capernaum – John 4:46-54
9. Sick man at the pool of Bethsaida – John 5:1-15
20. Man born blind – John 9:1-41
 
Raising the Dead
1. Jairus’ daughter – Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56
2. Widow’s son at Nain – Luke 7:11-17
3. Lazarus – John 11:1-44

http://www.sharefaith.com/guide/christian-ministries/ministry-of-jesus/miracles-of-jesus/miracles-of-jesus---the-list.html
Except the Resurrection, the most powerful miracle is the rise of Lazarus.
Can the miracles of Jesus be explained naturally?  It is certainly possible that some might be explained with non-divine answers, but can all of them? 
Jesus raised the dead (Matt. 9:25; John 11:43-44). 
Those who were dead really only appeared to be dead--given that the people of the time were not aware of many of the medical intricacies that can lead to people looking dead when they were not really dead.  
This explanation is certainly possible, but is it really that likely?  People in ancient times were far more familiar with death than we are.  Our people die in hospitals away from the families.  Undoubtedly, we are less familiar with death then they were.  It is more probable that they knew when people were actually dead, especially since the dead were left in stasis for several days as they were washed and prepared for burial. 
The John 11 account of Lazarus' resurrection.

http://carm.org/questions/about-jesus/cant-all-jesus-miracles-be-explained-naturally

I think it was true that Lazarus had been dead already before Christ Jesus came to the tomb where Lazarus was laid down.  But how did this miracle of reviving Lazarus worked physically?  Did all the atomic elements and molecules that made Lazarus' body start to move along with the voice of Christ Jesus to the states they had been in when Lazarus was alive? Maybe.

But more simply, I think that time flew in a reversed manner inside Lazarus.  So, from the time when he was dead to the time when he was alive, the time tracked back.  After he became alive again, the time started to flow ordinarily.

Otherwise, somebody wanted to kill Lazarus.  And while Lazarus was alive, that somebody pronounced Lazarus dead.  But Christ Jesus could see the evil scheme.  He only called Lazarus making him realize that he was not dead in the darkness of death but simply in the darkness of the tomb.  Christ Jesus saved Lazarus from the fatal intrigue.

 

 



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Joh 10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.
Joh 10:26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: