Hark - Latest Comments

Re: Judaism’s revolutionary method for Divine connection: The concrete, not the concept

Jimmie Cooper Boswell — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:15:49 -0000

excuse me! but just what story, do you all think you are in here from TheG-D of Only TheTorah? and sorry i do not accept pick any ten suggestion, out of 611 + 2 commandments. i do believe G-D could get in, more than 2 1/2 commandments on each side of the stone tablets.

and just because HaShem G-D, does not come to speak in occasion to any of you. does not mean, The Tree of Life has not fallen in the woods with me here in IT.
this is the near end, of the sixth day again. and none of you even know, who to expect to see again. from The-Very Very Jealous, Persistent, and Consistent G-D, of Only TheTorah.
nor did i ask for G-D, to come and tell me about some woman chaooah here in something called TheTorah, TheTree of Life, The-Book of Life... because you cannot believe the complications this could cause the surrogate son, in a family with an atheist father.

Re: Defending Earth by defeating Keystone XL pipeline a sacred calling to one clergyman

Jan Miller — Mon, 06 May 2013 10:54:18 -0000

You spoke for me - thanks!

Re: Defending Earth by defeating Keystone XL pipeline a sacred calling to one clergyman

jkane@regis.edu — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:00:07 -0000

Thank you, Nelson, both for going and for writing about this -- until I read your piece and some of the links provided I'd been pretty ignorant and as a result passive around this issue -- just assuming that some sort of reasonable compromise might be found. no Longer

Re: Defending Earth by defeating Keystone XL pipeline a sacred calling to one clergyman

Tina Blackmore Gurdikian — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:14:50 -0000

Excellent post, Nelson! Thanks so much for writing this and serving as a voice for that which has no voice. Creation - all of creation - was created by and belongs to God; we have been tasked to be stewards of God's magnificent creation. I strongly concur that this - the KXL Pipeline and our continued squander and exploitation of the Earth and its resources - in no way falls under the definition of stewardship!

Re: Defending Earth by defeating Keystone XL pipeline a sacred calling to one clergyman

Jeff Neuman-Lee — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:32:07 -0000

Well spoken. I wish I could go to Nebraska too, to bear witness.

Re: Defending Earth by defeating Keystone XL pipeline a sacred calling to one clergyman

Jeff Denton — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:04:52 -0000

I'm originally from Canada and I know the economic boom that the tar sands have provided for the provinces that are exploiting them. In college though, I did a lot of papers and work on environmental matters, especially water. One of the negatives about the tar sands is that takes a LOT of water (fresh water) as the author stated.

I also know the company(ies) involved are responsible for a lot of environmental abuses and incidences of violations. These violations are often overlooked by the government for said economic reasons. As well, the environmental damage that has already occurred has made the land where the excavation was done, and being done will leave permanent scars on the surface of the earth. http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF...

These violations are the result of lax safety and genuine laziness on the part of those involved and this pipeline is going to run through many states and land that is vulnerable to major environmental damage. Once again the author is correct in stating that the tar sands in similar to asphalt and though someone refined,if an accident occurred I think many proponents of the pipeline will definitely think twice.

I guess in closing, this comes down to this: the keystone pipeline will bring economic benefits, but the cost, and potential damage can be catastrophic.

Re: Defending Earth by defeating Keystone XL pipeline a sacred calling to one clergyman

taxpayer22 — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:50:08 -0000

Warren Buffett's trains make Billions of dollars hauling oil over wet land and thru cities . A pipeline could be built to avoid those sensitive areas. Second, The price of oil per barrel delivered to the refineries via a pipeline would be less : a bonus to the average consumers. Three, Warren is a large campaign cash donor to ...

Re: Can Rabbi Shmuley Boteach run for political office and obey the Torah?

David Wilson — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 01:47:25 -0000

Centuries ago, The Talmud replaced the Torah. Under Talmudic Law, Falsehood is a virtue:
"Mitzvah (blessing) rests only upon that which is hidden from the eye." ("By Deception We Shall Wage War":--Mossad.) And sexual immorality is not "immoral" when acted upon shiskes (Gentile women). "It is the solemn duty of every Jew, to inflict his wrath upon he goyim". And whatever wisdom and virtue, in the Torah, is meant only in Jewish relations. The 10 Commandments (part of the 613 Mitzvoh) don't apply to Gentiles.

Re: Catholic theologian will speak to more hidden Jewish roots of Christian worship

GregoryR — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 00:42:02 -0000

For some reason I recall the shewbread as being leavened and having little to do with the Passover. I could be wrong though.
Also the Gospel of John implies that the Mystical Supper, as its called in Orthodox Christian Tradition, did not fall on the Passover itself. Which is part of the reason that Eastern churches use leavened bread bits also symbolic of the risen Christ and that their is life in the bread.
The tradition of transubstantiation is relatively recent and based primarily on Aristotle not on Tradition. The early Church believed in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist but didn't use Aristotle to explain how the gifts were changed. The belief is it was the work of the Holy Spirit and that was enough.
Also the practice of Eucharistic Adoration is of recent origin as well. When the practice began many Eastern theologians accused their Western counterparts of bread worship.
Finally Christ used wine at the Mystical Supper not grape juice. I've read that corruption of tradition can be traced to the Welch family of grape juice fame and/or religious progressive who backed prohibition.

Re: The Supreme Court weighs in on legal unions, not holy matrimony

John Harrison — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 18:04:24 -0000

I couldn't agree with you more, Nelson. If the "state" supported the churches, paid their mortgages or rent, subsidized the salaries of its professional employees, then the "state" could expect the churches to perform certain legal duties such as marriage, divorces, adoptions etc. Of course that is not the case, so the churches should stay out of such legal, state matters.

I received a comment from a friend of mine and I quote his comments:

"I agree that there’s the legal and the spiritual side to this question, and
unfortunately, both the legal and spiritual is interwoven and doesn’t exist
without the other as our Society is structured. For the use and
advantages of one, you definitely need the other.
Just wondering . . . how does polygamy fit in with equality?

It’s always very interesting to me to think of the unintended consequences of Supreme Court decisions that are made and how far they will be pushed. And can it be stopped?. At what point is it too much? This 240 year old document is just starting to get very loosely stretched by both side of the fence. More so now than ever I’m guessing.

Unfortunately the problem is not with the 537 idiots within the Beltway, but with the rest of the millions let them play games, and we’re the playing field. We’re sport for them!

If Obama gave a rat’s ass about gays . . . this would have been taken care of some time ago. Now they’re playing games, and we’re the game <smile>. If anything . .
Politicians can bend and sway with public opinion and manipulate it to their
advantage, crafty little buggers they are.

I can’t wait for all of the sudden discovery and disclosure of gay people within their Family Tree and how often there will be gay references come the mid-term elections next year <chuckle>. Even the Republicans are reinventing themselves.
Why . . . us Baby Boomers are moving on and out, and there’s that next group to
be manipulated coming in, and they’re not as hung up on certain things "</chuckle></smile>

Re: The Supreme Court weighs in on legal unions, not holy matrimony

Lokken Liane — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 20:12:05 -0000

Very well-said. It gives fearful churches an out, and clarifies the distinction between the role of the Church and the state re: marriage.

Re: The Supreme Court weighs in on legal unions, not holy matrimony

Jeff Neuman-Lee — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:37:17 -0000

It seems that you believe in the God of love. That's more difficult than believing in a god who grants humans the right to judge others. I also like your distinction between what the religious community should do and what the state should do. Well spoken.

Re: The Supreme Court weighs in on legal unions, not holy matrimony

Jesus Benyosef — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:39:02 -0000

Well-said,Nelson! If the government were to define matrimony as being between a man and a
woman, it would make just as much sense for them to decree that you have to be
12 to have a bar mitzvah. Religious bodies may give their sacraments and blessings
to whatever they want. It's not up to states/nations to decide such things.

Re: Passover: Its spirit of freedom makes it a great American holiday for Jews, gentiles

jkane@regis.edu — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:05:12 -0000

The invitation to all to join the Rabbi's congregation for Seder is remarkable and wonderful -- for as he says the Exodus/Passover story is one of the great narratives that have shaped our civilization.

Re: St. Patrick’s Day: Still wet, green and noisy but no longer about the Irish people

GregoryR — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 01:24:14 -0000

I think The Onion nails it when they refer to it as "Renforcin' O' The Stereotypes Day"
Padraig would be, and likely is, appalled at what his feast day has become.

Re: Shriving scarlet sinners: A call for cardinals’ confession and repentance

GregoryR — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:29:18 -0000

Someone who was, or is, tortured for the Faith and survives is referred to as a Confessor, not a living martyr.

Re: Civil unions, contraception, gun control and the “glorious” lost art of compromise

Guest — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 17:03:25 -0000

hear hear.

Re: Pope Benedict XVI leaves the papacy: Is this the end of the oldest monarchy?

sheila mentz — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 10:44:12 -0000

Always so articulate and astute, John Kane! Thanks!

Re: Civil unions, contraception, gun control and the “glorious” lost art of compromise

Robert Chase — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 04:14:03 -0000

Well then, since you agree, your comment appears.

Re: Pope Benedict XVI leaves the papacy: Is this the end of the oldest monarchy?

William F. Pilder — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:07:56 -0000

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. As soon as I finished reading your reflections I needed to find this verse from Paul. Thank you.

Re: Pope Benedict XVI leaves the papacy: Is this the end of the oldest monarchy?

Dillard Jenkins — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:39:21 -0000

Mr. Kane, if celibacy were universal mankind would become extinct in a very short time. It may be a good for a short time but it's nearly impossible to maintain.

Re: Pope Benedict XVI leaves the papacy: Is this the end of the oldest monarchy?

Robert Chase — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 12:45:01 -0000

No; it's hard to miss all the pandering to Catholics in the DP these days. You pose what you must have known would be a provocative question to them -- one which you, they, and the many readers disgusted with the spectacle of Benedict's papcy melting down due to his complicity in harboring pedophilic predators all know the answer: "No". The Catholic Church will continue to have a pope, but by the time it has finished paying legal compensation to its victims, it will have no property left.

Re: Why I care about Judaism’s do’s and don’ts: Structure is freeing, not oppressive

GregoryR — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 00:07:53 -0000

I'm curious if the author had ever been to an Orthodox Christian service. They are as heavy in ritual as they are in theology.

Re: Civil unions, contraception, gun control and the “glorious” lost art of compromise

Betty Voss — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 12:41:17 -0000

Sunday 2/23. I just turned off Channel 4. There was an interview with the western governors about issues before Congress and us. At 10 it was announced that some locales would continue with Face the Nation and others would not. Our Channel switched to car/motorcycle racing. The discussion with Governor Hickenlooper and three other governors was then cut off. This seems an example of skewed values to which you allude: hectic, dangerous action trumps reasoned dialogue.

Re: Each year brings joy and suffering; kindness always the right answer to hardest questions

Shirley Scoville — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 22:58:28 -0000

I'm deeply touched by Bob's message and will refer to it throughout the year as I try to keep Christmas in my heart. Struggles purify us, I believe. The more we bear, the more we realize how much Jesus Christ did for us. Bob is a tremendous example of where I want to be in loving, forgiving, and living a Christlike life. Bob, thanks for sharing your personal message.