Sunday, June 14, 2009

On the Dositheans

First you have to identify the Dositheans, making sure the reader understands there were a lot of them, perhaps half of all Samaritans. Then explain how Rabbinic Judaism tried to ignore the concepts of a second Moses and a second and better Torah as a reaction or defence against both Dositheans and Christians. Point out that the two of them have the same two central concepts. You will have to explain what Christianity is REALLY about. If it were me I would say there is not much sign of authentic Christianity anywhere and pretty well none in North America (in the USA anyway) but you might be more tactful. Show how the Torah has the concept of its own replacement built into it, (a) in the Golden Calf story and the double giving of the Ten Utterances, written by God on sapphire (the substance of the sky) and then written by Moses on stone; (b) in the fact that Moses didn’t quite succeed and it was Joshua that led the people across the Jordan; (c) that Moses saved the people but they were still unregenerate. The Torah insists that it is permanent but also says it can be eclipsed by something better or perfect.


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