Burden of Proof

Hi Ron,

You wrote:  �Okay, I'll bite: what's up your sleeve?�

Not yet mate, it�s waaaaaaay too important to be revealed so quickly.  But seriously, I first want to see if anyone from especially the Christian tradition can play lawgiver and devise a means, or statement, by which the above-cited laws as given by Moses and by Jesus can be reconciled and harmonized.  How might one simultaneously observe Moses� and Jesus� law, or edicts, without contradiction?    

You wrote:  �Personally, when I was a Christian I pretty much ignored the Old Testament, because it was just too much at odds with Jesus's message.�

I can relate.  My arguably Christian name is Servetus, which is bad enough in some circles, but I am also sometimes surnamed Marcion.  (One can remain a Christian, as in my case, and have highly disparate, or let�s say, independent viewpoints and, for the fun of it, name oneself after heretics and heresiarchs.)  Remain fiercely independent then, as you are, but please do consider coming back into the fold.  You are missed.   

Hi Apollos

You wrote:  �I will answer your [Servetus�s] question but I gather from your and other Muslim posts that you do not have an answer for my question. That is, you simply want to continue asserting that Islam is correct without accepting the burden of proof that is yours.�

That, I must say, is a lot of gathering from my question.  I have not asserted that Islam is correct and neither for that matter have I continued to do so.  I just thought, after reading your opening argument, that we could break it down and discuss, or digest, it in increments.

You wrote:  �The Jews - like you - objected to such audacious statements ��

Now hold on.  I don�t mind being placed in such illustrious company as, say, Caiaphas, but please do reconsider your assumption that I have thus far voiced any objections.  I have not.  I have presented two statements, one by Moses and another by Jesus, which seem contradictory at best.  I would like to know how to reconcile the two, how to observe both of them without contradiction.  Do you see any way of doing so?

You wrote:  �To summarize, if you had considered the underlying intent of God�s commands and knew a little about Middle Eastern culture, you would have realized that the commandment Moses gave in Leviticus was in keeping with loving thy neighbor ...�

If you don�t stop being so condescending, I am not going to attend your catechism, or Sunday School, and you will no doubt miss me and my fascinating, endlessly thought-provoking contributions to your thread.

Best regards,

Serv

Apollos,

You wrote:  ï¿½I apologize ��

Thanks.  It was just a stutter step.  I am having some fun with you.

You wrote:  �So, to provide me a better understanding of what your questions are about ��

I will, at your request, address the remainder of this sentence, but my question, thus far, seems very simple.  Let me rephrase my question �restate the problem- by using the so-called triad, i.e., the thesis, antithesis and synthesis.

�Source Wikipedia:

The thesis is an intellectual proposition.

The antithesis is simply the negation of the thesis, a reaction to the proposition.

The synthesis solves the conflict between the thesis and antithesis by reconciling their common truths, and forming a new proposition.�

Thesis (Moses)

�If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.�

Antithesis (Jesus)

�You have heard that it was said [by Moses], 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.�

Synthesis

?

Can you or anyone (especially among Christians) write a statement, or law, which solves the apparent conflict between Moses and Jesus and reconciles their common truths, thus forming a new proposition?  In other words, can anyone here create, or write, a synthesis?           

You wrote:  �� will you [Servetus] please reveal your opinion on my claim that Jesus rose from the dead and the burden of proof we expect from people claiming to be from God?�

I will try.  But, with your permission, I will have to do it later, because I usually restrict myself to a half hour or less on these boards (which is one reason why I like to take things in smaller doses.)

Best regards,

Serv