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Jews for Jesus invade Washington

• Absurd Inurbane Witless

I'm not Jewish but if I were I imagine I would find no group more annyoing.

Jews for Jesus, a San Francisco-based group, said it trained more than 600 local volunteers to evangelize the region's 220,000 Jews as part of a worldwide campaign called "Operation Behold Your God."

Conversion Outreach Plan Stirs Outrage

The Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington is holding meetings to counter an evangelistic effort by Jews for Jesus that starts this week.

Jewish groups to counter Jews for Jesus evangelism campaign

Richard Evans Lee
August 18, 2004 •
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I've had a feeling for the last few days and this confirms it - in Tob Robbins early 90s books skinny legs and all he writes of the jews for jesus and their assisting fundie christians in the preparation for the third coming. Prescient... Hope yr keeping well, or at least ok Geoff

Posted by: Geoff | August 18, 2004 1:41 PM

The Raving Atheist (www.ravingatheist.com) has frequently commented about Jews for Jesus on his blog, and I think he brings up excellent points. (Full disclaimer - I'm an atheist who was raised as a Reform Jew in New York, so I think my perspective has a little more relevance to this topic.) Not to speak for RA, but I'll add my comments which I think are similar: I see no problem with Jews for Jesus approaching mature adult Jews (define that however you want, but I'd suggest age 18 or 21 as the legal age of becoming an adult) to have a reasonable discussion about one's religion, since presumably, if you identify yourself as Jewish, you have a reason for doing so. First of all, you don't have to talk with them, so the problem is solved right there. But, if you choose to do so and want to engage in a debate/conversation, then sure, the Jews for Jesus are going to present their side of the story, and it will likely be distorted in their favor. But the Jewish side is just as unsubstantiated. (How do you know that anything described in the Old Testament actually occured as described? How do you know this is the Word of God? Etc. The same questions I'd ask about the New Testament ...) When Jews for Jesus ask the question, "How do you know Jesus wasn't the Messiah?", the answer is that since they're the ones making the claim that he is, the burden of proof is on them. However, the same point should be made about any claim that Jews make about being Jewish. The whole "Chosen People of God" thing? What a load of crap. Please demonstrate that everything in the Old Testament which dictates your religious beliefs can be supported by something other than faith. I'm talking about evidence and burden of proof, not relying on some collection of myths that you take as actual historical occurences, and not falling back on this vague notion of "tradition". If "tradition" were the answer to every question, then we would still have slavery and mankind wouldn't even have invented the wheel ... My sister went to Hebrew High School, and they had workshops to teach kids how to handle when Jews for Jesus and other religious groups/cults try to convert you. Basically, the gist of these classes is "Other religions trying to convert you = bad". However, they never adequately answer the question of why this is. The reason they usually give is because these religions are trying to take you away from your "traditions", whatever that means. What that really means is that "We've brainwashed you first; so tough luck for the other cults." If you choose to enter in a debate with another religious group and you can't reasonably defend your faith, the answer isn't to adopt that other religious faith ... the reasonable answer is to study the concept of faith in the first place and come to the rational conclusion to not have faith at all.

Posted by: JJB | August 18, 2004 2:09 PM

I agree with JJB cuz seriously, if you can't defend your faith or are afraid to even try, you have a problem and should probably think that through. On the other hand, JJB, just cuz you'd like/need scientific evidence to "prove" scripture and don't know of any, don't state as fact that there isn't any, at least not when that's not really related to the original post. For instance, there actually are secular historical accounts of Jesus as a miracle worker, but I won't get into it here. Anywho, like em or not, Jews for Jesus are hardcore and I'd like to see some people start actually debating them instead of bad-mouthing them. And this is coming from a conservative Catholic who's intimidated by cultish protestants. Peace.

Posted by: Matt | February 10, 2005 2:33 PM

How do you feel?

Feel free to share your feelings about Jews for Jesus invade Washington. Please stick to the theme of the entry. Disagreement is fine. Homophobia, racism, and kindred expressions of hatred will be deleted. This site is one of my hobbies. I genuinely enjoy hearing from people and hate moderating or killing comments. Forthright disagreement is fine as long as it is civil.
My thanks,
Richard

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