Terrorists, Spirals, Abraham, the Future

I don't like to have to say this, but dialog is good. Honesty is good. Anyone who tries to stifle this endeavor by name calling tactics are not genuine in their care. Writing a critical post about some of the goings on by terrorists or even Islam itself is not islamophobic -but folks will be quick to this first line of defense. To shut the mouth of anyone who dares speak out. Its an intimidation tactic.

Having said that, I do have concerns about Islam. About Muslims. About terrorists. I don't read mainstream news so much, but the news I do read, I see a pattern. Any body who's honest with themselves will see a pattern.

At the same time, alot of the tenants of Islam are practically the same as in Judaism. Which confounds me -as I said before- as to why are the endings different?

For instance, here is a lady talking about the need to do away with sharia courts and why:



I hear her. At the same time, in Judaism, when someone wants to divorce they also need civil divorce papers as well as rabbinical divorce papers (called a "get"). So, I appreciate the need for these courts, otherwise no one can divorce properly and those who just divorce with the civil papers and then remarry are stigmatized for all times (their children are mamzerim).

But at the same time I hear her: Many of the Imams are using this reasoning as something to hide behind and bring in a slew of other laws that are not compatible with the British law such as polygamy. (Again, polygamy in theory is permitted in Jewish law, its just not practiced so much -especially after a group of rabbis put a 1000 year ban on it.)



In a way the insurge of violence and fear etc by mostly Arab Muslim terrorists around the world brings a new level of spirituality in the world scene. The divide is no longer black folks vs white folks. Its more ideologies. Ideologies are more mind consciousness. More spiritual.

Its almost like a re-enactment of the Noah story. Due to man's many sins and lack of remorse, the floodgates were opened and the world was washed clean. The few survivors were shown the rainbow in the sky: a sign that God would not destroy the world by flood waters again. Water, the flood, represented chessed/kindness. The flood was so to speak a kindness done to the world. A kindness with strict judgement inside it. The rays of the sun are symbols of strict judgement. It beats down on any creature. It causes them to release heat, gas, fluids, breath, prayer. When God showed Noah that the strict judgement of the rays were now mitigated by the humidity in the sky --thus producing the rainbow-- it was a sign that a balance had been achieved. In response, Noah grows a vineyard. Wine is a symbol of understanding.

One thing I agree with Muslim terrorists is that they are exacting punishment as if God's hand. However, harsh judgement unmitigated by any form of kindness, with no chance of forgiveness, no chance of parole! is too much. No one can live by such severe laws and be happy. And sure enough, many times I see Jews here and Arabs and I can't tell one from the other in looks. The one difference I find is the ease at which a Jew will smile (Druzim also smile pretty readily.)

And therein lies the difference between Noah and Avraham. In the case of Noah, he was okay with the harsh decree of the flood. Yes, he did some half hearted attempt at turning the people from their ways, but for the most part didn't worry. He built his ark and shut the door behind him.

Avraham on the other hand talked prolongedly to God about saving Sodom and Gomorah. What if there were 50 good people? What about 40? 30? 10? He is known as a man of kindness. It is from him that the trait of hospitality is learned. Avraham is practically kindness personified.

Avraham's Kindness

He was so kind, that when he had two very different sons, Ishmael and Isaac, he treated them with the same kindness that he is known for. Sometimes, just giving more love, more kindness is not always what a problem calls for.

I suspect that as a result of Avraham not being a bit harsher -putting more solid boundaries for his kids, and not being more of a disciplinarian- as a result, Ishmael was left wild -as was his nature. He was not taught self control and ran wild. Isaac, I suspect, attempted to compensate for his father's lack of strictness and he became the epitome of strictness, strength, restraint as is noted in many Jewish teachings. He refused to randomly dig out new wells, but preferred to re-open the ones that Avraham had already dug from the past. When faced with the Phillistines who wanted to take his wife Rebecca (Rivka) away, rather than allowing himself the creativity to react differently, he did exactly as he had learned his father do. He said it was his sister, etc.

As a result, one son was unbound. The other overcompensated on the boundaries.

Ishmael is said to be one of the forefather of the Arab world.
Isaac is said to be one of the forefather of the Jewish world.

The Future

Now, the descendants of Ishmael, the Arab world are putting restrictions on themselves. Sharia-Islamic law. Even physical restrictions if needs be -such as the burka. It is meant to promote modesty in women. Uprighteousness in men. A society above lusts (immorality, drunkeness, etc).

This I can understand.

But when this new system was rejected by the nearby Jewish groups who already had a system of their own, all anger and rage was unleashed. Unbound once again. All of the 800 men in that society was beheaded, the women raped, the village plundered. Its as if, the law itself was good, but was unable to be sustained by a group of people who have been unbound for so many generations.

But the struggle continues. Add to it those Imams and men who choose to corrupt the whole thing and you get what we have today:

The re-enactment of the flood.

After years of neglecting the troubles in various African countries. Looking the other way during atrocities occurring in lands that we...don't really care about. After years of greedily seeking out profit for profit's sake, discrimination, lack of justice, persecution, etc. The flood has returned.

However, instead of packaging this flood with water, instead its by the flood of the Ishmaelite sword. How is this stemming from kindness? In sharia, there seems to be no forgiveness. Someone does a crime, they are made to pay for it completely. Thus, when they go to the afterlife, the slate is clean. Everything is paid for. Its a kindness that encircles strict judgement.

Now how should we react to this influx? This flood?

To answer that can we look first at the spiral that I am trying to display? Great influx from a source of chessed -with strict judgement encased in it; The reaction-either becoming unbound or overcompensating on the boundaries; cleansing process.

Spiral 1
Great influx (encased harsh judgement): The Flood (w/punity)
reaction: Noah going to the ark and shutting the door. People overwhelmed by water.
cleansing: Noah starts anew. Earth is clean.

spiral2
Great influx (w/harsh judgement encased in it): Abraham (w/seed of Isaac)
Reaction: Isaac is born. Ishmael overwhelmed with his own wild self.
Cleansing: Isaac gives birth to Jaacob (& Esau). Ishmael is out of the picture (temporarily -until Esau brings him back).

spiral 3
Great influx (w/harsh judgement encased in it): Ishmaelite/Edomite terrorists
Reaction: People reflect and repent; And fight back. People get overwhelmed. Overtaken.
Cleansing: Truth & beauty is extracted. People are killed.

So to answer the question of how should we react to this terrorists influx. I say, listen to what they are accusing people of. Find that itty bitty kernel of truth to it. Repent. And blow the terrorists out of our earth! And to make this the last and final blow to this spiral, we ought to be mindful that an "Esau" does not get born from our efforts. Esau represents emotional reactions. When he gave up his birthright, its as if he -the emotional reaction- had no purpose. Thus it was taken by and attached to Ishmael. Thus, none of our emotional reaction to the Truth must be wasted. None of our emotional reaction to the truth should be purposeless. Everything should be used.