The Seven Noachide Commandments
Dec. 15th, 2008 07:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
twirlgrrlThere is so much to learn in the world.
I am looking at the Seven Noachide Commandments. I didn't know that one could be a Righteous Gentile. This concept is exciting to me, although I'm amused at myself for being excited. I would be delighted to more formally identity as an ally to Judaism. Here's what the Wikipedia entry says:
"According to Judaism any non-Jew who lives according to these laws is regarded as a Righteous Gentile and is assured of a place in the world to come (Olam Haba), the Jewish concept of heaven. Adherents are often called "B'nei Noah" (Children of Noah) or "Noahides" and may often network in Jewish synagogues."
When I read that, I was like WOO HOO!!
I've always felt an affinity for Judaism, something that is built into my particular little corner of Christianity. Of course, Christianity descended from Judaism, but in my case there are more ties between the two than usual. For instance, the "Seventh-day" in Seventh-day Adventist refers to the fact that I worship on Saturday, instead of Sunday like most Christians, and the Sabbath goes from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. We don't worship at church the entire time; the gist of Sabbath observance for SDAs has to do with focusing on our relationship with God rather than working. We don't have a raft of specific laws about it, but the Ten Commandments essentially say "don't work," so it's like a weekly holiday. It's a really nice way to live, and although it's hard for me to enforce for myself it's certainly a goal of mine.
Another thing is the dietary customs of the SDA church have a lot of overlap with Judaism. Many Adventists are vegetarian, which is why I grew up eating so much yummy fake meat, and why my church started the company that became Morningstar Farms (mmmm, Grillers!) But even those who do eat meat generally follow the rules in Leviticus 11, which means we don't eat pork, shellfish, or any other treif. Again, here I have a hard time enforcing this for myself because I love bacon, but it's carcinogenic anyway so my goal is to cut it out completely... someday! I've never even tried shrimp, lobster, rabbit, snails, horse, and hey, did you know it's illegal to eat horse in California? The more you know! Of course, these dietary guidelines are not the same as eating kosher, and they are only guidelines, not a get-into-heaven-free card. But hopefully you're starting to see where my affinity for Judaism originates.
Anyway, it turns out that these two parallels have nothing to do with the Seven Noachide Commandments, so even if I get better at Sabbath observance and bacon-shunning I will not be a more Righteous Gentile. Here are the (abbreviated) Seven Noachide Commandments:
1. Prohibition of Idolatry: You shall not have any idols before God.
2. Prohibition of Murder: You shall not murder. (Genesis 9:6)
3. Prohibition of Theft: You shall not steal.
4. Prohibition of Sexual Promiscuity: You shall not commit adultery.
5. Prohibition of Blasphemy: You shall not blaspheme God's name.
6. Dietary Law: Do not eat flesh taken from an animal while it is still alive. (Genesis 9:4)
7. Requirement to have just Laws: You shall set up an effective judiciary to enforce the preceding six laws fairly.
When I read these, I thought about my personal religious practices and how they compare to this particular set of laws. So this post covers my thoughts on my own practice. This is not meant as a rebuke to those who follow different paths. This is not meant as a self-righteous rant. This is just me thinking aloud about my own path and sharing my thoughts with anyone who wants to read them. I welcome discussion on these topics--really! But please know that I don't expect anyone here to agree with me. I'm just, you know, sharing. :)
All of these are familiar to me except for #7. I guess in order to meet that one you'd have to be a member of a country with certain laws (no separation of church and state there!) or belong to a religious body or other group with enforcement powers. I guess my church membership counts; although they don't technically "enforce" any of these, I think that open flaunting of these commandments (they're all in the Ten Commandments except #6 and #7) would result in some sort of counseling from my church leaders or something.
Honestly, I really suck at #5. Those of you who know me in real life already know that I have no problem with pottymouth; I cuss like a sailor. But I do intend to completely cut out actual blasphemy, which to me is saying "God" or "Jesus" as casual exclamations rather than invocations. Evan disagrees with me on the nature of blasphemy--he thinks that God's name is actually closer to Yahweh so saying "God" is A-OK, but that's Evan. Boy, is that Evan! Anyway, I'm trying to be more conscious about this, and in instances when I'd write "OMG" I'd generally say "oh my goodness" or something like that. Which is debatably a pathetic semantic dodge. But anyway. This is something I care about.
I'm pretty sure I have the other ones covered, including #6--this isn't something that's part of our disgusting and reprehensible factory farming practices, is it? I know some of you are highly educated on matters of factory farming, so I'm wincing as I ask the question, knowing I might get an answer. Please remember that I only eat beef, chicken, turkey, and fish with scales that aren't bottom-feeders. (And bacon.)
I know what you're thinking... at least some of you. It turns out the definition of adultery, at least according to this Wikipedia entry, is this:
"No adultery (defined only as a married woman having sex with someone other than her husband) (Genesis 20:3)"
There are other points to the sexual promiscuity law, again according to Wikipedia, but since I don't get down with my sister or my animals and I'm not a dude there's not much for me to personally worry about in this context.
OK, those are my thoughts for the day on becoming a Righteous Gentile. Some of you know what brought this up for me, and all I have to say about that is that prayers are going up constantly and I hope that faith is a great comfort.
I am looking at the Seven Noachide Commandments. I didn't know that one could be a Righteous Gentile. This concept is exciting to me, although I'm amused at myself for being excited. I would be delighted to more formally identity as an ally to Judaism. Here's what the Wikipedia entry says:
"According to Judaism any non-Jew who lives according to these laws is regarded as a Righteous Gentile and is assured of a place in the world to come (Olam Haba), the Jewish concept of heaven. Adherents are often called "B'nei Noah" (Children of Noah) or "Noahides" and may often network in Jewish synagogues."
When I read that, I was like WOO HOO!!
I've always felt an affinity for Judaism, something that is built into my particular little corner of Christianity. Of course, Christianity descended from Judaism, but in my case there are more ties between the two than usual. For instance, the "Seventh-day" in Seventh-day Adventist refers to the fact that I worship on Saturday, instead of Sunday like most Christians, and the Sabbath goes from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. We don't worship at church the entire time; the gist of Sabbath observance for SDAs has to do with focusing on our relationship with God rather than working. We don't have a raft of specific laws about it, but the Ten Commandments essentially say "don't work," so it's like a weekly holiday. It's a really nice way to live, and although it's hard for me to enforce for myself it's certainly a goal of mine.
Another thing is the dietary customs of the SDA church have a lot of overlap with Judaism. Many Adventists are vegetarian, which is why I grew up eating so much yummy fake meat, and why my church started the company that became Morningstar Farms (mmmm, Grillers!) But even those who do eat meat generally follow the rules in Leviticus 11, which means we don't eat pork, shellfish, or any other treif. Again, here I have a hard time enforcing this for myself because I love bacon, but it's carcinogenic anyway so my goal is to cut it out completely... someday! I've never even tried shrimp, lobster, rabbit, snails, horse, and hey, did you know it's illegal to eat horse in California? The more you know! Of course, these dietary guidelines are not the same as eating kosher, and they are only guidelines, not a get-into-heaven-free card. But hopefully you're starting to see where my affinity for Judaism originates.
Anyway, it turns out that these two parallels have nothing to do with the Seven Noachide Commandments, so even if I get better at Sabbath observance and bacon-shunning I will not be a more Righteous Gentile. Here are the (abbreviated) Seven Noachide Commandments:
1. Prohibition of Idolatry: You shall not have any idols before God.
2. Prohibition of Murder: You shall not murder. (Genesis 9:6)
3. Prohibition of Theft: You shall not steal.
4. Prohibition of Sexual Promiscuity: You shall not commit adultery.
5. Prohibition of Blasphemy: You shall not blaspheme God's name.
6. Dietary Law: Do not eat flesh taken from an animal while it is still alive. (Genesis 9:4)
7. Requirement to have just Laws: You shall set up an effective judiciary to enforce the preceding six laws fairly.
When I read these, I thought about my personal religious practices and how they compare to this particular set of laws. So this post covers my thoughts on my own practice. This is not meant as a rebuke to those who follow different paths. This is not meant as a self-righteous rant. This is just me thinking aloud about my own path and sharing my thoughts with anyone who wants to read them. I welcome discussion on these topics--really! But please know that I don't expect anyone here to agree with me. I'm just, you know, sharing. :)
All of these are familiar to me except for #7. I guess in order to meet that one you'd have to be a member of a country with certain laws (no separation of church and state there!) or belong to a religious body or other group with enforcement powers. I guess my church membership counts; although they don't technically "enforce" any of these, I think that open flaunting of these commandments (they're all in the Ten Commandments except #6 and #7) would result in some sort of counseling from my church leaders or something.
Honestly, I really suck at #5. Those of you who know me in real life already know that I have no problem with pottymouth; I cuss like a sailor. But I do intend to completely cut out actual blasphemy, which to me is saying "God" or "Jesus" as casual exclamations rather than invocations. Evan disagrees with me on the nature of blasphemy--he thinks that God's name is actually closer to Yahweh so saying "God" is A-OK, but that's Evan. Boy, is that Evan! Anyway, I'm trying to be more conscious about this, and in instances when I'd write "OMG" I'd generally say "oh my goodness" or something like that. Which is debatably a pathetic semantic dodge. But anyway. This is something I care about.
I'm pretty sure I have the other ones covered, including #6--this isn't something that's part of our disgusting and reprehensible factory farming practices, is it? I know some of you are highly educated on matters of factory farming, so I'm wincing as I ask the question, knowing I might get an answer. Please remember that I only eat beef, chicken, turkey, and fish with scales that aren't bottom-feeders. (And bacon.)
I know what you're thinking... at least some of you. It turns out the definition of adultery, at least according to this Wikipedia entry, is this:
"No adultery (defined only as a married woman having sex with someone other than her husband) (Genesis 20:3)"
There are other points to the sexual promiscuity law, again according to Wikipedia, but since I don't get down with my sister or my animals and I'm not a dude there's not much for me to personally worry about in this context.
OK, those are my thoughts for the day on becoming a Righteous Gentile. Some of you know what brought this up for me, and all I have to say about that is that prayers are going up constantly and I hope that faith is a great comfort.
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no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 03:38 pm (UTC)I concluded that most of the commandments were doable. I could work on 5 and do some research on 6. The version of the adultery rule I saw prohibited all kinds of things I can't promise not to do, however. The one in wikipedia is easier.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 04:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 09:27 pm (UTC)The Noachide laws are really big in the Chabad community, but not so big in the rest of the Jewish community (I would be BEYOND shocked if anyone in M's family even knew that they existed). I feel they're mostly just common sense/ ethical obligations, but with a monotheistic twist that I do not personally feel is necessary for people who are not Jews (I do not have a problem with paganism).
I will be taking on a new mitzvah in honor of Yael's request, but our Jewish observances are really different things... no matter. Blaspheme is an interesting and difficult one for me, as well, maybe that should be my new mitzvah! (Does saying "Jebus" count? I don't think so, personally... But I do say "G-d damn it!" a lot, which I consider blasphemous. Oh I have been saying it since I was like 2, tho, so it will be DIFFICULT to stop saying it!)
We can be blasphemy stop-saying buddies.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 09:44 pm (UTC)The blasphemy you quote is a favorite of mine, too, but I've been trying to scrub it completely. I get itchy about Jesus and things that sound like Jesus, but I'm a Christian, so that's blasphemy to me but I wouldn't expect that it would be considered so to a Jew. I don't know. And then there's the ubiquitous OMG! I'm totally down with being blasphemy-ending buddies. I'm sure this discussion will renew my consciousness about it. Yay!
no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 04:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 04:46 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 06:29 pm (UTC)4 i would have to do more research on. i have no interest in joining a religious organization although we will be socializing with a group of gay christian parents through a MCC meetup.
such a terrible tragedy. they have been in my thoughts since i first read of it yesterday.
no subject
Date: 2008-12-15 09:48 pm (UTC)It is so sad. Just awful. I am so glad they have their faith to get them through. I know it's the only thing that got my mom through some really awful things in her life. She is my role model for surviving tragedy, that's for sure!
no subject
Date: 2008-12-16 07:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-16 07:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-12-17 04:40 pm (UTC)