Comments on: Strange and Curious Sects: Chabad Messianism http://www.daylightatheism.org/2010/02/strange-and-curious-sects-viii.html NIGHTTIME IS FOR DREAMING. DAYLIGHT IS FOR ACTION. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:09:52 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Max Kohanzad http://www.daylightatheism.org/2010/02/strange-and-curious-sects-viii.html#comment-67759 Max Kohanzad Fri, 29 Jul 2011 15:26:50 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1520#comment-67759 If you're interested in a more detailed exploration of Lubavitch Messianism - please read my PhD Thesis on the subject: The Messianic Doctrine of the Lubavitcher Rebbe http://www.lulu.com/product/file-download/the-messianic-doctrine-of-the-lubavitcher-rebbe/1163831 (it's free) Peace Max If you're interested in a more detailed exploration of Lubavitch Messianism - please read my PhD Thesis on the subject:

The Messianic Doctrine of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

http://www.lulu.com/product/file-download/the-messianic-doctrine-of-the-lubavitcher-rebbe/1163831

(it's free)

Peace

Max

]]> By: Maynard http://www.daylightatheism.org/2010/02/strange-and-curious-sects-viii.html#comment-58583 Maynard Fri, 06 Aug 2010 02:38:16 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1520#comment-58583 Hello. Hello.

]]> By: hindi gal http://www.daylightatheism.org/2010/02/strange-and-curious-sects-viii.html#comment-58565 hindi gal Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:32:06 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1520#comment-58565 Well, say hello to special kind of crazy! Well, say hello to special kind of crazy!

]]> By: Tommykey http://www.daylightatheism.org/2010/02/strange-and-curious-sects-viii.html#comment-54912 Tommykey Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:30:42 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1520#comment-54912 It takes a special kind of crazy to believe that in a universe filled with billions of galaxies, that what happens in a small patch of land in the Middle East is a matter of cosmic importance. It takes a special kind of crazy to believe that in a universe filled with billions of galaxies, that what happens in a small patch of land in the Middle East is a matter of cosmic importance.

]]> By: Ebonmuse http://www.daylightatheism.org/2010/02/strange-and-curious-sects-viii.html#comment-54902 Ebonmuse Wed, 17 Feb 2010 01:43:07 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1520#comment-54902 For those of you who are interested, I've been exchanging e-mails with the Shlichus Network people trying to pin down exactly what they believe about this guy, and I've gotten a few answers. First: How can he fulfill his messiahly duties if he's dead? <blockquote> Judaism gives place for the Messiah to come, conceal himself and then reveal himself again (finally). (Rashi, Book of Daniel). The mystics (Rabbi Isaac Luria) say that the Messiah will enter the Garden of Eden (where dead people usually enter) alive. Meaning that there is a possibility for there to be a situation where it looks like the Messiah died however he is still qualified to be the Messiah. Many people think that this is a Christian concept (Second coming, revelation), however this is a Jewish concept, just like people think that the concept of Messiah is Christian concept when in fact it is totally a Jewish concept. </blockquote> And when I asked the natural follow-up question of when they believe this will occur: <blockquote> We are hoping any and every moment. </blockquote> So, Jewish messiah second coming = Real Soon Now. Where have I heard this before? For those of you who are interested, I've been exchanging e-mails with the Shlichus Network people trying to pin down exactly what they believe about this guy, and I've gotten a few answers.

First: How can he fulfill his messiahly duties if he's dead?

Judaism gives place for the Messiah to come, conceal himself and then reveal himself again (finally). (Rashi, Book of Daniel).

The mystics (Rabbi Isaac Luria) say that the Messiah will enter the Garden of Eden (where dead people usually enter) alive.

Meaning that there is a possibility for there to be a situation where it looks like the Messiah died however he is still qualified to be the Messiah.

Many people think that this is a Christian concept (Second coming, revelation), however this is a Jewish concept, just like people think that the concept of Messiah is Christian concept when in fact it is totally a Jewish concept.

And when I asked the natural follow-up question of when they believe this will occur:

We are hoping any and every moment.

So, Jewish messiah second coming = Real Soon Now. Where have I heard this before?

]]> By: Dov http://www.daylightatheism.org/2010/02/strange-and-curious-sects-viii.html#comment-54605 Dov Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:58:59 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1520#comment-54605 "I looked on Chabad World, the website set up by Schneerson's followers, for an explanation of how they reconcile the fact of his death with their belief in him as Moshiach. I didn't find one" Look online, you can find many sources! "I looked on Chabad World, the website set up by Schneerson's followers, for an explanation of how they reconcile the fact of his death with their belief in him as Moshiach. I didn't find one"

Look online, you can find many sources!

]]> By: Asi http://www.daylightatheism.org/2010/02/strange-and-curious-sects-viii.html#comment-54549 Asi Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:37:46 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1520#comment-54549 All right, look- I'm Jewish. The thing I want you people to know is that probably only about 16% of Jews are in this sect. Secondly, ALL of the people of this sect that I know do not believe he's actually alive. Thirdly, R' Shneerson was not nudgenudgewinkwink about being the Messiah. He never hinted that he was and nobody even said he was until very late in his life. Fourth(ly), I have heard that he got sick (I think Alzheimer's) before his death and that people began to take advantage of him. (If you read the Chronicles of Narnia then this would compare to when Shift the Ape dressed up Puzzle the donkey in a lionskin and pretended he was Aslan to get what he wanted. If not, sorry with wasting your time with the examples- but read it, it's good.) All right, look- I'm Jewish. The thing I want you people to know is that probably only about 16% of Jews are in this sect. Secondly, ALL of the people of this sect that I know do not believe he's actually alive. Thirdly, R' Shneerson was not nudgenudgewinkwink about being the Messiah. He never hinted that he was and nobody even said he was until very late in his life. Fourth(ly), I have heard that he got sick (I think Alzheimer's) before his death and that people began to take advantage of him. (If you read the Chronicles of Narnia then this would compare to when Shift the Ape dressed up Puzzle the donkey in a lionskin and pretended he was Aslan to get what he wanted. If not, sorry with wasting your time with the examples- but read it, it's good.)

]]> By: Dave Wyman http://www.daylightatheism.org/2010/02/strange-and-curious-sects-viii.html#comment-54542 Dave Wyman Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:53:12 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1520#comment-54542 "the rest of the universe with its billions of stars creates the precise conditions that make human existence possible" Apparently there's no way a god can create human life without throwing in an entire, interconnected universe, too. It's good to know the G*d under discussion needs to follow certain rules, too, existing with what must be all sorts of vexing contradictions. "the rest of the universe with its billions of stars creates the precise conditions that make human existence possible"

Apparently there's no way a god can create human life without throwing in an entire, interconnected universe, too. It's good to know the G*d under discussion needs to follow certain rules, too, existing with what must be all sorts of vexing contradictions.

]]> By: Jeff Eyges http://www.daylightatheism.org/2010/02/strange-and-curious-sects-viii.html#comment-54537 Jeff Eyges Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:34:13 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1520#comment-54537 <i>When discussing Christian exclusivity with True Christians(tm), it is helpful to have other groups to point to as equally exclusive and press for an answer to "why you and not them?"</i> Well, in fairness, they don't proselytize non-Jews. Many (prob. most) of them believe all Jews should be following their path, but they don't require it of gentiles. Also, as was pointed out, those who believe outright that the Rebbe was the Messiah - the "Meshiachists" - are a subset of the group, although I think many (again, prob. most) suspect he was. When discussing Christian exclusivity with True Christians(tm), it is helpful to have other groups to point to as equally exclusive and press for an answer to "why you and not them?"

Well, in fairness, they don't proselytize non-Jews. Many (prob. most) of them believe all Jews should be following their path, but they don't require it of gentiles.

Also, as was pointed out, those who believe outright that the Rebbe was the Messiah - the "Meshiachists" - are a subset of the group, although I think many (again, prob. most) suspect he was.

]]> By: ethinethin http://www.daylightatheism.org/2010/02/strange-and-curious-sects-viii.html#comment-54535 ethinethin Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:11:52 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1520#comment-54535 <blockquote>some insist that he's not actually dead but is merely hidden, biding his time to return.</blockquote> Oh god! He's Lord Voldemort!

some insist that he's not actually dead but is merely hidden, biding his time to return.

Oh god! He's Lord Voldemort!

]]> By: Rick M http://www.daylightatheism.org/2010/02/strange-and-curious-sects-viii.html#comment-54533 Rick M Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:50:22 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1520#comment-54533 Geez, another "my way or the highway" group. They do serve a purpose however. When discussing Christian exclusivity with True Christians(tm), it is helpful to have other groups to point to as equally exclusive and press for an answer to "why you and not them?" Geez, another "my way or the highway" group. They do serve a purpose however. When discussing Christian exclusivity with True Christians(tm), it is helpful to have other groups to point to as equally exclusive and press for an answer to "why you and not them?"

]]> By: Ritchie http://www.daylightatheism.org/2010/02/strange-and-curious-sects-viii.html#comment-54531 Ritchie Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:56:11 +0000 http://www.daylightatheism.org/?p=1520#comment-54531 Oro - Share it anyway... :D Oro -

Share it anyway... :D

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