What do you Athiests think about Amalek? (Egyptian, myth, atheist)
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Are you all familiar with the biblical figure of Amalek? He was the flagship figure for worldwide athiesm in the time of Moses. It's a timely subject for us to discuss, with the Jewish holiday of Purim coming this week - a holiday where we Jews celebrate the fact that Amalek's decendants (Haman and the Persians) tried to annihilate the Jewish people, but the Jews ultimately overcame.
So back to Amalek. His big "story" in the bible is that after the Jewish nation left Egypt and immediately after the splitting of the Sea of Reeds and the drowning of the Egyptians, it was clear in the world at that time that there was indeed a G-d who ruled the world. All the nations of the world trembled and like it or not, recognized this One G-d. All except one nation - the nation of Amalek (a decendant of Jacob's brother, Esau).
After the open miracle of the splitting of the sea, Amalek took it upon themselves to march across the dangerous and giant desert of Arabia in order to attack the Jews. One might understand why the Philistines would attack the wandering Jewish nation, as the Philistine's land stood in the way of the Jews arrival in the land of Israel (Canaan). One might also understand why the Moabites would refuse the Jews passage through their land for the same reason. But Amalek?
Their only goal was to declare that this G-d who sent the Jews on their current walkabout did not in fact exist. They were the world's first real Athiests. Not only did they not believe in any gods, they marched across a desert in order to make this point to the whole world. Of course, G-d helped the weary Jews dispatch them quickly. Made no sense - the Jews had been slaves a matter of days previously, but with G-d's assistance, they quickly defeated Amalek.
The Jews have a Torah-mitzvah to destroy Amalek anywhere and everywhere we find them. Stamp them out. In today's times, we don't know who Amalek is anymore, and I'm not saying today's athiests are Amalek (G-d forbid, as Jews make up one of the largest contingents of Athiests in the world today). But I'm curious if the Athiests at C-D are aware of who Amalek is, and if you feel any special connection? (yes, I know you think it's all a myth - but do you feel any connection to the myth?)
Hadn't heard this story. I feel no special connection to the myth. I'm not entirely certain what connection you'd expect atheists to feel to the myth.
I read a story this morning that a large Athiest group (run by a Yid named David Silverman, I think his name is) has purchased several billboards in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, printed in Hebrew, that declare there is no G-d. (The irony being that the Jewish residents of Williamsburg are mostly Chasidic, and mostly speak Yiddush, not Hebrew)
We are currently in the Hebrew month of Adar, where we Jews celebrate the triumph over Amalek and godlessness. It's our belief that as we prepare to do battle with Amalek (whether in person, or as Pamela points out against the memory of), the forces of Amalek make more and more noise. With the Purim story, Haman the Amalekite secured the approval of the Persian King Achashveros to destroy the world's entire population of Jewery. And the non-Amalekite (and non-Jewish) nations of the world did not speak up in protest. It was only with the miraculous intervention of Hashem did the Jews rise up and prevent this genocide. If you've ever heard of Queen Esther (no, not Madonna the pop artist), this is her story.
We Jews are amazed at the similarity to our times. We have a Persian (Akmadenejab) threatening to wipe out world Jewery, while the nations of the world stand by idely secretly hoping for Persian success. But the current versian of Persians will make the same mistake Haman and Achashveros made - miscalculting G-d's presence and support of the Jewish people.
We Jews are amazed at the similarity to our times. We have a Persian (Akmadenejab) threatening to wipe out world Jewery, while the nations of the world stand by idely secretly hoping for Persian success. But the current versian of Persians will make the same mistake Haman and Achashveros made - miscalculting G-d's presence and support of the Jewish people.
Do you actually believe this? That the world is secretly rooting for Iran to wipe out all the Jews in the world? And I thought Christians had a persecution complex...Perhaps all religions do.
But I'm curious if the Athiests at C-D are aware of who Amalek is, and if you feel any special connection? (yes, I know you think it's all a myth - but do you feel any connection to the myth?)
1. Never heard the story before today.
2. What do I think? It's all made up, just like the story of the Israelites being in Egypt.
3. If there was such a person there is no reason that any atheist would feel any connection to him. You may not have noticed this, but atheists don't going around trying to kill or wage war on religious believers to prove there is no god.
You may not have noticed this, but atheists don't going around trying to kill or wage war on religious believers to prove there is no god.
Any idea why there are currently billboards in NY claiming there is no G-d, and these billboards are in Hebrew (clearly to target the Jews living there)?
I read a story this morning that a large Athiest group (run by a Yid named David Silverman, I think his name is) has purchased several billboards in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, printed in Hebrew, that declare there is no G-d. (The irony being that the Jewish residents of Williamsburg are mostly Chasidic, and mostly speak Yiddush, not Hebrew)
Regardless of what the Hasidic Jews speak, they undoubtedly read Hebrew since it is the language of the Temple.
Do you actually believe this? That the world is secretly rooting for Iran to wipe out all the Jews in the world? And I thought Christians had a persecution complex...Perhaps all religions do.
OK, I admit that was strong language. Only some people feel this way - not all.
OK, I admit that was strong language. Only some people feel this way - not all.
Obviously you are one of them, but I think you are very wrong...The only place I hear stuff like that is from radical Muslims, and some extreme supremacist groups, so relax, most of us love you.
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