Saturday, April 2, 2016

Fact-Checking Reza Aslan 1: "Love Your Neighbor as Yourself"

In his book Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, creative writing professor Reza Aslan claims that the Jewish command to "Love your neighbor as yourself" only applied to one's fellow Jews, and that Jews were ordered to expel foreigners from the land of Israel. Aslan writes:
When it came to the heart and soul of the Jewish faith—the Law of Moses—Jesus was adamant that his mission was not to abolish the law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). That law made a clear distinction between relations among Jews and relations between Jews and foreigners. The oft-repeated commandment to "love your neighbor as yourself" was not Jesus’s invention. It comes directly from the Torah and is meant to be applied strictly in the context of internal relations within Israel. The verse in question reads: "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18). To the Israelites, as well as to Jesus's community in first-century Palestine, "neighbor" meant one’s fellow Jews, whether friend or foe. With regard to the treatment of foreigners and outsiders, oppressors and occupiers, however, the Torah could not be clearer: "You shall drive them out before you. You shall make no covenant with them and their gods. They shall not live in your land" (Exodus 23:31-33).
But what happens when we go to the chapters Reza quotes and find them saying the exact opposite of what he claims?

14 comments:

Unknown said...

What a strange thesis about the origins of the NT!If the disciples made up those passages of Jesus' teaching to avoid being killed as Jesus was they obviously picked the wrong strategy as a fair few of them went to their deaths in the arena...peacefully.

TheBurwellFamilyTravels said...

In my expereinces with muslsims it has become shockingly apparent that they would much rather be identified as dishonest than ignorant, though they are often both. When muslims use a verse from the Bible I often ask them if they read the entire chapter and they almost always answer in the affirmative and oftern claim to have thoroughly studied or read the entire Bible. When I expose them as liars with regard to this claim they are incredibly unembarrassed, and simply oersistin the claim. The muslim's greatest handicap is not ignorance or lack of intelligence, it is his affinity for dishonesty, his disregard for honesty and integrity. They have not the love of truth abiding in them.

Unknown said...

You made a very good video. One thing that comes to mind is the parable of the Good Samaritan, which was used in answer to the question "Who is my neighbour?" I imagine Aslan will say that this parable was inserted into the text by that horrible St Paul, that distorter of the Gospel. I think you were right; Aslan wants to put Christ in a bad light and Mohammed in a good, reversing the characters of the two, so that his prophet looks even more like the Messiah who he wanted to be.

Unknown said...

aslan was a christian, why he became a muslim...?
why so many christian became muslim...?

susanne-truthlover said...

Yet another claimed expert on Christianity taking the Holy Bible verses out of context...
God exposes the things that are in darkness...
Thank you for these exposes.

Peace & blessings in our Messiah Jesus.

Keith said...

I wonder where Reza is hiding his face now.

Keith said...

Hezkiel, I think Reza is a confused individual, maybe something like Paul Williams. He was Muslim first, then Christian, then Muslim again. He could be Buddhist now, you never know.


"Why so many Christians become Muslims?"

1. There are also many Muslims who become Christians, and this is more significant because Christianity do not kill its "apostates", but Islam does.

2. Islam forces the spouse of the Muslim in many Muslim majority countries to convert to Islam before marrying the Muslim. Then it forces the children from that marriage to be Muslim too.

3. The Western Left, perhaps due to Arab oil money, has decided to censor much discussion or exposure of the truth about Islam.

So why do YOU think Aslan reverted to Islam? Because Islam taught the truth? Apparently from Aslan's behaviour, it certainly doesn't (Matthew 7:16).

Unknown said...

Can you please write a review of this book if you havent already

http://www.amazon.com/Bible-Doesnt-That-Mistranslations-Misunderstandings/dp/1250059488

I Can see it being the next bart ehrman type book to use in debates

Naram-Sin said...

There is a third possibility, David, Reza could be both ignorant and a liar.

Foreigners were common among the ancient Israelites and they could obtain high standing. For example, Uriah the Hittite. He was an officer in the army with enough prestige to have a house next to David's palace and be personally known . And when David arranged his death so he could have Uriah's wife, Nathan confronted David with the crime; both he and all of Israel were punished for it. All for a Hittite.

Auke Feitsma said...

When you are against Christ, you are not fore Him. Against Christ = anti-christ?

Unknown said...

To David Woods. Name is J.R., I ran into you researching the Koran. I think you are on to something big, well needed in our time. Your attack on 20/20 has really showed forth your wisdom about the errors in Islam.

David- I beg you do not stop, keep going- tell us about some more Errors and Contradictions in the Koran. Although me and you do not agree on the New Testament- you still can aware the Atheist, Agnostic, along with Christians and Muslim. I loved how you left your faith out of your findings and answers- very SOLID information.

I think you should write a book about Islam- not Evil. Do it for our country David- we need your in-site on the Koran and Islam at this time. More videos- nailing the Koran to the wall !

Thought Criminal said...

Reza is doing the devil's work.

Unknown said...

I am an Atheist and I share David Woods thoughts about Islam. I ran into David during one of my researches. Even though me and David do not agree on a lot of topics, we do agree about the Koran. I wanted to show my support towards David and his extensive study about Islam.

I would like to ask David to please go back into his study- and make us another detailed video about the error in the Koran. David if you so happen to read this post- PLEASE do this, we as a Country (not religion) need you at this time. You know as well as me we are in big trouble- you see it, I see it, but many has no clue. Not many researchers, teachers, Muslim or Christian has this kind of knowledge that you contain about Islam and the Koran. You have and are opening up some eyes- we want more..

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