Why is it that about once a month I find myself defending my religion against hate and bias?

I haven't even read your additional details yet, or other answers..but I gotta tell ya..ONCE a MONTH?? You must not spend much time in R&S because it's a dozens of times a day occurrence to find "questions" that are little more than not-so-thinly-veiled antisemitic propagandizing.

I sometimes have to simply take a break from reading here, or I start thinking that it's 1920's Europe all over again.

So now..rather than focus on all the hate..on Shavuot..the eve we celebrate the GIFT of Torah that makes us who we are as Jews..I'll simply close by saying...

Chag Sameach!

Now I'm going to go read some Torah and eat some cheesecake before bed. :)

Am Yisrael Chai!

EDIT: Now I read your additional details! I was in 3rd grade in 1967..AFTER it was supposed to be illegal to have "Prayer in school". Our school day started with a child pulling a tiny scroll ( KJV Bible verse) from a box and reading it, then leading the class in the Pledge and the National Anthem. Each child had a turn..when it came my turn I was so nervous, hoping I would not be faced with reading something that was from the New Testament..well wouldn't you know it..when it came my turn I picked out a verse that ended "by Jesus Christ, our Lord"

Even at that age I knew I could not say that. I asked the teacher if I could choose another. She said, NO one gets to draw a second time, you read that one. I said I cannot. She asked why. I told her " I am Jewish and we can only pray to God" She asked me to go sit outside on the bench in the hallway..where the "bad kids" sat.

My parents were of a generation that taught children..if your teacher says you did something bad, you take the punishment and don't complain. I took that seriously. I knew that I wasn't doing bad for not violating my faith in God, I figured something must have been bad about the way I said it. I went outside and sat in the hallway. She told me the next day if I could not pray with them to Jesus then I would need to sit out there every morning until after the National Anthem. I did that..for nearly the whole school year..it was a horrible school year for much of it because children also would not play with me "I can't play with you because you're a Jew and Jew's killed Jesus, you're of the Devil your father". I heard that and other antisemitic passages of the NT that year for the first time.

It would have been a very horrible year were it not for the bravery of one girl and her wise parental guidance. Of all faiths, she was a Lutheran ( Martin Luther was definitely a rabid antisemite, but I didn't know this at the time and obviously these Lutherans didn't or chose to ignore that part of Martin Luther's legacy)

I say this because one of the times when I was chased from the "see saw" and told, " You can play on this, You're a Jew and we don't play with you" This little girl, a pretty and popular child..got up and said to all...If you can't play with her I can't play with YOU.

Slowly, other children stopped ostracising me. The teacher still picked at me and it still gave the excuse for the worst of the children of bigots who reflected their parents ignorance to be displayed more rabidly than I felt at any other time until High School at the height of the 70;s "Jesus freaks" craze when I would be accosted entering the school , and sometimes physically held by these high school missionaries who told me I was going to burn in hell.

I was a dumb kid for not telling my parents what my 3rd grade teacher did..until several years later. My Dad once ran into her at a grocery store not long after the girl who stood up for me and I told them about my horrible year because of her..He said a few choice words about her Jew hate and how she shouldn't be a teacher..she denied the whole thing despite having done it in front of a whole classroom, and despite the fact that I sat there every morning outside the classroom watching other children and teachers look at me on that "bad bench"..with glares of disapproval like I must have been a really rotten kid to be excluded every morning!

I said I wasn't going to focus on any hate..but your memory opened up the floodgates of my childhood memories. Now I'm truly going to go and study before I go to bed.

Shalom

I completely agree. I'm not Jewish, but I do know from learning about other religions that most world religions all share some of the same stories and when you think about it, they all believe in the same god and call him by another name. Not everything is the same but we share the same ideas. Some people are just very ignorant and only think their religion is the only true religion. I've known people that believe in their religion just because their parents did and know nothing of other religions and they don't want to waste their time, or they say the Bible tells them it's wrong to learn about other religions. It's rather sad and disappointing.

I seem to always having to defend my religion in some sort or another(I am Roman Catholic).Though in the eyes of Jewish faith we are a cult,I understand the views of Jews,and that it is the foundation of which my religion has come from.

I choose not to answer too many questions on religion,as each person seems to have their own spin on things.

Peace be unto you.

Very well put. I stopped trying to defend my faith a while ago. I think I just don't need to wear it on my sleeve anymore. I have always had personal beliefs about Jewish people being God's chosen people... and my interpretation is in the moral sense. To be moral leaders in society. That is why I was drawn to your post. Wouln't it be wonderful if everyone lived by the Golden Rule? psst I'm not Jewish either. I just don't think we ought to waste time insulting each others belief system.

I have the same problem as a Mormon.

Many people convienently forget their faiths teachings when they wish to belittle another's beliefs. People let the 'natural man' take over and hate anything that is different. It's sad but true.

And amazing in a day of 'political correctness' and 'tolerance' for every immoral, sinful way to live. But if you're religious, watch out, those terms don't apply!

I like your question. It is very major. It can not be answered with one sentence. I was born and raised Catholic, Changed over to Lutheran, Then to Baptist, Then to Pentecostal. now I am NOTHING. Seems that through each phase, I had to become a different person that had to be accepted by the headship. I have not rejected God, and I find myself closer to him at this point now. (funny). I have had many Jewish friends. They have been good examples to me.

I believe it may be like this. When I left the Baptist church, I became an enemy. (funny again).

If you don't have a star on your belly, the star bellied sneeches don't like you. Stay strong!

I do believe that you are entitled to your belielfs.. However so is everyone else... If you put yourself out there on display expect to get hurt.. If you won't to learn by other people's responses don't upset.. Keep in mind that everyone has an opinion and people don't shy away from giving theirs

Wiccans and other Pagans are not likely to BE biased against Judaism as we recognize that not everyone is GOING to believe as we do. On R&S we are actually likely to step in and help defend Jews against hate and bias -- for example, pointing out that Jews would know their own Messiah better than anyone else. That is what the JPA (Jewish-Pagan Alliance) is all about.

p.s. As a Jew, you have an automatic invite to join if you wish to....

Actually, you have mischaracterized pretty much all religions by melting them down to that simple truth. While it's true it's a Jewish/Christian saying, it's not true that it's what Christians believe to be important.

It's like saying "Red means stop and green means go". That may be true but knowing, believing, and practicing that rule does not make you a licensed driver. Similarly, knowing, believing, and practicing the Golden Rule does not make you Jewish, Christian, Muslim, or Wiccan. It might make you a BETTER Jew, Christian, Muslim, or Wiccan (or it might make you worse -- not that familiar with all the ins and outs of religions other than my own) but it doesn't make you a Jew, Christian, Muslim, or Wiccan.

I think you hang around with the wrong people. Or you're too sensitive. Not sure which because I don't know you. Once a month doesn't seem too bad. Hang in there.

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is not a Christian saying as someone told you. They are the words of Jesus Christ - the command He gave. Yes, it is extremely hard for people to understand. A friend once told me that she tries to live by Christian principles yet she has no interest in having Jesus Christ in her life. She was extremely distressed and said this through tears. No one can follow Christian principles while living a life devoid of Christ. Why are you quoting Christ if you are not obeying Him?

William B....."the do unto others quote has no ties with the New Testament in this context"? Then why are you using it - rather, untying it? What are you doing man - editing the words of Jesus Christ now? If you hope for people to treat you fairly and lovingly - understandable - how about starting with your own treatment of Someone else's words?

Why is it that about once a month I find myself......speaking the words of Jesus Christ that He spoke SO clearly to folks that heard Him but still think they can speak better than He? Jews, Christians, Muslims etc.are NOT all believers in the same truth as you state. Where did you get this from? Certainly not from the Torah. Not from the New Testament and certainly not from the Koran. Muslims believe that Jesus was a prophet but not God in the flesh. Christains believe Christ is the second Person of the triune God. These two are diametricaly opposed to oneanother. How do you arrive at your bold conclusion exactly? Of course, as a Jewish person you have been discriminated against. Your own Scriptures say this will happen. Do you not believe them? If not, why the pride in being Jewish? The God of Israel states clearly that He opposes the proud. If I were Jewish, I would be pleased but not proud. How could I be - like it's a personal achievement. To make matters worse, you have the audacity to quote Christ and then ask why "people" not yourself mind you, find it so hard to understand. You honestly don't see the irony here? "Salvation is from the Jews" stated Jesus Christ. Please sit up and take notice. God passionately loves the Hebrew people. He sent the world's Saviour through their line. I was a gentile - the God of Israel foreign to me - yet He threw open the gates of heaven to the gentiles that would believe upon His Son - the Christ of God. He said He has done this to stir up jealousy in the Hebrew people. And why shouldn't He? How much does He desire your love and obedience? Yes, yours. I implore you to please listen to Him. If it weren't for Him intersecting my life some 19 years ago, I shudder to think where I may be today. How great is the Saviour's love for us? Beyond measure, man! I adore His beauty and His persistence in pursuing me! My life is forever changed because of this great God.