Friday, July 4, 2008

Happy Independence Day, Special Post

Yesterday I saw some orthodox jews at a concert that celebrated america's independence day. I saw something ironic about that.

For one thing, in american values, the pursuit of happiness is paramount. In orthodox values, the pursuit of asceticism is paramount. It is like a game of limbo in which everyone bends over backwars to a reggae chant of "how strict can you go, how strict can you go."

Secondly, a primary advantage of someone being secular over someone being orthodox, is that the secular person is able to choose how s/he approaches religion without the fear of loosing one's family and one's community. No orthodox jew can say with a straight face that he or she has this ability.

Thirdly, secular jews don't have to wear orthodox attire long pants jacket and hat in the summer like retards XD honestly, who needs nazi crematoriums when you have the orthodox dress code?

7 comments:

The Bray of Fundie said...

In orthodox values, the pursuit of asceticism is paramount.

False. Judaism is rational hedonism where deferment of gratification allows one to acheiev the maximum in pleasure.

See/listen here http://www.beyondbt.com/?p=743

this guys one of my favorite rabbis.

SJ said...

bray of fundie, the precursor to present day orthodox jews are the pharisees from the times of the second temple. the hebrew root of the word pharisees is parash (to separate), the noun is perashut, which indeed means asceticism.

further, in present day orthodox judaism, theres a whole day in which u can't do anything u want (only in orthodox judaism u have to dress formally for rest days) in most sects of orthodox judaism u can't dress the way you want and talk between men and women even if they are single is discouraged to varying degrees if not outright disallowed.

there is no way that you can say that that's not asceticism.

Anonymous said...

Obviously that frum girl you have a crush on still isn't talking to you.

Dude, American Orthodox Jews love Independence Day because of the freedom America offered from official state-sanctioned religious persecution. Instead of having the local bishop order mass conversions and burnings, we could now enjoy the right to practice our religion freely. That's what makes July 4 important.

SJ said...

>> Obviously that frum girl you have a crush on still isn't talking to you.

snide comments don't answer posts.


>> we could now enjoy the right to practice our religion freely.

this does not answer my post.

Anonymous said...

Didn't answer your post? Your post doesen't want an answer. It wants structure. It's crying out for a proper introduction, central portion and pertinant conclusion. If I were you, young man, I'd go back, re-write it as a rough draft, get a friend (or at least a reasonable facsimile, hey, ask that frum girl you like) to proofread it and make editorial suggestions and then write a final draft based on all that. I'll look it over again and reconsider your mark when you do.

SJ said...

That's the dumbest thing I ever heard. It's just a blog post, not a college essay.

Anonymous said...

So what your saying is that its just as good to die in Teblinka then to wear black hats and shtrimels?

Dude....dont be that guy. I know it was saterical but there is a line and look behind you....there it is