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Then why are you posting? @.@;

Bottom line is, there's tons of obsolete and outdated laws in the Torah, many of them sexist or discriminating against certain types of people. As far as official situations and ways temples are run and conducted, the rules are set by the heads of each denomination. But for personal beliefs, you're not going to be kicked out of the religion if you think women can be rabbis or homosexuals can marry.

We are basically obligated to conform to the modern standards and interpretations of the Torah in official and public senses, but we are free to hold our own personal beliefs without threat of not being Jewish or betraying our people. And that's a good thing. If we want the former type of rules and regulations changed, we have to act civilly and maturely and try to get things changed. The Torah is constantly being reevaluated and modified to accomodate our changing world. After all, we don't cut off the hand of a girl stepping into her husband's fight, and we don't stone our children to death for disrespect.

So, you know, until we find an absolute right and an absolute wrong, just keep the respect flowin' high. :3

The Torah is for ALL Time! G-d's Word is from Everlasting to Everlasting! Man changes but G-d never does, He is a G-d of the Living not the dead, The G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is still very much Alive in working in our lives today! Chai ha Shem!

not likely consider that the bible (written) has 5 places where the text is argued. yes 5. its thousands of years old has been outlawed and spread across continents. only 5. the "new testament has hundreds(I think I could be wrong but it is lots more than 5 I'm certian)

I know that my aunt's congregation (reformed) accepts it. She's actually introduced me to two of her friends, a lesbian couple who recently celebrated ten years. I have no problem with our religion rising to accept changing times

Okay- I started this thread thinking that it would be an interesting discussion. However, at this point I see that it's rather like one of those topics in ED that no one ever is willing to change their opinions. Like an abortion thread or something.
There are those of us who are more liberal, and are willing to accept homosexuality into our congregations and our communities. There are those who are more set in the ways of Torah and will not be willing to change their opinion either way. None of us are willing to change our opinions on this, it's too personal.
Therefore, I will post a few more comments, and then try to avoid this thread. It's just... bothering me too much. It brings out parts of members of this guild that I really don't want to hear. I don't want to dislike people over their personal beliefs. In all likelyhood, I'll be back, but I'm going to wait until I've chilled out about it a little bit.
So... ScionoftheBlade. No one's saying that homosexuality is halachically accepted. However, in an age when people died a lot earlier, it was necessary for everyone to marry and have babies so that the generations would continue. At this point, plenty of people aren't getting married as young, are living together without getting married, etc, and there's no risk of the human race dying out. Therefore, what reason is there that our synagogues should not allow monogomous homosexual couples to pay family rates?
Famusamu. I have to say that many of your posts have been rather disturbing to me. Quite frankly, all the extra capital letters and stuff? It just makes me think of evangelical Christians. And I'm in the Jew Guild, damnit! Too much of what you're saying sounds like evangelical traditional Judaism. Which is just scary.

Well, both are quite possible because although I am not here to evanglize, I am a Messianic. I joined this guild not to "convert" people, but to speak with other Jews about Jewish issues that no goy could understand. If I have offended you, I am truly sorry. And by the way, whats wrong with "evangelical traditional Judaism"?

Well, I could be nuts, but that has nothing to do with what I said. All I'm saying is that if women are just as good as men, why can't we do jobs assigned to men? Instead they are stuck cooking and cleaning. Everyone, male and female, should have individual choice, not gender roles. I think The earlier qoute from Famusamu illistrates the what I'm getting atn (Famusamu, please don't get offended by me using you for an example, I don't mean any malice by it.)

That, to me, doesn't seem like a very glorified view. Many ancient civilizations looked down on women, but those views don't apply today.