Sheesh, people.
As
@yawn keeps pointing out, the logic of our theological belief system is only meant to operate within the framework of Judaic beliefs.
The destruction of Amalek is a commandment from the creator of the universe and the creator of Amalek, recorded in a divine book (which, incidentally, all three major monotheistic world religions concur is divine). There, I said it.
All other arguments (baby hitler, etc.) are commentary. Possible
ta’amei hamitzvos.
Other actors also believe they’re acting in the name of G-d? Well, they’re wrong. Perhaps they can do a better job at sourcing their theology.
Yes, I understand that this is hard to swallow and unconvincing to a non-believer in the divinity of the commandment, and/or someone who doesn't recognize the drivel of other religions for what it is, but we shouldn’t be apologizing and running to find alternative motivations and justifications for G-d’s
mitzvos.
Anyone else see the irony of 8 pages of Jews pleading their theological case before the Christian moral police about what we are or are not allowed to feel and believe about the Pope?
Doesn’t at all remind me of our long bitter history in Europe…
Still… If a non-Jew were to repost a joke invented by a religious jew about the passing of a world-renown rabbinic leader with important universal political clout (incidentally, such a person doesn’t exist), although we’d find it distasteful, I don’t think anyone here would get overly dramatic about it and label him a hater, (unless he demonstrates that he reserves this kind of mockery to Jewish leaders alone, historically a common marker of antisemitism).
Regarding Francis himself, I don’t think this is really about him as an individual at all (although I’m deeply suspicious of the motivations of a pope announcing to the world that we need to investigate those Jews again for possible genocide).
Aside from the history angle, we have a mitzvah to ridicule idolatrous beliefs, and as the face of his institution, he becomes the face of these beliefs. There is a difference between mockery and hate, and then there’s also the matter of how it’s acted upon.
The expectation that everyone must universally respect the sensitivities of every religion or creed as equal is a leftist fantasy (which they themselves can’t even manage to abide by), an outgrowth of the failed idea that there isn’t any absolute moral truth, so it doesn’t really matter either way.
Reasonable humans recognize that everyone is partial to their religious beliefs and/or worldview. A multicultural and multireligious society can still get along by recognizing this in good humor, and in treating neighbors respectfully, even if you don’t respect (and even mock) their beliefs.
