Torah against Tel Aviv: A Biblical Critique of the Massacre of Gaza's residents

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Assistant Professor in Department of Religions and Gnosticism¸ faculty of Theaology and Islamic Studies¸ University of Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Religious studies is an academic discipline and must adhere to academic requirements, but this obligation is not an obstacle for analyzing the views of the Bible about the sociopolitical issues of the past and today. The following interpretation of the stories of the Bible is based on two claims: first, there is a fundamental gap (epistemological or ontological) between the world of today and the world of the Bible, and secondly, it is not possible to bridge that gap except with a suitable method (demythologizing). According to this reading, the view of the Bible about violence and bloodshed is based on its anthropology, which is narrated in a brief and metaphorical way in the story of Adam. According to it, man (regardless of his/her gender, status, ethnicity, nationality and race) is in the "image of God" and "after his likeness", and God concerns of his material and emotional needs, and has forbidden killing him, and undoubtedly punish the killers. The story of Abel and Cain is the story of "crime and punishments" and it shows that God revenges the blood of the innocent and will undoubtedly punish the guilty. The story of Noah's flood recounts God's hatred of violence and bloodshed (ḥamas) and reminds us the threat of these actions posing to life, society and the world. The result is that the violence and bloodshed of the Israelites against the residents of Gaza is against the teachings of the Bible, and no believing Jew should behave in such a way.

Keywords

References

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Comparative Study of Religions and Mysticism
Volume 9, Issue 1
March 2025
Pages 121-150

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History

  • Receive Date: 09 July 2024
  • Revise Date: 23 July 2024
  • Accept Date: 18 March 2025

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