Debate about God from my Facebook Wall

This morning I posted a statement made by an early 20th century author Shalom Aleichem I found to be funny but it sparked a lively conversation with a fellow Facebook friend today. It was fun because it was a passionate and thought provoking with a definite philosophical tone. It is rare to have such stimulating conversation nowadays. I just wanted to share it with you guys. Below is the conversation from my facebook wall and the debate that followed.

Eyal Feldman God, I know we are your chosen people, but couldn't you choose somebody else for a change? by Shalom Aleichem,  about the Jews.

7 hours ago · Comment · 

Eyal Feldman God, I know we are your chosen people, but couldn't you choose somebody else for a change? - Shalom Aleichem, about the Jews.

10 hours ago · Comment · 

Daniel Nolan 

if we're all god's children, how can he play favorites?

10 hours ago · 

Eyal Feldman 

Daniel Nolan: I would like to respond to your statement, it's not about favorites. That is the most common misconception, that often is used to explain religious exclusivity. The chosen aspect of this statement refers to God choosing the Jewish people to spread the idea of monotheism. And I believe with the offshoots of Christianity and Islam, that mission is proving to be successful. Chosen for a mission, not to be the favorite.

9 hours ago · 

Daniel Nolan 

i don't think there needs a mission to convert everyone to the belief that faith in one god. people have the right to worship whatever/whomever they want, who is it for us to judge? we bemoan our struggle for acceptance so why do we make others feel like they must change to be saved? it's hypocritical. our only mission on earth is to love each other, not build a pecking order of which group is better than the other.

9 hours ago · 

Eyal Feldman 

Of course people can do or believe what they want, this is not negating that at all. Its not about converting people, its about a philosophy and a creed that gained popularity over the 4000 years since it's inception. You need not have such a cynical view of religion, faith or God. The Jews spread the idea of God and their philosophical children, the Christians adopted it and so did Muslims, yet all the monotheists together only make up about up 30% of the world's population, there are still more 70% who don't fit in this category. Its not denying other people faith but enhancing and adding the the planets plurality of faiths.

9 hours ago · 

Daniel Nolan 

as a Quaker i think it reeks of entitlement when groups put themselves in spiritually higher ranking than others, that's what i'm referring to.


...and if believing that people have the right to worship freely without being judged is cynical then you called it.

8 hours ago · 

Eyal Feldman 

I feel that when people get so politically sensitive like you are demonstrating here one can tend to look for ways to be insulted. Your cynisism is what makes me call you cynical, not your notion that you believe you have a more open mind than you actually might.

8 hours ago · 

Daniel Nolan 

i don't think it's cynicism, it's just not the way you chose to look at things.

3 hours ago · 

Eyal Feldman 

I do not fear religion, God or faith. I think that when they are used properly they bring alot of good to this world. We should not have an abrasive view of the world and misconstrue expressions of faith as being negative. There are those who choose to twist faith as a weapon against others, but a few bad apples should not spoil the bunch.

2 hours ago ·