Latest Shows
Shmuley and Rick in a Public Discussion
Public Discussion between Rabbi Shmuley and Rick Sanchez regarding his firing from CNN after ...
- Date
- Title
- 01/17/11
-
Shmuley and Rick in a Public Discussion
Shmuley and Rick in a Public Discussion
Public Discussion between Rabbi Shmuley and Rick Sanchez regarding his firing from CNN after comments made that were seen as offensive to the Jewish Community… The discussion takes place at the Carlebach Shul In NYC…
Click title to download! - 01/04/11
-
Raising Spiritual Children
Raising Spiritual Children
Discussion between Rabbi Shmuley, rev. Charles Gilmore, and Felicia Stoler at West Side Presbyterian Church in Englewood, NJ.
Click title to download! - 12/06/10
-
Larchmony NY Female Depression and its Cure
Larchmony NY Female Depression and its Cure
Lecture in Larchmont NY
Click title to download! -
View All Podcast Shows
Articles Listing
Monday, June 01, 2009
Would Jesus Oppose Gays and be Silent on Porn?
Here’s a glimpse of religion in America. All gays all the time. It seems that there is nothing else that can capture the spiritual imagination of this nation. Jesus came to the world to stop the damned gays. He had precious little else to say.
Forget the fact that we Americans are desperate to be liberated from our materialism and narcissism. Or that our youth are clamoring for anything other than American Idol to inspire them. We clerics will get around to it just as soon as we stop them gays.
The latest installment in the American obsession with gay marriage comes from Miss California, Carrie Prejean, who said in the Miss Universe competition that she opposes gay marriage and was immediately championed as a Christian heroin throughout America. But it seems that her Christianity could not find expression in preventing her from posing topless for men or having the Miss Universe pageant pay for her breast implants. Now I ask you honestly, what is a bigger threat to heterosexual marriage today? Gay marriage or porn? When a wife waits alone in bed for her husband who is downloading pictures of naked women on his laptop, do you really believe she consoles herself by thinking, “Well at least those gays can’t marry”?
For all my Christian brothers and sisters who scapegoat gays for undermining the institution of marriage, I would remind them that we straight people have done a mighty fine job of destroying it ourselves, thank you very much. The gay population in the United States is at most ten percent while the heterosexual divorce rate is more than fifty percent and has been so well before gay rights ever became a national issue.
The foremost danger to marriage in our time is the wholesale degradation of women in the popular culture. In magazines, on TV, and especially on Internet porn, women are portrayed as the libidinous man’s plaything, not an equal to be respected but a subordinate to be used. On college campuses male womanizing is an expected right of passage. Why devote yourself to one woman when Idiotic shows like The Bachelor reinforce the idea that the rich and good-looking guy get to have a harem. Even well-meaning women like Miss California who participate in porn become complicit in their own degradation and further the male view that a woman’s principle purpose is to satiate male erotic needs.
Beauty pageants don’t help much either and it’s surprising that my Christian clerical brothers haven’t spoken out against them as they have gay marriage. Can you believe that sixty years after feminism rightly pointed out that a woman’s mind is even more important than her legs we still have televised contests of women parading around in their underwear for Donald Trump to rate their bodies? And what would Jesus say about Miss California’s implants? Would he endorse the message that women ought to stuff their chests with silicon to appear as perfect male eye-candy, or would he emphatically declare that beauty is not merely skin deep?
How any of this congruent with Christian values is beyond me, but it seems that we’ve entered some weird Twilight Zone where opposition to gay marriage alone makes one into a Christian in good standing.
Look. I’m not here to condemn Carrie Prejean and I can of course be just as religiously inconsistent. But my point is that America has real problems and can really use an authentic spiritual voice to lead us out of the shallowness, greed, divorce, and teen sex that are plaguing our country. And so long as we make gay marriage the only issue of importance we abscond our moral responsibility to provide spiritual leadership to a starving generation. Most of all we shift our focus away from combating the misogyny that has become such a central staple of American culture.
Patti Stanger, Bravo’s Millionaire Matchmaker, and I recently debated in Los Angeles in front of 1100 young people about Patti’s belief that women ought to marry rich husbands. I argued that this just fuels the stereotype of women as greedy gold-diggers prepared to sell themselves as a commodity to a guy with cash. When men come to believe these stereotypes it affects their respect for women. Soon they believe that can they can neglect their wives as long as they give them credit cards. But three quarters of all divorces today are initiated by wives who are making their own money and would rather be alone than remain with a distant husband in an empty marriage. The most influential TV show over the past decade was Sex in the City where four female friends have nearly given up on men and turn to each other for intimate companionship instead. As for married women in America, approximately thirty percent are on an anti-depressant and Maureen Dowd of the New York Times scored big by publishing a book suggesting that perhaps women are better off without men.
As for the guys, well, the only ones who still want to get married are gay. While the gay men are out petitioning the Supreme Court for the right to get hitched, the straight guys are inventing brilliant excuses not to wed their girlfriends with whom they have lived for years and even have children. It’s curious that Brad Pitt proclaims that he and Angeline Jolie, who admirably have six kids together, will only get married when all people, gays included, can wed. But that has not stopped him from adopting children even though in most states gays can still not adopt. Which just goes to show you that when a man wants to find reasons to stay single he becomes as bright as Einstein.
We can save marriage in America and get men to become gentlemen who treat women like ladies. But that must be accompanied by women not only demanding male respect, but respecting themselves as well.
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach this week publishes his new book, “The Blessing of Enough: Becoming Materially Content and Spiritually Hungry.” He is the founder of ThisWorld: The Values Network. http://www.shmuley.com
Share
Comments
-
Monday, June 01, 2009
squirrellymommy
Well said and well written. I forwarded a copy of this to the preacher at our church. Our church does not only address the issue of divorce and pornography, but also offers counceling to couples having problems. The unfortunate fact is that the American public doesn’t view divorce as a “problem” therefore it doesn’t get the publicity that gay marriage/rights does.
-
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
joy77
As a Christian who loves the Lord I have to say I know Jesus opposes homosexuality and any kind of sexual immorality, especially porn. In Matthew 5:17-18 Jesus says “I did not come to abolish the Law of the Prophets but to fulfill them…” then in 5:27-30 Adultery
27"You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’[e] 28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
God bless you! -
Tuesday, June 02, 2009
joy77
Please, don’t be mean or derrogatorry about Christianity. We love god and we love Jewish people! If this girl posed topless she is aChristian but not perfect. As you are not and will never be perfect. It is IMPOSSIBLE to fulfill the Law of the Prophets. There are many people calling themselves jews breaking a lot of commandments. We don’t put them down or diminish judaism. Lets love each other.
I do agree with Rabbi about women. We defenitely should respect ourselves, dress appropriately. All women, Christian, Jewish, all women are falling very short… -
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
JMK1959
Jesus? A Rabbi who I surmise is orthodox and believes in Jesus. This is surreal! Where on earth did you get your understanding that Jesus was more than myth and legend based on rumor. Rabbi show me the documentation, explain to me from where did you do your due diligence, based upon whose understanding and do they explain their understanding if you are using peripheral sources. So how would Rambam know anything or the interpolations in Josephus?. Do you accept the Christian Bible which not only is theological dramatic fiction and epic forgery but also has 450 clearly vile anti-semitic things to say about Jews and whose whole structure is to supercede Jews and cause them suffering. Have you read any biblical criticism written in the last two hundred years? So how come you are repeating the same traditional christian doctrine and history. What would Jesus say, he said nothing because he never did exist, there was no birth or life or death or perfidious Jews, all lies. I have spoken to the Rabbi at my Young Israel who has similar understanding and I never want to go back, it gives me the creeps. Hundreds of thousands of Jews have converted, and been baptised in in the US and this is what Orthodox Rabbis think, I do not need you, you are fired, and you and other same thinking Rabbis in my very humble opinion are apostates to some degree.
-
Thursday, June 04, 2009
joy77
As I said I love my Jewish brothers and sisters and will not engage in drama filled debate that seems a little hostile to me and frankly scares me a little bit. I’m not used to arguing like this… I believe we can respectfully disagree. And as for Jesus never existing, I believe you really did get brain washed and deceived.
That Jesus is GOD will never be proven only by debating scripture and arguing in a hostile manner. Prayer and selfless, loving honest self examination, from the truth of ones heart. This will lead to THE TRUTH. This way of fighting over truth seems like a petty and childish fight like Yankees versus Met fans. Filled with pride and the need to simply be right. With the matter of our Lord, who I’m sure you love, its serious business. Its NOT ABOUT US, JEWS OR CHRISTIANS, ITS ABOUT ALMIGHTY GOD. God does not need us to act like “lawyers of religion”. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your might… Love your neighbour…
Just FYI
check:
Rabbi Bruce Cohen
Rabbi Sam Nadler
Paul Wilbur
Cid Roth and many more jews who have accepted Jesus as Lord. In Israel, Messianin Jews (Jews who understand JESUS IS THE MESSIAH, can receive citizenship. Also messianic Jews send money to Israel and so do Christians. CHeck our cufi.org. Christians are organizing a Summit in Washington DC and afterwards Israel to side with Jewish people to protect the right of Israel to exist.
All I ask is to look at the facts and not buy into this myth that Christians are anti semitic, we believe in Jesus, that is not anti semitic, if you think it is…I would be sorry to know that because it is a major missunderstanding. And try not to be so hostile and show your hatred for Christians, we are on your side! Christians DO NOT want to supercede Jews. That is a lie. There are many fellowships of Jews and Christians. get informed.
God bless you,
Shalom. -
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Grizzly Bear Mom
This situation was created by Miss USA judge Perez Hilton who asked Carrie Prejean if each state should legalize gay marriage. He makes a career of outing gay Hollywood, or causing misery for others. Was it his intention to ruin Prejeans’ opportunity to become Miss USA so his opposition could react like they did, and than be criticized for doing so?
Either way Prejean answered the question, she would fail. Even Gavin Newsom, mayor of San Francisco and a prominent supporter of same-sex marriage, defended Prejean. I admire her fortitude. It takes guts for a 21 year old to honestly answer the question when she knows will prevent her from being selected Miss USA. She also said the pictures were photo shopped and taken at age 17. At that age she was unable to legally give consent. Did she have to lie be selected as Miss USA? As for breast augmentation, I know that at age 48 it would be hard for me to turn down free plastic surgery that would make me more marketable professionally and romantically.As for you comments about Christianity, only the fear mongers that first warned us of the Russians, than the Feminists, than the Muslims and now the Gays undermining America are keeping this story alive.
Yes Jesus’ Apostles Paul and John, who spoke with his authority as inspired by the Holy Spirit, condemned homosexual behavior along with many other behaviors such as pride, avarice, lust, anger, gluttony, and envy. However, preoccupation with “homosexual immorality” which doesn’t normally impact legal marriage, fertility (gay couples are infertile-they need opposite sex genetic material to reproduce), parenthood, children, and innocent victims of porn and other immorality, in contrast with heterosexuality where it has profoundly negative impact, is hateful.
Jesus told us to love like he did, and reserves heaven for those who feed the poor, quench the thirsty, welcome strangers, cloth the naked, care for prisoners, the sick, orphans and widows. As soon as I’m completed that task and straightened out heterosexuals (sarcasm alert!) I’ll start worrying about homosexuals.
-
Thursday, June 04, 2009
JMK1959
Again Jesus never existed, the New Testament is fiction, anachronistic dramatic theological fictional propaganda. Nazareth did not exist 2000 years ago, no one was called Rabbi until after 70CE, there were zero synagogues in the Galilee until after 70CE, there are thousands of such examples. Dennis MacDonald show how Mark and Acts is based upon Homer, Maria Palmer Bonz how Luke is based upon The Aanid. John is based on Philo. The writers of the New Testament wrote their fictional creation with the Septuagint and Josephus open in front of them, Matthew and Luke had opened in front of them Mark whom they copied 600 and 300 times respectively. But what is truly amazing are the 450 anti-semitic scenes, only Julius Streicher and Mein Kampf and The Protocols do it justice. There are thousands of example proving that Jesus and the entire christian storyline is fiction. For books start with David Freidrich Strauss The Life of Jesus Crically Examined.
-
Friday, June 05, 2009
joy77
I really have no idea about what you just wrote.
No one force me to or told me about how to think of Jesus. Its about an honest prayer. And I really don’t care about ANY “proof” of what you said. Just like Abraham prayed and had a spiritual relationship with Jehovah, that is what I do and Jehova reveals Himself to me and has testified about Jesus. This is proof. Direct contact from ME with Almighty! I am not anti-semitic, have several friends who are jewish. By the way, my father in law is a jewish holocaust survivor and was 13 years old when he saw his father die in the holocaust. He survived alone. His mother, father, sister and aunts all died. It was terrible! Nothing excuses what happened there. It was 100% WRONG!!!If I were anti-semitic I would not have wanted to marry a man whose father is jewish. Believing in JESUS has NOTHING to do with anti-semitism. I believe you are confused and you have never frequented a church, you don’t know how we feel. Its totally innacurate. We believe Jesus died for ALL MANKIND sin, not because jews did this or that. NO. And that is for sure! It was Gods plan to redeem ALL OF US, from what happened in the garden of Eden in the beginning. Anyway. I think there are some people interested in keeping the truth about Jesus burried in your community, obviously, for their own interests and they use these lie that being Christian means anti-semitism, which is a big lie. We love jewish people, and they use the holocaust to camuflage their real interests. The holocaust is real and was horrible, but stop using it to preach that Christians caused it and that its the result of being Christians. hristians DO NOT dislike Jews. We love them, we love Jesus, and you know what else? JESUS LOVES YOU TOO!!! -
Friday, June 05, 2009
JMK1959
Joy77,
I think you’ve said it all when you mentioned you don’t need proof to believe the utter fantastic and fabulous, are someone who finds evidence of your god and a water stain in your bathroom that I see on the nightly news from the South Bronx. The New Testament is fiction, read Homer and Virgil and you will be able to see that it is written in imitation and emulation. Through modern methods of analysis it is able to see actually how it was composed. In the past christian criticsm was burned books and libraries along with people of course, usually flayed and ripped apart. For instance why is someone the supposed god man helped, named Lucky, another God-helps, or another Raised-up? There are thousands of such examples. A scholar used 570 extant greek New Testament texts available to him and found thousands of descrepancies between them, with many differences that are significant theologically. All anyone knows of this make believe man canonically comes from the New Testament which is one big mess of fiction. I really enjoy see narratives lifted from Homer, we all read this in High School. LOL. -
Friday, June 05, 2009
joy77
Ok, it sounds like you will Keep your mentallity unchanged. So, thank you for your theory but I really think you ought to pray more. Not chant or repeat words, real prayer from the heart, and actually wait to hear from GOD. You sound like you read too much and does not pray an that can be a bad combinaton. May the Holy Spirit of GOD guide you.
God bles you
To comment, please login or complete the free registration.