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* The Natural, Normal, and Traditional Sexual Morality of the Talmud *
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The constant accusation that the Talmud is in any way sexually immoral or impure is one of the biggest lies ever told. Why? I've studied the ENTIRE Babylonian Talmud for many years and found it to be very sexually moral, more so than most forms of Christianity. In reality, the Rabbis of the Talmud were very strict about personal sexual behavior. For example, the Talmud insists that a husband may only have sex with his wife in total darkness. Any outside light source illuminating the interior of the marital bedroom was prohibited. Marital love even by the moonlight was seen as sinful and wrong. This is not to say the Rabbis were repressed in any way. Indeed, they come off as quite wise and down-to-earth about sexual matters. Their frank discussions of animal breeding practices would probably make a young girl blush, but their old-fashioned chivalry and respect for women prove the point that these Rabbis represented sort of an ancient version of the Anglo-Saxon country Gentleman.





* The Talmudic Opposition to the Devil's 'Handshake' *
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Because of the traditional Jewish respect for self-discipline and self-control, the Talmud's attitude towards masturbation was far different than today's Christian tolerance and acceptance of a sexual act still defined in the dictionary as self-abuse, or self-defilement. The Rabbis of the Talmud considered any man (or boy) who masturbated as being 'worthy of death'. Here is the relevant Talmudic verses and their blatant condemnation of that diabolical method the Devil prefers to use all the while pretending to shake your hand in friendship.


== The Jewish Talmud's References about Masturbation ==

Rabbi Ammi stated: "He who excites himself by lustful thoughts will not be allowed to enter into the Presence of the Holy One, blessed be He.' For here it is written, 'Was evil in the sight of the LORD,' and elsewhere it is written, 'For You are not a God that takes pleasure in wickedness and evil shall not sojourn with You.'"

- Jewish Talmud, Niddah 13b

Eleazar stated: "Who are referred to in the Scriptural text, 'Your hands are full of blood?' Those that commit masturbation with their hands."

- Jewish Talmud, Niddah 13b

It was taught at the school of Rabbi Ishmael, 'You shall not commit adultery,' implies, 'You shall not practice masturbation with either hand or with foot.'

- Jewish Talmud, Niddah 13b

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And in closing, I'd like to quote some rather ancient references concerning pre-Christian Jewish Sexual Morality:



[Jews] are mindful of holy wedlock, and they do not engage in impious intercourse with male children, as do Phoenicians, Egyptians, and Romans, specious Greece and many nations of others, Persians and Galatians and all Asia.

- The Syballine Oracles, 163-45 B.C.


Rab Judah said: "On one occasion four hundred Jewish boys and girls were carried off for [sexually] immoral purposes. They found out what they were wanted for and said to themselves, 'If we drown in the sea we shall attain the life of the future world.' The eldest among them interpreted the verse, 'The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring again from the depths of the sea. 'I will bring again from Bashan,' from between the lions' teeth. 'I will bring again from the depths of the sea,' those who drown in the sea. When the girls heard this they all leaped into the sea. The boys then understood the moral for themselves saying, 'If these girls drowned themselves rather than submit to what is a natural act, should we also refuse to submit to what is unnatural?' So they also leaped into the sea. Of them the text says, 'Yea, for Your sake we are killed all the day long, we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.'"

- Babylonian Talmud, Gittin 57b

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The Stone the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone. By the LORD this has been done and it is wonderful in our eyes.
- Psalms 118:22-23

You are Peter, and upon this Rock I will build my Church, and the Gates of Hell will not prevail against it.
- Matthew 16:18

the talmud was never considered by Christians to be put with scripture show we should always keep this in mind

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church is something believers are apart of not just something they go to

Never heard the "lie" till you brought it up, so why did you bring it up?

IMHO the only proper form of Christianity is BIBLICAL. Therefore, I highly doubt this claim.

Legalism and quite ignorant IMO. Bible says that Adam & Eve were naked and Adam looked and it was good.

Really???

Sure Glad Esther didn't have this attitude or many Israelites would've died in Babylonian captivity (See Esther 2:8-18)

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Blessings,
Randy
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I agree that the Talmud may add to our understanding of Hebrew and the Old Testament but I do not hold to the position that it is binding on Christianity. The Bible is divinely inspired by God and the Talmud was simply the work of men; they were very scholarly men (rabbis) but men whereas God spoke his word and it was written down.

The idea of sexual morality in the Talmud is not binding on Christians today and some of the customs of OT sexuality do not pertain to today. Christians need to read and study the Bible both OT and NT but while other books may give some understanding the ultimate authority is the Bible.