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Believing in vs. serving an intermediary
#1
It mentions in part 2 of The Divine Code vol. 1 that under the lenient view, believing in an intermediary as having a partnership with G-d is permitted for gentiles, although it's certainly false and unpious and should be rejected, but serving an intermediary would be an act of idol worship. If anyone makes any kind of prayer to an intermediary alone and by addressing it's name, and they are not praying or bowing or performing any kind of rituals to an actual statue or other physical icon that symbolizes the intermediary, would this be considered *serving* an intermediary? Similarly, if one states that an intermediary is their lord, or they give thanks or praise to it and only mention the intermediary's name without even mentioning the claim that it's an intermediary, is this considered just believing, or is it serving?
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#2
Daniel2 Wrote:If anyone makes any kind of prayer to an intermediary alone and by addressing it's name, and they are not praying or bowing or performing any kind of rituals to an actual statue or other physical icon that symbolizes the intermediary, would this be considered *serving* an intermediary?

One who prays to some entity other than the One True G-d has made that entity into a deity for himself (a false deity, since there is no Deity other than G-d). Praying to an entity is a type of service to that entity (and a person who does this is not at the spiritual level of a Pious Gentile who follows the Noahide Code as it is commanded by G-d within the Torah of Moses). However, it is not a capital sin unless the person would bow down to his false deity (which might or might not be represented by a physical object), or do one of the other acts of idolatrous worship that constitute a capital sin (by serving the false diety in its traditional worship ritual, or by burning incense, pouring a libation, or slaughtering a sacrifice).

Daniel2 Wrote:Similarly, if one states that an intermediary is their lord, or they give thanks or praise to it and only mention the intermediary's name without even mentioning the claim that it's an intermediary, is this considered just believing, or is it serving?

Those types of statements just show a belief in the intermediary. They don't consititute a service to the intermediary.
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#3
(02-01-2010, 08:52 PM)Director Michael Wrote:
Daniel2 Wrote:If anyone makes any kind of prayer to an intermediary alone and by addressing it's name, and they are not praying or bowing or performing any kind of rituals to an actual statue or other physical icon that symbolizes the intermediary, would this be considered *serving* an intermediary?

One who prays to some entity other than the One True G-d has made that entity into a deity for himself (a false deity, since there is no Deity other than G-d). Praying to an entity is a type of service to that entity (and a person who does this is not at the spiritual level of a Pious Gentile who follows the Noahide Code as it is commanded by G-d within the Torah of Moses). However, it is not a capital sin unless the person would bow down to his false deity (which might or might not be represented by a physical object), or do one of the other acts of idolatrous worship that constitute a capital sin (by serving the false diety in its traditional worship ritual, or by burning incense, pouring a libation, or slaughtering a sacrifice).

Daniel2 Wrote:Similarly, if one states that an intermediary is their lord, or they give thanks or praise to it and only mention the intermediary's name without even mentioning the claim that it's an intermediary, is this considered just believing, or is it serving?

Those types of statements just show a belief in the intermediary. They don't consititute a service to the intermediary.

Hello, I have a question about bowing down and burning incense. If my parents and friends or other loved ones bow down to a cross or storage compartment for bread that is used in communion ceremonies, is that considered a capital sin?
Also is being present, being blessed by holy water, and taking in the aroma of incense at an idolatrous service considered a capital sin?
If these are capital I would like to somehow tell my parents and others not to do them.
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#4
People who were raised from birth as idolators, in an idolatrous community, aren't necessarily liable for their acts of idol worship which are capital sins, if there is no way that they could have learned that it is in violation of G-d's eternal commandment in the Noahide Code. Quoting from the book "The Divine Code", p. 55,

"If most of the members of the community don’t know the [Noahide] laws, one of these individuals is not liable unless he was previously warned, since it was impossible for him to learn in his situation. Since the laws of G-d are true and just, such a person would not be liable under these unavoidable circumstances. It is clear that this only applies to the Noahide commandments that need to be taught (since they are not dictated by logic), such as details of the prohibitions against worshiping idols..." [in contrast to the prohibitions which are also logically incumbent in addition to being commanded by G-d, such as theft and murder].

On the other hand, if parts of an idolator's own "holy scriptures" include the Word of G-d that forbids idol worship, an individual has the opportunity to come to learn and accept that, unless it has been taught and impressed upon him within his society and culture that this part of G-d's Word should be ignored or interpreted in some other way, and he has no practically available way to learn the Truth. Nowadays the Five Books of Moses, and their correct traditional meaning, are much more freely available than in earlier generations, and this is an effective tool for teaching people who believe in the G-d of Israel that He is One and Unique as a perfect Unity, and He is the Only G-d, and He commanded to all mankind through Noah and Moses that worship of any physical and/or spiritual entity or "force" other than Him (G-d Himself) constitutes the sin of idol worship.

Attendance at services and houses of idol worship is forbidden (i.e. sinful), but it is not a capital sin unless one actually commits an act of idol worship. A person who is forced by others to attend or participate against his will, out of fear of being harmed, but in his heart he does not accept or worship the idol, is not liable to punishment. See "The Divine Code", Part I, topic 4:3, p. 77.
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#5
(04-11-2013, 12:55 AM)Director Michael Wrote: Attendance at services and houses of idol worship is forbidden (i.e. sinful), but it is not a capital sin unless one actually commits an act of idol worship. A person who is forced by others to attend or participate against his will, out of fear of being harmed, but in his heart he does not accept or worship the idol, is not liable to punishment. See "The Divine Code", Part I, topic 4:3, p. 77.

Hello, I was wondering if I can attend my roommates wedding/s as to not offend them? I believe it says I can to avoid hate.
Also it says that I am not allowed to attend baptisms and funerals. Could I attend my grandparents, parents, or other close family if they are Christians?
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#6
For a general answer to this question, please see Post #10 on this page of the Forum:

https://asknoah.org/forum/showthread.php?tid=12
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