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forgive, and ye shall be
forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you
; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and
running over, shall men give into your bosom.
For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be
measured to you again
”- Luke 6:37-38, King James Bible
Reformed Samaritanism is a particular form of ethical monotheism-- Abraham’s own religion
The person dedicated to the study of Moses holy writings finds it surprising that terms like “Religion”,
“Judaism”, “Synagogue”, “Jew”, and even “Rabbi” are basically impossible to find among Moses five books
of Torah.
The truth of the matter is that, by teaching Abraham was the ancestor of both Ishmael (Islam), Jacob
(Judaism), Edom (Roman Christianity), and Ephraim (Samaritans), Torah hints at the idea that modern
monotheistic religions spring from a common well-- a more encompassing principle, allegorically portrayed
by Abraham.
You see, the reason why Abraham married Sarai (his half sister), was the same reason why he honored his
guests (the three angels) with non kosher food (a mix of red meat and dairy products)... What was the reason?
That (living centuries before Moses, Jesus or Muhammad had brought up their respective messages)
Abraham was neither a Jew, a Samaritan, a Christian, nor a Muslim.
Instead, our father Abraham was an ethical monotheist: a person who believes in existence of a Supreme
Judge; a god who will eventually judge the intentions of every heart [rewarding goodness, and punishing
evil].
And from whence do we know Abraham believed in the absolute justice of this “Supreme Judge”? We know
it from the verse that goes on to say: “That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with
the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: SHALL NOT THE JUDGE
OF ALL THE EARTH DO RIGHT?”- Genesis 18:25, KJB
And from whence do know Abraham considered the fear of God to mean humans ought to abstain from
immoral behavior? We know it from the verse that goes on to say: “And Abraham said, Because I thought,
SURELY THE FEAR OF GOD (the Supreme Judge) IS NOT IN THIS PLACE; AND THEY WILL SLAY
ME (murder, deception) FOR MY WIFE'S SAKE (stealing, rape, fornication, adultery)”- Genesis 20:11,
KJB.
But what about those who claim Torah’s message is all about ethnic Israel? What’s wrong with their
interpretation? Well, the problem is that such idea leads to “Ethnocentrism”: the false notion that God
arbitrarily makes one people to be intrinsically superior to the rest. And why is ethnocentrism an unethical
viewpoint? It is so for several reasons. Consider just a few of them:
(1) To begin with, it’s against Torah, as the latter warns against the disastrous consequences of preferring one
son above the others (think of Joseph’s jealous brothers).
(2) Secondly, ethnocentrism blasphemes the Creator. How? By casting doubts upon God’s moral character; in
other words, by portraying Him as having an arbitrarily biased personality. And the latter is mistaken, as
Torah states God doesn’t arbitrarily prefer any people, but rather honors those who honor him, regardless of
their race. As is written: “For the Lord your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, A GREAT GOD, A
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MIGHTY, AND A TERRIBLE, WHICH REGARDETH NOT PERSONS, nor taketh reward”- (Deut. 10:17,
KJB)
(3) Last [but not least], ethnocentrism is unethical because it leads people to abandon faith in God’s power, in
order to proudly [and openly] place it on human power (which is tantamount to worshiping human beings--
the vilest form of idolatry).
And what’s wrong with Israel [or for that sake any other ethnic group] openly displaying pride for it’s alleged
superiority? It’s wrong because God wants all humans to be humble, avoiding any public display of self
glorification (“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips”-
Proverbs 27:2, KJB).
Besides, as trusting it’s superiority makes a nation think it’s safety, prosperity, and deliverance rest upon it’s
own hands [and not upon the hands of any God it might obey or fear], such nation ends up turning away from
the Creator, as well as from godly morality [feeling no need of either]. But God had told Israel that life and
blessing is not to be found anywhere else but in fearing God and walking the godly path of Justice. As is
written:
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU LIFE AND
DEATH, BLESSING AND CURSING: THEREFORE CHOOSE LIFE, THAT BOTH THOU AND THY
SEED MAY LIVE: THAT THOU MAYEST LOVE THE LORD THY GOD, AND THAT THOU MAYEST
OBEY HIS VOICE, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days...”-
Deut. 30:19-20, KJB.
It also says in another place: “And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but TO FEAR
THE LORD THY GOD, TO WALK IN ALL HIS WAYS, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God
with all thy heart and with all thy soul, TO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD, and his
statutes, WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY FOR THY GOOD?”- Deut. 10:12-13, KJV.
Finally, it says the following: “THEREFORE SHALL YE KEEP ALL THE COMMANDMENTS WHICH I
COMMAND YOU THIS DAY, THAT YE MAY BE STRONG, AND GO IN AND POSSESS THE LAND,
whither ye go to possess it”- Deut. 11:8, KJB
And from whence do we know God isn’t pleased when the Israelite Nation considers itself to be [in moral
terms] intrinsically superior to any other people? We know it from the verse that goes on to say:
“SPEAK NOT THOU IN THINE HEART, AFTER THAT THE LORD THY GOD HATH CAST THEM
OUT FROM BEFORE THEE, SAYING, FOR MY RIGHTEOUSNESS THE LORD HATH BROUGHT ME
IN TO POSSESS THIS LAND: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from
before thee. NOT FOR THY RIGHTEOUSNESS, OR FOR THE UPRIGHTNESS OF THINE HEART,
DOST THOU GO TO POSSESS THEIR LAND: BUT FOR THE WICKEDNESS OF THESE NATIONS the
Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the Lord sware
unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this
good land to possess it for thy righteousness; FOR THOU ART A STIFFNECKED PEOPLE”- Deut. 9:4-6,
KJV
Finally, from whence do we know God isn’t pleased with ethnic Israel trusting any self perceived superiority
[or strength]? We know it from the verse that goes on to say, «And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people
that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, LEST ISRAEL VAUNT
THEMSELVES AGAINST ME, SAYING, “MINE OWN HAND HATH SAVED ME”»
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