Disputation Is a Jewish Tradition
Flickr-User: Eliya Selhub

Many people who do not understand Judaism or Islam sometimes believe that because the Torah and the Quran have similar punishments for adultery, apostasy, murder, etc. that the followers of either must follow the ancient, barbaric, draconian laws described in those books. The reality is that Jews and Muslims differ greatly in their behavior regarding those written laws because they follow different traditions. Let me explain what I mean.

But first, my readers need to hear this joke, so say it aloud as you read (yes, the joke has everything to do with why Jews are no threat to the civilized world and why Muslims are):

TRADITION

During a service at an old synagogue in Eastern Europe , when the Shema prayer was said, half the congregants stood up and half remained sitting.

The half that was seated started yelling at those standing to sit down, and the ones standing yelled at the ones sitting to stand up. The rabbi, though learned as he was in the Law and commentaries, didn't know what to do. His congregation suggested that he consult a housebound 98-year-old man who was one of the original founders of their temple.

The rabbi hoped the elderly man would be able to tell him what the actual temple tradition was, so he went to the nursing home with a representative of each faction of the congregation. The one whose followers stood during Shema said to the old man, "Is it the tradition to stand during this prayer?"

The old man answered, "No, that is not the tradition."

The one whose followers sat, said, "Then it must be the tradition to sit during Shema!"

The old man answered, "Nah, that is also not the tradition."

Then the rabbi said to the old man, "But wait a minute, the members of the congregation fight all the time, yelling at each other about whether they should sit or stand!"

The old man interrupted, exclaiming, "Ahah. THAT is the tradition!"

Now the explanation: Jews, in the practice of their religion, in their tradition, are allowed to argue against, bicker over, squabble about, disagree with, and even overturn every single line of Jewish Law based on evolving notions of decency and righteousness. Two thousand years ago, Jewish sages recognized that execution for taking God's name in vain, violating the Sabbath, disobeying one's parents, committing adultery, or any other of the Ten Commandments was too barbaric, too prone to error, too inhumane, too savage, and too primitive for civilized peoples, and effectively abolished those punishments.

On the other hand, Muslims, in the practice of their religion, in their tradition, are not allowed to question one letter in the Qu'ran, the uncreated, perfect, complete, immutable Qu'ran.

That is why Muslims to this day routinely butcher their own for adultery, for being a rape victim, for apostasy, even for attempting reform. And of course, as well they execute non-Muslims simply for being unbelievers or for mocking Mohammed or Islam in general; their savage laws, primitive tribal customs, barbaric punishments, and petty retributions have continued unaltered for 1400 years because their holy prophet Mohammed, the perfect man, said so.