Beliefs Incompatible with Talmidi Theology

At the beginning of the second century CE, the community of the Way began a 400 year process of falling apart. Under its previous leaders, the Nasis, the community had maintained theological integrity. One major reason for the disintegration was the assimilation of beliefs which put various groups outside of Talmidaism. They took on alien beliefs (such as Gnostic and Christian), and eventually lost their identity as Followers of the Way. Such groups are referred to as ‘Syncretist’ groups (because they melded or syncretised alien beliefs with those of Yahwism).

Modern Talmidi groups are very aware of this, and have different ways of dealing with the problem, to ensure that this accommodation with foreign beliefs does not happen again. Out of necessity we have to be very strict about what we teach and what we reject.

At this point, I have to say that we are tolerant of the beliefs of others, but we have a duty to the memory and soul of a lost community to protect a religion reborn. We are so vulnerable at this early stage. We love our God and our faith, and would be heart-broken if our religion were to be hijacked and turned into something else. We want to preserve our faith intact.

Those who wish to join our community must be aware that the following beliefs are incompatible with the spiritual and philosophical system that we cherish (other points will be added as time goes on, but these are the main ones). In brackets are the religions or belief systems to which such beliefs more suitably belong:

• that God can take human form (Hinduism, Christianity, Pagan Mystery Religions)
• that there is more than one god (Polytheism – Hinduism, Animism, Pagan Mystery Religions, Baalism)
• that there is no god (Atheism)
• that God is not involved in his creation (Deism)
• that God is wholly dependent on his creation
• that God is in fact everything in his creation (Pantheism)
• that we are all gods (Scientology, Mormonism, some pagan religions)
• that salvation only comes through secret knowledge (Gnosticism)
• that the world is ruled equally by Good and Evil (Gnosticism, Zoroastrianism)
• that good and evil are equal and opposite gods (Dualism – Gnosticism, Zoroastrianism)
• that when we die, we are reincarnated (Hinduism, Buddhism, Kabbalah, various New Age movements)
• that god can be worshipped through idols or images (Hinduism, Buddhism, Orthodox and Catholic Christianity, Nature religions, ancient pagan religions, Native Spirit worship etc.)
• that the worship of ancestors is effective (Ancestor worship – most native religions of non-European countries)
• that the trees, rocks, plants and animals are possessed of god’s spirit, and can therefore be worshipped (Animism)
• that Paul of Tarsus was an apostle or prophet (Pauline Christianity, Nazarenism, Messianic ‘Judaism’)
• that his writings have any authority (Pauline Christianity, Nazarenism, Messianic ‘Judaism’)
• that Yeshua` was the promised messiah, son of David (Pauline Christianity, Nazarenism, Messianic ‘Judaism’)
• that Yeshua` of Nazareth died to save us from our sins (Pauline Christianity, Nazarenism, Messianic ‘Judaism’)
• that all human beings are born sinful because of the sin of Adam and Eve (Pauline Christianity, Nazarenism)
• that god is a trinity (Christianity, Nazarenism, Messianic ‘Judaism’)
• that Yeshua` of Nazareth was a god (Christianity, Nazarenism, Messianic ‘Judaism’)
• that he was the son of a god (Christianity, Nazarenism, Messianic ‘Judaism’)
• that he was born of a virgin (Christianity, Nazarenism, Messianic ‘Judaism’)
• that he was anything other than a mortal man (Christianity, Nazarenism, various Christian ‘heresies’)
• that faith alone can reconcile us or ‘justify’ us before God ( Christianity, Nazarenism, Messianic ‘Judaism’)
• that the rite of immersion is necessary for salvation (Nazorayism, Christianity, Nazarenism, Messianic ‘Judaism’)

In order to protect the historical integrity of our religion, and to secure its historical accuracy, anyone who puts forward the above beliefs to other Followers of the Way, will firstly be politely reminded of where we stand on the above issues. If such a person continues to persist in trying to force their non-Talmidi beliefs on us, then they will be asked to leave.