Moses Was Not On Drugs

I've come to assume that it's all true.

'Western religion'?? Call me crazy but Avraham was born in current day Iraq and Moses had his revelation in the egyptian desert? Since when is this considered 'the west or western'? Just because the Roman Empire decided to make xtianity its official religion (blended with pagan rituals) and Jesus was a jew doesn't make JUDAISM (as in judea) 'western'. In fact it's decidedly EASTERN.

Wakey wakey. 

You're right.  Judaism is much closer to an eastern religion than it is to traditional western thought.  Problem is, we tend to interpret it with the tools (which seem completely natural) of western thought.  Hence, a problem.

Christianity and Islam are the two most popular religions in what is currently called "the West," Europe and North America.  Therefore, they are called western religions.  Judaism, being their close cousins (and also being more popular in the West than in East) also share that moniker.  "Western religion" is a statement of current practice, not origin.

Furthermore, to call the Abrahamic religions "Eastern" ignores the fact that, for a very long time, those religions had nothing to do with the peoples and cultures in East and Central Asia, to whom the "East" designation is generally given.

Sure, if you look at Judaism historically or geographically, you have a point.  But if you look at it in terms of meaning and interpretation, I think it's closer to Taoism or Buddhism than it is to Christianity or Islam.

That's a long discussion I'm not sure if anyone is interested in having--but I seriously doubt that Judaism is about going through many motions in an empty way.  Nor is it about interpreting language and scriptures in ways similar to Christianity or Islam.  And I believe this is evident in the Talmud.

But there is no shortage of folks who would disagree with these assertions. 

I agree there's nothing original or revolutionary Shanon's theory.  Some years ago I came across a book--the title of which escapes me--which claimed that both the consumption of manna and the Last Supper--the origin of the Eucharist according to Christian tradition--were psychedelic experiences.  Next someone will assert, if it hasn't been done already, that the bodhi tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment was actually a morning glory tree (morning glory seeds being high in LSA, a similar substance to LSD).  Notwithstanding, of course, that Buddha's teachings about mindfulness of the here-and-now preclude the consumption of intoxicants (one of the Five Principles for Buddhists).  Not to mention that both Jewish and Christian tradition, while not banning any and all intoxicant consumption (e.g. alcohol, except for some Protestant churches), also generally don't condone intoxication.

I'm quite sure that each person that leaves a point here is completely oblivious to the fact that they might be wrong, having said that I'll throw my 2 cents into the pile.  It's amazing to me how someone who says "I have no way of proving this and there's no substantial proof to anything that I'm saying" can be an instant internet hit and source of debate.  When those that claim to be atheists or even worse "religion-tolerant" voice their opinions, it amazes me that the words "religion" and/or "belief/beliefs" are commonly used.  That would amount to someone who claims to believe in evolution surrounding all of their discertation around the "missing link". (Which some of them do, amazingly enough.)  People who feel that there is no greater power, much less a "diety", will be the first to say that this "belief" in nothing greater than theirselves is based upon the fact that it is ONLY a fact to them because they choose to believe it is a fact.  No other book in the history of the world has gone through the scrutiny that the Bible has.  In every test and authentication process that man has devised to "evaluate" any and all other books, the Bible has passed with flying colors.  Furthermore, in the day and age of internet, it would take someone who forcibly places blinders over their own eyes to remain ignorant of the fact, that in the medical history of the world, EVERY documented case of N.D.E. (Near Death Experience) that EVERY person who has been documented to be dead for more than a few minutes (up to and including several hours even to a couple of days), but in EVERY case, EVERY ONE OF THESE PEOPLE come back with one of two accounts of where they've been.  They have either been to a place that can only be described as HEAVEN where JESUS, the one and only true Son of God sits on the right hand of His Father, or of a place of torment and anguish that they describe as hell.  You would think that at least ONE of these people would come back and talk about Joseph Smith, or Mohammed, or Buddha, I mean come on, throw me a bone, at least ONE person revived from the dead that sings "Harry Christna".  Sorry, I'm making myself laugh here.  Once again...it takes a whole lot STRONGER faith to not believe that the accounts in the Bible are true, than it EVER will to know and understand that Jehovah God is the One true GOD and JESUS is His Son and the ONLY way to redemption and the Holy Spirit is here to guide us in relationship that man has turned his back on...But then again, believing that MAN is the greatest thing that has ever crawled from the OOZE and that only we can decide what is right and wrong will probably let you sleep better at night if you don't want to talk to your Creator.  God Bless You All and happy sniping!