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Hardcopies ready! Thankyou to all who helped.
#5
Shlama and Happy New Year!

Long time no see! Thought I'd drop by and say hello as a recent client of mine turned out to be Assyrian (his name tipped me off, as well as his Assyrian-looking keychain), and we had a great discussion on the value of the Peshitta and of the CoE which is apparently in my neck of the woods. He also gave me a copy of the Peshitta which was awesome.

Thankyou Larry for your comments. Indeed, I am currently editing the book to remove theology and leave the textual comparisons, now that I have just about finished iGod.

Yes it is true; I am a pantheist/atheist and no longer believe in fundamentalist Christianity. I wrestled with the idea of keeping my Aramaic site alive and decided to, as there is indeed much use to it for believers and non-believers alike. Perhaps it is even vital in showing evangelicals that Jews and Arameans weren?t always so literal? Though I am an atheist, I am still happy to be called a Christian (a Christian atheist like Robert Price for example), and arguably am a Christian in one of the most ancient modes (the Gnostics, or non-literalists). And I do still find value in the Peshitta. In fact, I am currently working on another book which shows some of the awesome Christ-teachings, and their equivalent teachings in the older Eastern traditions of Taoism, Buddhism and Hinduism.

As an aside, I think I am a much better person and Christian now since leaving fundamentalism. I look back with embarrassment at my behaviour (including on this very forum), such as spreading racist and homophobic hatred, and being argumentative on issues such as doctrine. I even dragged Paul Younan into a debate with Mr. Conder which was surely one of my low points ? I have since apologised many times to Paul and Mr. Conder.

Mr. Roth is indeed disappointed with my "conversion" but I do have much love for him. I will never forget for example that it is he who gave me my name. Larry is also correct in saying that the book is a compilation of arguments from various Peshitta-promoters (such as Paul, Andrew and Larry), not just myself. In an act of humility I could only say "compiled by Raphael Lataster" on the cover.

As for claims of my church, this is actually incorrect. I do not belong to any church, distazo is referring to my charity (now renamed the All One Charity - actually a foundation) which is and always has been totally secular. I most certainly have not done any of these ventures to make a quick buck. I have dedicated my life to learning, teaching, charity, equality and social justice, which seems more in line with a Christ-like life than the posterity-evangelicals... I may be in a position to 'retire' in a few years, so I will do my PhD and try to become a lecturer either in philosophy or religious studies.

I no longer study the Peshitta, having already studied much in that field, and having much more to study now that I am more liberal (philosophy, comparative religion, Eastern spiritualties, psychology, etc), but think of you with fondness.

Keep studying, and keep discussing. May we all have an excellent new year!

Best Regards,

Raphael Lataster
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Re: Hardcopies ready! Thankyou to all who helped. - by peshitta_enthusiast - 01-09-2011, 08:13 AM

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