In a messaged dated April 2, 1998, Bsmith5044 writes:

This is an excellent analogy. It's obvious that the authors of the Bible dovetailed their accounts with the accounts that preceded them. After all, this is far easier to believe than the stories themselves. In fact, Thomas Paine demonstrates (in his book, The Age of Reason) that this could be the only explanation for some of the absurd and ridiculous tales which the authors of the Bible related. Again, I challenge the Christian of this e-mail debate to read this excellently prepared book.

My landlord is Jewish, and he's also a good friend of mine. I asked him about Midrash soon after I learned about it from Bsmith's original post about Midrashic traditions in February. His account of Midrash as he learned about it from his religious education corresponds exactly to what Bsmith detailed in his original post.

I personally thank Brian (Bsmith) for introducing me to this important component of early Jewish literature. After the things I have read - from critiques of the Bible like that Thomas Paine's, to the very stories of the Bible itself - it's obvious that the early authors of the books that eventually were collected by devious priests in later centuries were written according to the Midrashic tradition so described.

But, just for the fun of it, let me know when the next prophecy comes to pass. I can enjoy a joke just like the next guy.

Tindrbox

PS: I for one would like to know more about the traditions of Midrash, and its constituents, Halakah, Haggadah, and Peisqtah. Can you direct us to some primary sources for further study?

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