In the Book of Isaiah, God embraces the Persian king Cyrus and his respect for different religions, even though Cyrus does not know God’s name and does not practice Judaism. By calling Cyrus “the anointed one,” or messiah, God signals his tolerance for people who share his moral vision, no matter their nationality or faith.
— Teach, Don’t Preach, the Bible Op-Ed by Bruce Feiler, The New York Times. December 21, 2005
