awex@wxlvax.UUCP (Alan Wexelblat) (02/07/84)
There are many people who insist on lumping together Jewish and Christian
religious ideas under one heading. Admittedly, most of Christianity is
descended from Judaism, but the differences are enough that it still matters
whether one is a Jew or a Christian. Let me give an example, which I hope will
spark some discussion:
For a Christian, the Golden Rule is: "Do unto others as you would have them do
unto you."
But for Jews, it is (as expressed by Rabbi Hillel): "Do not do to others as you
would not have them do unto you."
Is it clear that these two are not logically equivalent? The second formulation
merely forbids certain acts, but does not enable any others. On the other hand,
one could justify such things as burning witches under the first version, since
you are "saving their souls," and you, the burner, certainly would want your
soul to be saved.
I believe that this is one of the main reasons that Christians proselytize, and
Jews do not. (Please forgive me if I've over-generalized; I don't think I have.
}
For those with insatiable curiousities, I was born and raised Jewish, and am
currently "Undecided."
--Alan Wexelblat (Koyaanisqatsi)
...decvax!ittvax!wxlvax!awexrjb@akgua.UUCP (R.J. Brown [Bob]) (02/09/84)
I suspect that the origin of "Judaeo-Christian"
has to do with general subscription to moral codes
by Christians and Jews
and behavior of individuals in a society - not
fine points of theology about who prosyletizes (sp ?)
Bob Brown {...pur-ee!inuxc!ihnp4!clyde!akgua!rjb}
AT&T Technologies, Inc.............. Norcross, Ga
(404) 447-3784 ... Cornet 583-3784