avi@hogpd.UUCP (07/11/83)
I have been been seeing this expression on the net. Judaism has many different interpretations on the so-called "Old Testament" and also has an entire set of "oral traditions". Many Jews disagree on what specifically is the Jewish Approach - even within Orthodox groups. The Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist movements have their own interpretations. Most of them do not take much of Christian Theology seriously. Christians appear to have similar disagreements about interpretation of scriptures and are divided into groups as disparate as Catholics, Mormons .... Many of these groups do not take Jewish Theology seriously. (All want to "improve" it) So, what exactly is Judeo-Christian tradition? Can anyone name the intersection of all the different sets of beliefs? I usually hear the expression "Judeo-Christian" from non-Jews. Jews do not tend to ask for Christian support for their stands (am I wrong on this?). These are serious observations, and I would like some public observations on the net. I don't mean to get back to the same level of discussion as the one raised by Andy Tannenbaums question about "the Holy Land", but I see some similar condescending attitudes. In other words, I think many people use the expression to mean "Christian IMPROVEMENTS to the original Jewish tradition". When used this way, I find it somewhat insulting. Avi Gross ABI(until the name change) LZ-3C-314 (201) 576-3063 houx?!hogpd!avi P.S. As I have stated before, I feel that no religion has any monopoly on Truth, Justice and the American Way.
wex@ittvax.UUCP (Alan Wexelblat) (07/12/83)
I have no light to shed on what the "intersection of beleifs" that Christians
call 'Judeo-Christian' might be. I have, however, noted that it is always
Christians who use that phrase. I beleive that they think it gives their
argument a wider base of support. Jews, on the other hand, do not
particularly c\care/ about such things. As the saying goes:
3 Jews + 1 argument = 4 viewpoints.
--Alan Wexelblat
decvax!ucbvax!ittvax!wex
P. S. Please do not interpret this as an attack on anyone; it is merely my
collected observations.cfiaime@ihnp4.UUCP (07/12/83)
I don't claim to have the final answer to this question. Possibly, this term comes from the fact that Christianity is built on Jewish tradition. Christianity does not try to improve on this tradition and teaching. It is very difficult for some Christians to accept the fact that Christ was in fact Jewish. One hundred percent, to the last punctuation mark of the law. As people lose sight of that, the various persecutions begin. (And many things were done in the name of Christ that were totally wrong. It is a shame that people pervert the Word of God.) It is quite interesting, in the past year of teaching Sunday School, 3 months were spent on the Gospels, and 9 months were spent in the Old Testament. (We are now using material written by Concordia Publishing House, but the ratio seems to be about the same for David Cook as well.) It seems that the traditions and teachings of the Old Testament are becoming more important to Christians all the time. I hope so. Jeff Williams BTL Naperville ihnp4!cfiaime