Darkthorn’s Blog

Judaism – Logbook Exercise 3.1

How does the idea that Judaism has been superseded lead to a negative view of persisting Judaism? What statements about Judaism as a religion, and of the Jewish leadership and people, express this negative view in the New Testament?

Many major religions, such as Christianity and Islam, have benefited from the early influence of Judaism (Zuesse, 2005). This leads these religions to believe that their beliefs have ‘properly’ interpreted some of the Jewish principles and that Judaism should fade into the background (Zuesse, 2005). As Judaism remains as a complete independent set of beliefs, other religions feel threatened by its continued existence.

The perspective on Judaism by Geiger in the 19^th century probably did not assist Judaism in promoting a positive image. Deutero-Isaiah (as cited in Martin, 1974, p. 240) had set Judaism apart from the other major religions, stating that Judaism served as ‘a light to the nations’. Geiger further extended this idea to the concept of ‘world redemption’ (Martin, 1974, p. 240) offered by Judaism. This clashes with the idea that Judaism has been superseded by Christianity for example. Christians taught that their way was the best religion (after having included elements of Jewish belief), and that Judaism would therefore have nothing new to offer towards humanity’s enlightenment.

The Jewish Torah gifts many of its insights to the Christian Bible, in both the New and Old Testaments (Horbury, 1998). However Christianity’s dislike of Judaism, and fear of its people, is apparent in the New Testament. Jewish rejection of Jesus, as in John 8:39-59 or John 10:22-42, is cited in the Bible in order to foster Christian rejection of all the Jews. Also, in John 12:42, it is said that Christians avoided mentioning their belief in Jesus for fear of rejection from the synagogues.

The Gospel of John the Evangelist describes the Jews as Jesus’ enemies, because the Jews demand Christ’s death (John 10:22–42, John 12:37–43) after initially persecuting him for breaking the Sabbath (John 5:16-18). The death of Christ may be blamed solely on the Jews in a Christian’s mind according to John, although the other three gospels do not implicate the Jews. Seemingly, this Gospel was written to strengthen the prejudice of Christians against Jews, by countering the unorthodox beliefs of Jews.

As Jesus, as well as the other disciples, was Jewish, it is rather incongruous of John to condemn all Jews for having rejected Christ. However, arguments by recent scholars have concluded that the term ‘the Jews’, here refers only to the Jewish religious authorities (particularly the Judean Jews) who were implicated in Jesus’ death. Even after Jesus’ death, the New Testament provides examples of the Jewish religious authorities using force against Jesus’ followers (Acts 7:53, Acts 8:3, 2 Cor. 11:24).

Judaism is not a static religion, being reformed as history progresses by rabbis such as Geiger and Frankel (Martin, 1974). Although its essential values have been maintained (and also incorporated into other religions), Judaism has evolved and been reinterpreted in order to spread and maintain its positive influence on other nations (Martin, 1974). The current negative view of Judaism is a product of uncomfortable newer religions being unable to see the existence of Judaism as relevant. By only looking at the negative aspects of Jewish worship, some Christians have even justified to themselves the horrific bloodshed that has occurred between members of the two religions.

Word Count – 523 words