Something New: Judaism

Picked up an encyclopedia-like book on the subject and started ploughing away.

Since I know close to nuts about Judaism, but now I know more. This is what I know now. :)

Judaism’s trinity of Ethnos, ethos and logos

Distinctive holy people or nation

Effort to bring order into the world

History from Beginning to period of First Temple

Special covenant with Abraham

Exodus from Egypt

Relevation at Sinai

David first monarch to successfully unite the nation (12 tribes) and establish a secure ruling dynasty

Jerusalem as his political and religious capital

David’s son, Solomon

Temple as sacred center of Israelite state as well as universe

Sacred and social laws

Lucrative trade routes through the land of Israel

Babylonian overran Israel destroyed temple of Solomon, 586 bce

Assyrian invasions prompted major rethinking of the Israelite religion, represented punishment

Prophets Hosea, Amos, Isaiah critiqued ancient Israelite or Judean society and religion

Judaism and Christianity

Jesus’ movement emerged within early Judaism as an anticipation of the kingdom of God

Christianity understood itself within the terms of reference of Israel

Theological revolution then marked emergence of Christianity as a religion distinct from Judaism (When priests started to exalt Jesus?)

How the Jewish understandings of the scriptures were faulty

Jesus’ transcendent coordinate

John the Baptist: God could raise up children for Abraham from stones in order to replace those of Israel who refused to repent

Paul understands the role of Abraham as the patriarch of Judaism, but he argues that Abraham’s faith, not his obedience to the law, made him righteous in the sight of God

Jesus’ announcement of salvation held superior to Moses, Joshua, the angels and their messages

The son was “perfect once and for all, when he offered himself up.” Moses’s prescriptions for the sanctuary were a pale imitation of the heavenly sanctuary that Jesus has actually entered.


Prominence over and oustripping of Judaism

Christianity gained a boost through its connection to Rome (Constantine) and accessibility to all, away from Judaism’s trinity of Ethnos (not accessible to all), ethos and logos

Divine rule

Judaism and Islam

Allowed to practice and retain lifestyle and religion at cost of Jizya

Arabs bought their love and respect of Arabic language as God’s perfect language spurred Jews to study Hebrew to prove otherwise; healthy artistic/ linguistic rivalry

100years after Muslim conquest, majority of the Jews in the Islamic world had adopted Arabic as their native language, gave them access to evolving philosophical thinking of the Arabs who were reviving Greek antiquity


Ethics of Judaism

Morals- concrete norms of right and wrong in a given situation

Ethics- abstract higher level, why it is right/ wrong? What is right/wrong?

Divine reward and punishment alone would not suffice (a mere 40 days after Mt Sinai, the very people started worshipping a golden calf)

Thus inherent wisdom and morality of promise keeping and the duties of the covenant were included in the Torah

Empowers Jews to wrestle with Jewish tradition, encourages-even demands- that they learn more about their tradition in order to carry out this task

The body belongs to God- it is loaned to us

Affront God when we insult another person; must treat people with respect, recognizing each’s uniqueness and divine worth

Body is seen as inferior part, which we share with animals

Mind is distinctly human

Body and mind morally neutral and potentially good

Body’s pleasures are to be enjoyed, but only when experienced within the framework of holiness delineated by Jewish law and theology

To attain holiness is thus not to endure pan but to use all our God-given faculties to perform God’s commandments

Ideal in Judaism is marriage

Sex for procreation and joy and companionship

Education life-long activity

Contrary to enlightenment, does not see us as isolated individuals with rights: it sees us as members of a community with duties to each other and to God

We humans are to help God in ongoing repair of the world through social action