I appreciate your writing and agree with the fundamental premise.
The Jewish semite behavior too has paradoxical elements. While based on a slave revolt, their journey away from slavery was perhaps necessarily self-serving e.g., a non-Hebrew slave would be freed given they converted to Judaism. Their application of usary to all but themselves was significantly extractive. Fallen.
Not to be misunderstood, the roman-catholics historical behavior? Also fallen.
Over the generations things have gotten better overall, but as you point out the battle is far from over.
I am so happy I read this because it explained a lot. I watch a lot of archeology and history on You Tube.
I never understood the emphasis on the Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures since the USA is a " Judeo Christian"culture. Rabbi Singer( on You Tube) claims about Paul are similar to yours. Thank you
This theory is spot-on in illuminating the big picture.
You note that the Church paradox "goes mostly unnoticed—because it is fully Western." True; but a small number of us may notice it more. In first reading the Christian Bible as an adult, much of it struck hard ("Jews are sons of the devil," "Synagogue of Satan," Jews bribed guards of Jesus' tomb to deny the Resurrection, etc.). I also discovered that "noticing" these parts is unwelcome by both Christians and Jews; so apologies for the offense. (Example - after the U.S. synagogue shootings, divinity scholars tapped by leftist media stridently proclaimed that the anti-Jewish verses both shooters quoted had everything to do with White Nationalism and nothing to do with scripture.) So I deduce that anti-Zionism won't be viewed as antisemitism as long as antisemitism isn't viewed as antisemitism.
The role of (inaptly named) "self-hating" Jews in intensifying the "paradox" throughout history also interests me (blood libel, Talmud slanders, etc.), though this too goes unnoticed.
Also curious how so many of any/no religion implement the "antisemitism" column while avowing the "semitism" column. Maybe a cognition inquiry is called for too? Looking forward to upcoming essays.
I'm reading "The Mythmaker: Paul and the Invention of Christianity" by Hyam Maccoby. Something on p. 62 jumped out for me because it resonates with your theory:
[Apropos the corruption of the meaning of "Messiah," not considered divine in Judaism] "Judaism had steadfastly refused to attribute divine status even to its greatest prophet, Moses, whose human failings are emphasized in scripture. Judaism had encountered a succession of human-divine figures throughout its history, from the deified Pharaohs of Egypt to the deified emperors of Greece and Rome, and had always found such worship to be associated with oppression and slavery."
I.e., an interesting link between religious & political.
I appreciate your writing and agree with the fundamental premise.
The Jewish semite behavior too has paradoxical elements. While based on a slave revolt, their journey away from slavery was perhaps necessarily self-serving e.g., a non-Hebrew slave would be freed given they converted to Judaism. Their application of usary to all but themselves was significantly extractive. Fallen.
Not to be misunderstood, the roman-catholics historical behavior? Also fallen.
Over the generations things have gotten better overall, but as you point out the battle is far from over.
I am so happy I read this because it explained a lot. I watch a lot of archeology and history on You Tube.
I never understood the emphasis on the Egyptian, Greek, and Roman cultures since the USA is a " Judeo Christian"culture. Rabbi Singer( on You Tube) claims about Paul are similar to yours. Thank you
This theory is spot-on in illuminating the big picture.
You note that the Church paradox "goes mostly unnoticed—because it is fully Western." True; but a small number of us may notice it more. In first reading the Christian Bible as an adult, much of it struck hard ("Jews are sons of the devil," "Synagogue of Satan," Jews bribed guards of Jesus' tomb to deny the Resurrection, etc.). I also discovered that "noticing" these parts is unwelcome by both Christians and Jews; so apologies for the offense. (Example - after the U.S. synagogue shootings, divinity scholars tapped by leftist media stridently proclaimed that the anti-Jewish verses both shooters quoted had everything to do with White Nationalism and nothing to do with scripture.) So I deduce that anti-Zionism won't be viewed as antisemitism as long as antisemitism isn't viewed as antisemitism.
The role of (inaptly named) "self-hating" Jews in intensifying the "paradox" throughout history also interests me (blood libel, Talmud slanders, etc.), though this too goes unnoticed.
Also curious how so many of any/no religion implement the "antisemitism" column while avowing the "semitism" column. Maybe a cognition inquiry is called for too? Looking forward to upcoming essays.
It does sound like you are getting this. Very exciting comment. Many thanks for sharing your thoughts with me.
I'm reading "The Mythmaker: Paul and the Invention of Christianity" by Hyam Maccoby. Something on p. 62 jumped out for me because it resonates with your theory:
[Apropos the corruption of the meaning of "Messiah," not considered divine in Judaism] "Judaism had steadfastly refused to attribute divine status even to its greatest prophet, Moses, whose human failings are emphasized in scripture. Judaism had encountered a succession of human-divine figures throughout its history, from the deified Pharaohs of Egypt to the deified emperors of Greece and Rome, and had always found such worship to be associated with oppression and slavery."
I.e., an interesting link between religious & political.
Ah, that Dave McGowan. One of the greats.