WHAT CONFLICT? large were paradoxically not going to be
In our modern society we feel comforted involved in this movement. Somehow that the public cries of ‘Christ-killer’, ‘well- Christians needed to work out how these poisoner’ and ‘sorcerer’ of the Middle Ages promises and laws apparently specific to have long since died out. The church no the Jewish people contained in scripture longer accuses Jewish people of being in were to apply to them as non-descendants league with the devil nor believes forced of Abraham. In this identity crisis of the baptisms are an appropriate course of early centuries of Christianity, arguments action. It thus seems that despite this raged with some demanding that often bloody and slanderous history, Christians adopt Jewish practice and laws Christianity and Judaism may have finally to follow God and at the other end that reached an acceptable state of peace and the God of Jewish scriptures was no more tolerance, and whilst anti-Semitism than a vengeful demi-God. regrettably remains a real presence in our society, the issue no longer seems to be a It seemed convenient for many Christians specifically Christian one. On entering this in fact, that most of what they would like debate one would not therefore be blamed to say was contained in the gospel for asking ‘what conflict?’ accounts of Jesus and letters of the apostles that came to be known as the Unfortunately many of the attitudes New Testament. There seemed to be little towards Judaism that perpetuated so problem with these texts, which largely much persecution remain under the promoted God’s universal plan for the surface in present Christian understanding salvation of all peoples. However, as these of Judaism. History has shown that not texts referred to the Hebrew Scriptures as only do these attitudes carry a dangerous authoritative and relied upon ideas set out risk of expression in acts of religious or in these Jewish writings, most still wanted racial hatred, but that they hinder any to retain this Jewish inheritance. Yet whilst form of constructive dialogue between the it seemed useful to draw religious faiths that may enrich both. authority from the Hebrew Scriptures, stories of genocide (Joshua 10:40) and Whilst there are many routes into suicide attacks (Judges 16:27-30) understanding the history and possible seemingly sanctioned by God as well as future of Jewish-Christian relations a perplexing ritual laws also became difficult particularly interesting one lies in the to reconcile with the non-violent and shared sacred text that both faiths hold to. moral teachings of Jesus. The Hebrew It is on this avenue that we shall look at Scriptures became for many, as they do to what must be done to make people aware this day, like the voice of an embarrassing of these underlying attitudes in order to grandparent in the room, occasionally heal this rift, and overcome the impasse producing horrendously non-politically that still largely prevents any form of correct remarks about ethnic minorities. constructive dialogue between the faiths. As most of us do when confronted with such a situation, the Church’s reaction, whilst not wanting to deny its existence, A PARTING OF WAYS was to disassociate itself with this history. At its birth, Christianity was very much an internal Jewish movement which hailed Somehow a solution had to be found Jesus as the long awaited saviour of the which could retain the Hebrew scriptures, chosen people of Israel, promised in the yet not tie Christianity down to its focus scriptures since Moses. However, as this on a particular ethnic group. The view that message was quickly spread into the non- came to dominate the Church was that Jewish world, the proportion of Jewish Christianity had somehow fulfilled or adherents dwindled. It became clear that replaced the now obsolete Jewish faith. despite Jesus’ relationship to the Jewish What was distinctly Jewish was labelled nation and scriptures, the Jewish people at the ‘Old’ Testament, and the superior Christian New Testament teachings took generally creation and Fall, then numerous primary position as the definitive lens by prophecies of the coming Christ which which all the Old could be read through. offer proof and validity of the Christian This allowed Christians to diminish the message. In this way the rich cultural significance of much of the Hebrew traditions and nuances outside of this Scriptures, as that was from an earlier Christian mapping of this foreign territory time before the set up of the new were then generally brushed aside in the Christian way. In fact to the Christian, wake of this narrow minded extraction of history really doesn’t get started until the theological resources. coming of Christ (which is perhaps why the entrance of Jesus sets the first century Western calendar). All before became a WIDENING THE RIFT poor shadow of what has now arrived, as As this attitude formed, communication the spiritual church had replaced the and relations between Christianity and original Jews as God’s chosen people. Judaism subsequently broke down. As understanding was lost, the Church began to associate Judaism with all that COLONIALISATION OF THE HEBREW Christianity was not. As Paul preached SCRIPTURES salvation through God’s grace as the As Christianity developed, this underlying Christian message, it was merely assumed attitude resulted in a remarkably narrow that Jews did not believe in grace and minded approach to reading the Hebrew think their good deeds would merit Scriptures. The manner in which the salvation. In addition, Jesus’ Hebrew Scriptures were handled became denouncements of the corrupt Jewish comparable to the British Empire’s authorities of his day in the New colonising the supposedly ‘primitive’ Testament were read not as criticisms of cultures it annexed. specific persons, but as a general condemnation of the Jewish people. Underlying the British Empire’s expansion Likewise the Gospel narrative of a small was the assumption that the undeveloped number of Jewish leaders collaborating cultures it encountered would be very with Roman authorities to kill Jesus was much improved by the imposition of our transposed onto the Jewish people as a superior culture, and so suppressed the whole as murderers of God. These wealth of indigenous culture by exporting distortions of originally internal issues and imposing our ‘civilised’ education, within a Jewish culture into anti-Jewish literature and culture upon these polemic resulted in Jews becoming ‘fortunate’ recipients. Not being entirely identified as the enemies of Christianity. altruistic, the Empire was able to recognise valuable material resources in Whilst we do not have a clear picture of the primitive milieu and extracted such the overall relationship between the faiths assets from their former mismanaging and during the rise of Christianity, the incompetent owners. movement at first received a mixed reception from Jews. To many, Christianity Correspondingly, the Jews were seen as would have appeared as one of many the mismanaging owners of the Old failed attempts to proclaim that the long Testament, who need not be consulted in awaited messiah had come to liberate extracting the valuable theological Israel. The fact that Christians were diamonds occasionally buried within. After claiming that their great liberator had not all, the primitive Jew simply did not only failed to end Roman oppression but understand the symbolic meaning of their been tried and killed as a criminal text: in their short-sightedness they saw unsurprisingly did not appeal much to only a literal meaning in Old Testament Judaism. Still, this did not prevent some laws and consequently slavishly obeyed dialogue between members of the faith, such earthly rules and rituals. The and Jewish-Christians at least would have enlightened Christian however was above been allowed into some synagogues. On such petty attempts to win God’s favour one point however, the Christian’s claims and could disregard Jewish interpretation could not be merely overlooked. That of the texts. In effect, the Old Testament Christians worshiped a man named Jesus could be reduced to a long-winded and claimed him to be God was simply account of a number of basic premises; unthinkable to the Jewish mentality. Such blasphemy did not receive a positive criticism, reassess and adapt. Any reception from some, and there is some religious, social or political organisation evidence to say some cases (perhaps will require renewal and repair at some isolated) of Jews persecuting Christians point. This is by no means a foreign idea occurred. to the Jewish and Christian faiths. From the earliest stages in each tradition, By the time Christianity had grown to judges, prophets and reforming become the dominant European power, theologians and figures have repeatedly the seeds of miscommunication and anti- been required to correct thinking and Judaism had already been firmly planted. practice as well as to direct the The Jews became victim to ongoing community towards new directions and persecution and discrimination at the restore its relevance to its world. One hands of the Christian authorities. cannot also listen only to internal voices, Throughout the repeated violence, as this is likely only to perpetuate the accusations and denials of political rights same vices. Instead criticisms from that the Jews suffered during the outside can be an invaluable voice if Christianised Roman Empire, Middle Ages considered seriously. Again, this is by no and Christian dominated Europe a means a radical idea. It was only through distinctly negative view of Christianity was engaging with external criticism and understandably cemented in Judaism. heresy that theologians were pushed to revise and form the doctrine and ideas Eventually under the Nazis, the anti- that we inherit today. Semitic attitudes ingrained in European culture culminated in the unthinkable. It is perhaps due to the common origins Whilst the Nazis were by no means acting and scripture though, that a promising on any Christian principles or authority, window to debate is available. As these the centuries of anti-Judaism the Church faiths developed in opposition to each had perpetuated in Europe meant that it other, there was often a tendency to could not escape some responsibility for define one’s own beliefs as the opposite of the events that took place. the other. This is to say when one group emphasised certain aspects of scripture, Given this tortured history of relations the other would distance themselves from with Christianity, it is understandable that that position. For example, when there is little desire for many Jews to now Christians started to widely read a Jewish engage on a level playing-field with translation of the Hebrew Scriptures Christians. known as the Septuagint, Jews became suspicious of the translation primarily because of Christian interest in it. Such WHY TALK NOW? reactions that diminish what were aspects As history has shown, misunderstanding of one’s own tradition do no justice to seems to be one of the primary either group. However, it means that there contributors to conflict. Had the average is now potential that discussion and inter- Christian over the centuries had even the religious peace may allow both traditions most basic understanding of Judaism it to rediscover what has been lost in the would have been difficult to imagine how conflict. the fear and belief that the Jews were the enemy of Christianity could have arisen. For Christians, Judaism is in a unique However, it would seem a distinctly position to enrich Christian understanding pessimistic stance to think that the only of the Hebrew Scriptures. By listening to motivation for inter-religious debate is to the fruits of 2000 years of Jewish practice avoid persecution. Whilst this duty is by and reflection on the law, Christians may no means insignificant, it is important to find that a far richer and helpful recognise the possibility that faith groups understanding can be gained. Perhaps could actually gain through much of the unease many Christians feel communication. The question then, is why regarding the law of Moses could be set to be interested in what the other group has rest in this way. For the Jew, offering their to say? interpretations in conversation may be a way in which to fulfil the children of Firstly, it seems true that any religious Abraham’s calling to be a blessing to all community must be willing to listen to the nations of the earth (Genesis 12:3). history that lies between these groups will not be laid to rest or healed quickly. The HOW TO PROCEED? steps that must be taken before a positive In entering dialogue on a level playing future can be envisioned are likely to be field there is the worry that one’s integrity slow and careful. However, such crucial to one’s faith may be somehow steps have at least been made by both compromised. The thought may be that to sides in the last century. A number of discuss theological matters with a group important Jewish thinkers have started to of differing ideas that a watering down of ask in what respects Christianity may be a belief is inevitable. This fear may be down valuable influence in introducing talk of to an assumption that inter-religious the God of Israel to the world. Likewise dialogue must proceed by finding some Christian attempts to recognise their form of ‘lowest common denominator’ historical responsibility for propagating beliefs and basing all discussion upon this. anti-Jewish attitudes have been in Such approaches that ignore differences statements such as Nostra Aetate by the between groups may in fact only amount Catholic Church. to self-appreciation, as it is only the reflection of one’s beliefs in the other that Perhaps then, a relationship can be forged is valued. Surely we would gain more by by learning from the other tradition, going beyond talking about only those through which respect can grow and the matters on which there is agreement. other can be valued for and not despite their differences. If dialogue proceeded by first recognising that a number of unbridgeable gulfs exist between the faiths, it would perhaps be possible then to learn and be challenged by a different perspective, whilst crucially retaining fidelity to one’s own faith. If you’re interested in pursuing this Specifically, a Jewish person need not issue further, an excellent web accept the divinity of Christ to learn from resource is: other Christian ideas, and a Christian www.jcrelations.net similarly needn’t drop their beliefs to realise that they don’t have a monopoly Another key book on the topic is: on all Hebrew Scripture interpretation. Kendall Soulen The God of Israel and Christian WHAT HOPE? Theology Despite the potential that exists for fruitful (Fortress Press) dialogue, it must be asked how realistic the prospect of significant change in Jewish-Christian relations is. The tortured