From: ljmorly@polaris.utu.fi (Laura Johanna Manninen)
Subject: Re: Clean And Unclean Un / Maccoby book
Organization: University of Turku
Date: 27 Aug 92 13:14:14

In article <9208261639.AA24205@aplpy.jhuapl.edu> levene@aplpy.jhuapl.edu (Robert A. Levene) writes:
> Combining two topics:

> 1.  I'm not telling anyone to go out an buy a book.  You can borrow
>     Hyam Maccoby's books from your local free public library or
>     university library.

I guess that is the situation in America. Never mind...

> What I do support is the idea:

> TA> But we call ourselves Christians so as not to be religiously confused
> TA> with Jews who have rejected Messiah Jesus.  This is both biblically
> TA> and practically correct.

> It seems like "religious confusion" is the bread and butter of folks
> like Harvey Smith who post statements such as "we believe that
> Biblical Judaism is in fact New Covenant, which is called Christianity"

Then how would you say it ? (I mean the citation.) Do you believe that 
God is one ? Or is it just a question of "religions" i.e. that all of them
are correct ways to serve Hashem ?

> 3.  See Hyam Maccoby's brand new book "Judas Iscariot and the Myth
>     of Jewish Evil" for more about #2, and a pretty good comeback
>     to those consider rejection of Jesus an evil act.

I'll attach here a description of that book, which I happened to get
through email. (Nothing bad in that, I guess...) Hope someone could
analyse it here on AM.

------------------------quote--------------------------------------------

   I have just completed reading a book by Hyam Maccoby.  It is a
study to determine if the roots of anti-semitism are in Christian
theology.  "Judas Iscariot and the Myth of Jewish Evil" begins on
its fascinating quest for truth by searching out the character ofof
Judas.  Since Maccoby's thoroughly researched scholarship shows a
strong likelyhood that the Judas story is a total fabrication, he
goes on to determine how this myth was created.  The reason why a
Judas character had to be created was studied in one of Maccoby's
earlier works, "The Sacred Executioner."  The character of Judas,
of course, evolved into ALL Jews for ALL time.  And it is the odd
need on the part of Christian theology to have Christ killers who
shall pass on this 'guilt' for all time that is the driving force
of anti-semitism.
  Maccoby also shows that it is not only the 'guilt' that makes
the invalidation of the Jews so necessary.  It is also the nature
of Judaism itself that Maccoby shows is so threatening to beliefs
that are at the core of the Christ myth.
   Maccoby feel that there is an unconscious haterd of G-d in the
Christ mythology.  The conscious mythology says that G-d loved us
so much that He was willing to sacrfice his only son.  But dply
buried in the subconscious is the knowledge that G-d DEMANDED the
death of his son in expiation of sins commited in disobedience to
his cruel moral demands.  This sacrifice is sold as G-d providing
a merciful escape for humanity from eternal damnation.
   Maccoby show how differently Judasim sees things.  The laws do
not represent an impossible moral standard, as they are viewed by
Christian theology.  He points out that G-d's message that that a
human morality is possible.  In Judaism, G-d has never condemned,
or damned humanity, and so does not have to engineer a rescue, by
the torture of a divine victim.  It is precisely because Judaism,
which teaches that people are capable of moral responsibility, is
constantly insisting on the possiblilty of morality for all, that
it is such a threat to Christian mythology.  If Judaism is right,
that salvation is possible through behavior, then the death Jesus
will have been for nothing.
  The development of these notions are done superbly in this fine
work.  I highly recommend it.
-- 
"The tree of liberty must occasionally be nourished by the blood
of tyrants and of patriots."                    Thomas Jefferson
"Hello? Information?  Would you please give me the home phone of
Pat Buchanan?...Yes.  His address as well, thank you very much."

-------------------end---of---quote-----------------------------------

> R

> --
> Robert A. Levene     Internet: levene@aplpy.jhuapl.edu
>   "/  //  / /"         Bitnet:   RXL1@APLVM

- Laura
--
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans 
of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from ancient, from the days of eternity." - Micha 5:1

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing 
love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,"
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.    - Yeshaya 54:10

met b'chet, CHAI B'Y'SHUA !