Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-06-07
JUDAISM AND CHRISTIANITY.

Judaism be fec0nciled," Is being con-
sidered by portion Of the public press,
0Rd It's most recent discussion was
stimulated by an article in the April
number OF the Arena, from the pen Of
Mr.. Theodore s. Seward, who claims
that the principles OF Judaism and
those Of Christianity "are in their es-
sence IDENTICAL and sympathetic" He
adds;
"a gulf or division has been created
where no gulf existed. We are led TO
wonder how such an error could be per-
petuated as Il has been for nineteen
hundred years And the marvel be-
comes all the greater as we study anew
the teachings Of the Founder OF Chris
tlanity In order to learn His own
thought concerning the question, II Is
seen that he took the utmost pains 20
forestall such an error by distinctly
stating that he came not 70 destroy the
law but TO fulfil t. IL IL q common
impression among Christians that the
Cnlden Rule originated with Jesus, YET
in restating the injunction OF Moses,
Love thy nelghbor as thyself,' In the
words. AN things Whatsoever sc would
that men should do TO you do We even
so TO them He was careful TO say,
for this is the law and the prophets
He argues that the Jews Of nineteen
centuries ago made great mistake In
expecting an external Messiah, a king
OF reslstless power, and that after the
third and fourth centuries the Christian
leaders made as great q mistake In cree
ating the dogma Of an ecclesiastical
Messiah. He says:
1.-THE latter was no nearer to the true
concept OF a spiritual Messlahship than
the former Hence the word Christian,
as now commonly applied is q msno'
mer, The governments OF so-cnlled
Chriatendom are not Christian; society
Is not Christian--lf the life and teaching
OF the Founder OF Christianity be nc.
cepted as the standard There are many |
individual Christians in the churches, In |
the business world, In society; but the |
fundamental structure Is not Christian |
in the true sense Of that word"
There II much in what Mr.. Seward as
serts that Is true M relating TO matters
OF fact. But the idea that Jews and
Christians can unite on common rcl-
gicus ground appears 10 us utterly Inn
practicable. While Il IL true
that so-called Christianity Is very
different from that which was
taught and exemplIhed by Jesus OF
Nazareth, md that the nations, sects
and churches Of modern times are not
Christian according to the life and
teaching Of Christ, II ls not true that
The doctrines enunciated by the Nazar-
enc, even II promulgated now IN all
their original purity and force. can be
made TO harmonize with Jewish theor-
les and theology.
The central idea of the Christian
faith Is the divine personality OF Jesus,
and that He Is the Christ, the true Mes.
siah, who not only fulfilled the law but
brought In better religious system.
which was TO supercede entirely an
that had gone before. He declared
Himself literally the Son OF God repre-.
senting the Eternal Father. taking up.
on Himself human flesh, that he might
die for the sins OF the world and draw
all men to Him. He declared that lie
came down from heaven into the world
and would leave the world and return
10 the Father In heaven. That lie was
"the way, the truth and the llfe;" that
no one could come to the Father but
By Him.
A Hebrew who receives the doctrine
Of Jesus OF Nazareth must believe in
Ms Christship and divinity. In doing
30 he would no longer be Jew in
religion. Christian who would re-
pudiate Jesus as divine and as
Christ would no longer be
Christian. In order TO unite in one
faith or worship, the jew
must be entirely converted from his
former faith. or the Christian must ac-
cept Judaism. 10 make the twain truly
ore would be as impossible as to mix
oil and water so as TO be one fluid.
II Is true that the Jews rs a nation
overlooked entirely the coming OF Mes.
siah as the offspring OF the Virgin, as
a man OF sorrows and acquainted with
grief. as the messenger bringing
higher code than that OF Moses. and as
he Redeemer atoaing for the sin Of the
world, and that they looked forward
1nly TO the fulallment Of the prophecies
His second advent, as King
" KINGS and Lord Of Lords. to rule
rom the rivera TO the ends OF thu
.arth In like manner modern profess
nE Christians appear to LOOK only up
N the coming OF the babe Of Bethle.
icm: His sorrows and sunerings, his
ruel death and immortal resurrection {
While they ignore the predictions con- Z
erning His glorious appearance with =
en- thousand OF His Saints" TO estab- 9
lsh lis everlasting kingdom and do }
nlnion ia which all nations shall serve
nd obey Hin But these facts VIII 4
OF have any effect In bringing togeth- a
r the disciples OF modern Judaism and n
lodern Christianity, except as peaces- .
lie citizens Of the nation In which they u
We. tolerant Of their opposing creeds, Il