I have been reading every one.
You both literately represent 2 two sides of my life growing up, my Jewish and Catholic sides.
You both make very well thought out an intentioned arguments and we all are better for this discussions and conversations.
They bring us closer to G-d!
Thank you for the kind words.
I would like to take the opportunity to discuss the fact that this article has appeared on the Free Republic at all.
It is my opinion that true antisemitism exists to some extent everywhere and probably more so in Europe than in the US. On this I agree with Zionist Conspirator. However, alongside with the reasonable abhorrence of antisemitism that we all share, there is a uniquely leftist project that seeks to utilize the feelings against antisemitism in order to condemn religious conviction of any kind. The goal of that leftwing project is to marginalize and slander anyone of strong faith. So, a survey about normal and salutary national and religious self-preference of the youth of one nation, herself quite longsuffering, is slanderously proclaimed antisemitic. Similarly an honest and objective presentation of the Christian normative view on the Jewish religion would probably be termed antisemitic on any “mainstream” venue. That is a shame. The purpose of the Free Republic is to see through such stratagems of the left and defeat them; not providing them an echoing chamber.
Secondly, indeed there is a view among some Christians that Christianity is but extension of Judaism. This is especially strong among Fundamentalist Protestants. This view is not shared by normative Catholicism nor Orthodoxy, nor oder-vintage Protestantism. On this, despite very different vantage points, Zionist Conspirator and I would agree also: that American Jews might be left with a false impression that American Christians taken as a whole subscribe to some kind of Judaism Lite. Often it can be seen in Jewish attitudes toward Catholics subdivided, in heir mind between modern Vatican II Catholics and traditionalist medieval antisemitic Catholics. The reality is that only a very small percentage of American Protestants and virtually no informed Catholic, no matter how philosemitic they are, would hold the view that Jews do not need to convert to Christianity. Much heartache would be spared by Jews and Christians alike if they had come to terms with this fact: Christianity, with all its internal divisions, seeks to convert the entire world, including the Jews, to the Blessed Name of Jesus our Savior and Lord. We are two religions that should not merge nor can we merge, for we are in a very fundamental sense based on the denial of the other.
The good news is that no one on either side wishes ill to the other. We share many common theological points with the Jews, parts of the Holy Scripture, and we know how to live together in peace. It is for that reason upsetting that the slander of antisemitism, a movement typically secular and as sinful as any racism, — is once and again attached to Christians who take their faith seriously. Much greater danger to our society is secular indifferentism propagandized by the left, in significant part through “antisemitism” slander.