[jboot]

"IMO, that Jews paricipated in the Crucifixion is no more relevant to the message of Christianity than that Christ was born a Jew."

The Jewishness of the Christ and the participation of the Jews-specifically the priests-was highly relevant.

Only a son of David could be the promised Messiah.
Only a Hebrew priest could prepare a valid sacrifice for sins.

As Paul later said, "Salvation comes from the Jews." Jewish participation in the crucifiction was a Divine imperative, not to be understood as a basis for anti-Semitism, but rather for gratitude. The fact that some "Christians" have persisted in abusing it for thier own ends does not make it untrue.

[Sam Cree]

"Jewish participation in the crucifiction was a Divine imperative, not to be understood as a basis for anti-Semitism, but rather for gratitude. The fact that some "Christians" have persisted in abusing it for thier own ends does not make it untrue."

OK, I had not really been aware of this, though it does seem obvious that the point of the Crucifiction, that Christ died to offer mankind salvation, implies that the participants in the event were acting according to God's wishes.

Yes, agreed that Judaism and Christianity are closely related, share the same moral code. I suppose you could say that both are "Jewish" religions.

Sorry to take so long to get back to you, have not had the chance to get next to the computer since yesterday morning. Thanks for your replies and thoughts.