Replies

Let’s just take 154 as an example, shall we?

“As a preparatory religion, Judaism was the true religion of God until such time as the Messiah should come. But it was abrogated when all that it foreshadowed was realized.”

This presumes that “all that Judaism forshadowed was realized” and that Judaism is no longer the “true religion”. I realize that you believe this to be true for your faith; however, as a Jew I find it insulting that the author dares to declare that “Judaism is no longer the true faith”. It’s true for me and millions of others.

“And a religion which still claims to be awaiting the Redeemer of the human race after that Redeemer has come is obviously wrong, and could not retain God’s sanction.”

Calling my faith “wrong” is insulting - I hope even you would see that. Moreover, that we “could not retain G-D’s sanction” is arrogant presumption. How dare this person speak for G-D!

“there is an opposition between the preparatory Jewish religion and Christianity.”

The notion that my faith is “prepatory” is insulting to me. It belittles my faith by stating quite plainly that anyone who observes it cannot possibly be complete. Again, while you believe this to be the case, can you not see how I would find this offensive?

“Literal Judaism was imperfect, and embodied much that was temporal and fleshly, while the religion of Christ is perfect, and elevated to the spiritual and eternal plane.”

Given the Inquisition, the Crusades, the pogroms throughout Europe, the forced expulsions, burning of Jewish religious texts, etc., this “perfect religion” of yours is certainly bloody.

“the true Jew was not one who merely submitted to external rites, but he who loved God, and was united in spirit with the Savior to come. But many of the Jews had fallen short of this to a very great extent, and were absorbed by worldly and merely human considerations.”

Whereas no Christians “fell short” of loving G-D, etc.? This states that “many Jews” are flawed, but presumes that followers of your messiah are not. You are free to believe that but don’t think it’s insulting to Jews?

I do not intend to disparage your faith or the practitioners of it; however, I hope this brief explanation allows you to recognize that the statements, while you believe them to be absolutely true, are, in fact, insulting to Jews.

There is something else that I’d like you to consider: Jews continue to exist in spite of all that Christianity has done to them throughout the last two thousand years. The practitioners of your faith have done their utmost to try and exterminate us, but we have not only survived, but actually thrived. Now, despite all that you have done and will continue to do, the State of Israel has come into existance, the “wandering Jew” has stopped wandering, and the ingathering of exiles has begun. Perhaps, in view of these circumstances, you should start modifying your catachism to recognize that there are many true paths to G-D, and yours may be perfect for you, but there are others. Do you really need to disparage them in order to promote your own?