Christianity: A History - Part 1 - Jesus the Jew

[naomi24]

Did anyone watch this? Any thoughts?

http://www.channel4.com/video/brandless-catchu p.jsp?vodBrand=christianity-a-history

(Thanks Jake)

[ghetto poet]

if jesus was a jew then surely he would not have told people to give their money to the poor. he would have told them to hide it all away at home and under their hats. i also dont belive any self respecting jew would feed 5000 people. thats 5000 meals for themselves!!

[Booldawg]

I didnt see it but no doubt 'provocative' means 'negative'.

[naomi24]

Booldawg, Personally I wouldn't say it was negative - but for some, it could be educational. Why not watch it and find out?

[jake-the-peg]

Some of it was rather ovious - emphasising that Jesus was obviously Jewish - well Duh!

And all the medieval anti-semitism and blood libels that are well known

Others were slightly more interesting, pointing out that baptism was a Jewish rite at the time.

And the probable invention of Jesus's birth in Bethlehem because of the prophesy that the Messiah would be born there.

Then the issue of Pilot's washing of his hands and whether Jesus' crucifixion was Jewish or Roman driven - and the suggestion that Judas might have acted with Jesus' connivence.

I'd Say it was interesting but not facinating - I am looking forward to this weeks program by Portillo on Constantine's transformation ofthe early church

[Octavius]

As you say jake, perhaps mildly interesting but not really enlightening (this episode at least). Baptism was a Jewish purification rite (mikvah) - Jesus himself was baptised by his cousin John the Baptist in the river Jordan, and John some time before him. I imagine the idea of washing for spiritual purification would go back a long way before in other cultures as well.

John himself was executed by Herod as he was seen as a threat. So the idea that Herod gave away the claim to Jesus� execution is either an early Roman exercise in �it weren�t me guv� or he really did hand him over in the hope that it would quash rebellion and any uprising. For them to see a member of their own creed disassociated from Judaism by their own people would have been a powerful message. I would guess more likely the former though, although that would probably detract from the presenters assertion that all this culminated in Christian anti-semitism causing the holocaust. I guess that was the �provocative� part.

Again I agree with you about the next episode. Lets hope.

[naomi24]

Most of it was indeed obvious, Jake - but only to those of us who are aware. I've known Christians who had no idea that Jesus was Jewish - and even when told have denied it emphatically. They insist that he was ... err .... Christian, so as I said, I believe this programme would have been educational - in fact, quite a revelation - for some.

[naomi24]

Octavius, I don't recall any biblical text that tells of John's own baptism. Could you tell me where to find it please?

[Octavius]

I didn�t mention the bible.

[naomi24]

Where did the information come from, then?

[WaldoMcFroog]

Odd that someone who is continually levelling accusations of racism at people on this forum would (whether 'humourously' or not) mock someone else using racist stereotypes, no?

[naomi24]

This isn't the first time he's maligned Jewish people, Waldo, but when it's been pointed out to him, it's fallen on deaf ears. The words 'plank' and 'eye' spring to mind ... .. well, 'plank' at least.

[Octavius]

What information naomi? Are you playing the dumb blonde again?

What with JTB being devoutly Jewish an'all, it is likely he would have had the mikvah. Of course I have no 'hand written with blood 'n' quill' evidence of this, just surmising based on the Jewish rite that would have existed in his lifetime.

[naomi24]

You must have me confused with someone else, Octavius.

So your statement that John was baptised sometime before Jesus wasn't a statement - it was an assumption. Thank you for clarifying that.

[Octavius]

I see. Perhaps I should have satisfied your angst by plagiarising the atheist message and including the word....

probably.

[naomi24]

No angst, but inaccurate statements lead to confusion, and need to be clarified.

[Octavius]

Yes, I can see that you would be confused.

[naomi24]

Octavius, I know I've asked you this before, but you didn't answer me. You are a bloke, aren't you?

[Octavius]

You may have asked me before, and I can confirm, that I may have answered you. It really depends what time of the month it was.

[naomi24]

Ahh, never mind. Perhaps some medication would help?