JTA: The Global News Service of the Jewish People

03/27/08 04:13 PM

Please note: My original comment was ascribed to another and my name was signed to a comment to which I do not subscribe. Following is my opinion. I hope the site gets it right this time.

As long as attempts to prosyletize aggressively are not backed up by coercion they do not, in my view, constitute an act of war. They do disqualify the prosyletizers from engaging in interreligious dialogue, in which all parties must accept the religious integrity of the others.

I wonder if many Jews react so explosively to attempts to evangelize us because of their own ambivalence to our tradition and its practices.

I think our response to Christian evangelization should be multi-faceted. We should actively expose and oppose any effort which is state-sponsored, coercive, manipulative or fraudulent. At the same time we must recognize that for the first time in two millenia we live in a society which is a free marketplace of ideas. As evangelizing Christians have the right to tout their wares so do we. I am convinced that our goods are better for us and for many others.

It is long overdue for our community to be pro-active in the area of informing the masses about Judaism and supporting community based basic Jewish studies programs which may lead to conversion.

I predict, that such an approach will not only yield the obvious benefits of increased numbers becoming aware of our tradition and possibly joining our ranks, but might also have a salutary effect upon born Jews, who are indifferent to Yiddishkei, once they see how interested others are in the birthright they spurn.

03/27/08 04:16 PM

Please note: My original comment was ascribed to another and my name was signed to two comments which were not my own Following is my opinion. I hope the site gets it right this time.

As long as attempts to prosyletize aggressively are not backed up by coercion they do not, in my view, constitute an act of war. They do disqualify the prosyletizers from engaging in interreligious dialogue, in which all parties must accept the religious integrity of the others.

I wonder if many Jews react so explosively to attempts to evangelize us because of their own ambivalence to our tradition and its practices.

I think our response to Christian evangelization should be multi-faceted. We should actively expose and oppose any effort which is state-sponsored, coercive, manipulative or fraudulent. At the same time we must recognize that for the first time in two millenia we live in a society which is a free marketplace of ideas. As evangelizing Christians have the right to tout their wares so do we. I am convinced that our goods are better for us and for many others.

It is long overdue for our community to be pro-active in the area of informing the masses about Judaism and supporting community based basic Jewish studies programs which may lead to conversion.

I predict, that such an approach will not only yield the obvious benefits of increased numbers becoming aware of our tradition and possibly joining our ranks, but might also have a salutary effect upon born Jews, who are indifferent to Yiddishkeit, once they see how interested others are in the birthright they spurn.

Rabbi Moses A. Birnbaum, DD

07/10/08 02:28 PM

I just want to reply (late) on that, what Brucy comments on Jesus.
There are no contexutell mistakes here. If you would study the context when Jesus said the first thing (Matth. 5.38ff) and in John than you would agree that the other does not have anything to do with the other.  Its like puzzeling two different puzzles and trying to fix the one peace into the other puzzle.
Please study the book of Romans and the book of Hebrews and every Jew will agree, that there is a messiah who was already on earth and as the Jews still waits for the messiah the same will come and will tell them that he was already on earth.

09/25/08 11:49 AM

Hate me.  Please.  Seriously.

10/02/08 12:50 PM

By claiming to have superceeded judaism, christianity has placed itself in a position whereby the mere and continued existence of judaism poses a direct and existential threat to its faith. It has therefore a strong inducement to desire and even expect the end of judaism. The words of Stan Guthrie and of many others who throughout the ages have argued for the dissapearence of judaism, often in more sinister ways, are simply a consequence of this.
Christianity is antisemitc by virtue of its own theology.

Gilberto Sarfaty

10/03/08 01:41 PM

Is there anyone on the planet now that hasn’t been offered the chance to convert to Christianity?  How thick does the Gospel need to be spread already?  Just like peanut butter, it can (and has been) spread too thick.  Now we’re choking on it.

10/08/08 02:16 PM

Yes, Exactly. This is the Sole excuse for your religion. You have been brainwashed by thee best: TV. Society. Community.

Live for a life, as a real Jewish person. By the way, it is offensive to call us by JEW, Mr. Christ. We are Jewish or Yiddish, or Hebrew or any of the above. Get with our Prograam.  Simple and Sweet, we love our roots, we know where it is that we come from and where it is that we go to. You cannot say the same. You subscribe through ignorance of a man-made religious farce, oops, force. Your spew from your mind is not fresh and new idealism. Better for you to remain on your own’s Reservation. Do not do us, as yours has done to the vast peoples of the globe. I ask that you de-program and re-awaken, but only as a Jewish Person.