Jews, Christians and Judaeo-Christians

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Tuesday, December 13. 2011

Jews, Christians and Judaeo-Christians

The story of the transition from Judaeo-Christians to Gentile-Christians. Jesus taught only to his fellow Jews, but the history of the expansion to the gentiles, and the discomfort between the Jewish Christians and the gentile Christians made for interesting drama and conflict.

Eventually, the gentile-Christians dominated the faith. Most Christians today were pagans in their ancestral histories - hence our Saturnalian December Christmas (Jesus likely born in April, but it doesn't really matter) - and the good old pagan Christmas trees.

Posted by Bird Dog in Our Essays, Religion at 20:08 | Comments (12) | Trackbacks (0)

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Usually just a lurker, but I just looked up this verse because I was taking on the annual "Christmas Trees are a pagan symbol" pronouncement that is so popular. I disagree that they are solely of pagan origin.

In the Old Testament book of Hosea, Ch 8:14, God himself declares to the Isrealites: "I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found."

That verse should come to mind when one views any Christmas tree. Call it a Hosea Tree, if one wants to be legalistic. But a Christmas tree, as a symbol or reminder of God, is indeed Biblical.

Back to lurking...

#1 Rocky (Link) on 2011-12-13 21:08 (Reply)

Correcting my dyslexic moment; the verse I cited should read Hosea 14:8, not the reverse.

#1.1 Rocky on 2011-12-13 22:09 (Reply)

In the original Hebrew, it's a cypress - no fir trees in Israel.

#1.2 Ben David on 2011-12-14 08:29 (Reply)

It wasn't that I didn't believe you, but I just had to look that up.

Turns out that the various types of cypress (tree and bush) are members of the conifer (or evergreen) family - just a short twist of a gene or two away from your regular old Christmas fir tree.

What was most interesting is that these trees and shrubs are also called pine or fir in certain parts of the world.

Who knew? :>)

#1.2.1 Tom Francis on 2011-12-14 09:03 (Reply)

Sure it wasn't a Colorado Spruce?

#1.2.2 phil g on 2011-12-14 10:47 (Reply)

Actually the Hebrew in HOS 14:8 is more properly translated as a "an abundant (or profuse) cypress tree"; no mention of anything green.

#1.3 Carl on 2012-01-09 17:44 (Reply)

David Mamet, apex artist intellectual, has been of late steadily knocking the horsehide off the ball over at the WSJ. Now that he has broken the Medusa tentacles of liberalism, he can be Jewish again, and he is doing just that, with alacrity.

Anyhoo, h/t PJ Tatler, Mamet has an intriguing new title up on WSJ, Israel, Isaac and the Return of Human Sacrifice. It's behind a sub wall, but will appear soon enough elsewhere, just search the title and author.

Meanwhile,

http://www.bing.com/search?q=david+mamet+wsj+&src=IE-SearchBox&oma=toggle_off

...check out

David Mamet: Liberal Tax Dodgers and the Disrespected Sushi Chef ...
Oct 11, 2011 · In The Wall Street Journal, playwright David Mamet writes about those who voted for Obama and higher taxes yet try to evade the taxes they are liable to pay.

***

LOL --rich, very rich brain food indeed, from the formerly ferociously leftward creator of Glengarry Glenross --an acid-soaked bookend for 'Death of a Salesman' as a compass-boxing indictment of capitalism's 'quiet desperation'.

#2 buddy larsen on 2011-12-13 21:41 (Reply)

Many if not most religions have rituals involving candles and lighting the darkness in December (in the N. Hemisphere); has to do with the anxiety about the short days and the hopes for more light. It's pagan insofar as it likely preceded the major religions and were adopted by them.

as for God and trees, he compared himself to a lot of different plants. Look at Song of Songs (pomegranates), allegedly about God's love for Israel, but a rather poetic ribald song.

#3 nathan on 2011-12-13 22:17 (Reply)

...and Jesus taught to more than to his fellow Jews, the women at the well is the first that came to mind.

#4 Jack on 2011-12-13 23:54 (Reply)

She was actually a Samaritan woman, a Jewish subgroup.

#4.1 BD on 2011-12-14 06:29 (Reply)

There was the Canaanite woman who came to Jesus--Matthew 15:22-29.
But, does that really matter? John 20:29--"Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

#5 mary on 2011-12-14 06:53 (Reply)

I was surprised that recent scholarship discards the Saturnalia theory of December Christmas.
http://assistantvillageidiot.blogspot.com/2010/12/on-december-five-and-twenty.html

As for paganism, CS Lewis covers the subject admirably, discussing how the pagan is essentially pre-Christian and not to be despised.

#6 Assistant VIllage Idiot (Link) on 2011-12-14 22:40 (Reply)

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Tuesday, December 13. 2011

Jews, Christians and Judaeo-Christians