Humanities: Christianity and Judaism
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Roman’s Point of View
Christianity and Judaism
During earliest years of Christianity (100 to 312 A.D), it was considered a part of Judaism religious umbrella. In fact, Christianity began as a sector within the consorts of Judaism. According to Ballard et al (2002), the Apostolic Council of Judaism did not consider the expansion or application of the pact of circumcision towards the Gentiles as a sign of Christianity’s separation from Judaism (142). Judaism was a legally acceptable religion in the Roman Empire, but not Christianity or the followers of Christ. The separation of Christianity from Judaism occurred in a very slow phase; however, by 70 A.D. tensions between the two sects began to increase due to the rejection of Jewish community to Christian’s belief on Christ. Judaism did not consider Christ Jesus as the Chosen or Messiah, and they kept on waiting for the coming of God’s son even up to the present.
During the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Jewish Sacred temple, the Judaism sect considered Christian as the main promulgator of the chaos. The newly established Jewish academy of scholars initiated the restructuring of the Jewish faith, which was along the Pharisaic lines. According to Boyanin (1999), Judaism emerged as a string and non-tolerant religious diversity, which greatly affected the stand of Christian sects to Jewish synagogues (143). During the end of the century, the Jewish rabbis implemented a religious liturgy on Jewish synagogues – “benediction against the heretics”. In addition, the Roman Empire considered the believers of Christ as heretics. Roman perspective on Christianity did not allow the existence of considering Christ Jesus as the Messiah. The liturgy initiated the break between the ties of Christianity and Judaism.
Personal Point of View
Similar Scenario
Protestantism has always become a major branch in the scope of Roman Christianity or so called “Roman Catholics”. The protestant movement has always been despised by the Catholics due to their radical perspective Christian religion in terms of disregarding most of Catholic practices. Protestant believes in the reign of Christ Jesus as the sole Son of God with no recognition to the Catholics Mary, which is known as the physical mother of Christ. According to Swatos and Kivisto (1998), Protestantism does not consider the validity of Catholics’ Saints, additional doctrines from Catholic’s higher leaders, etc. (214). Catholics consider the Protestants as another form of religious rebellion; hence, the Catholics opposed the movement and promoted massive persecution against protestant belief. Roman Catholics considered Protestant Christians as another form of cult. However, “cult” is defined originally as a religious practice that attained its negative stereotype due to the influence of ethnic or traditional beliefs, such as animism, worship of heavenly bodies. Cult is different from Christianity as it does not recognize the godly roles of physical existence unlike animism, sun and moon worship (witchcraft), etc.
Works Cited
Ballard et al., Harold. Encyclopedia of Religion and Society. Mercer University Press, 2002.
Boyanin, Daniel. Dying for God: Martyrdom and the Making of Christianity and Judaism. Stanford University Press, 1999.
Swatos, William H., and Peter Kivisto. Encyclopedia of Religion and Society. Rowman Altamira, 1998.
