Would Jesus Have Converted?

Originally posted by Mindship
Considering that Jesus was a devout Jew with no intention of starting a new faith (let alone one in his name): suppose he had been transported miraculously to modern times, say about twenty years ago, living in secret so that he could get used to the modern world, observe and try to understand it: what would he make of Christianity?

What would he make of either faith today?

(Please offer well-considered responses, not pontifications nor flaming.)

Originally posted by Mindship
Considering that Jesus was a devout Jew with no intention of starting a new faith (let alone one in his name): suppose he had been transported miraculously to modern times, say about twenty years ago, living in secret so that he could get used to the modern world, observe and try to understand it: what would he make of Christianity?

What would he make of either faith today?

(Please offer well-considered responses, not pontifications nor flaming.)

Would Jesus convert? No, whatever is the correct is what he'd be.

You must remember that according to Jesus the Jewish religious leaders were off base in their teachings and the traditions they followed. The term Christianity and Christian was the name given to those who followed Christ's teachings as to how the Hebrew faith should be practiced. The term Judaism is an incorrect term as well, the religion was the Hebrew one. Judaism is a term to used when referencing the religion of the Jewish people. The term Judaism is used due to the only known followers of the Hebrew faith were those in the Kingdom of Judah after Assyria conquered Israel, as well as the fact that the Temple was located in Judah. Thus, the only known Hebrews were the Jews, the inhabitants of the Kingdom of Judah. So, are Jews still truly Hebrew?

Now, early Hebrews are believed by many scholars to have been henotheistic. From an unbiased perspective, it is not absolutely evident what Christ himself believed. We know that, at least according to the Bible, Christ was disliked by the majority of Jews due to his beliefs and statements on the subject of the Torah and on the subject of God and the nature of God. We know that his interpretation of the Tanakh was not always in line with Jewish thought. So, the assumption that the modern beliefs among Jews would be closer to Christ's is without merit. One could ask, "Would Christ be considered Jewish by modern Jewish standards?"

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Originally posted by Regret
One could ask, "Would Christ be considered Jewish by modern Jewish standards?"

However Judaism/the Hebrew faith was practiced then, or what they called themselves, there are traditions and beliefs which bind the practitioneers then with today's adherents. One could also ask would Jesus be considered Christian by modern Christian standards. Though my sense is that Jesus would not feel particularly comfortable with how either of the faiths are practiced today, I think it's safe to say he would feel more at home in shul than at mass.

IMO, what Jesus rallied against was the "ossification" of his faith. He lived for the spirit of his religious beliefs, not necessarily the letter. Many centuries after his death, Rabbi Hillel said the essence of Judaism is, "What you don't like, don't do to anyone else. Everything else is commentary."

In other words, the essence of any genuine faith begins with compassion.

Ultimately, he would likely attend a synagogue or a church and would likely confront church leaders and idiots like Phelps and make a scene about hypocrisy. That was his way of things.

Originally posted by Alliance
According to your opinion. Maybe if we were all fat and lazy Eloi....we'd be happy.

It is not human nature to be good or evil. We are both.

Perhaps. But I see more evil than good. It is the easier path.

Just like the Dark Side of the Force?

Dark and light are the same.

I'll take your word for it.

Jesus,I belive,would be a modern day rebel.He would live on the frindges of society causing a lot of trouble.I realy belive he would have a lot in common with Buddhist,but with more of an in your face attitude.He would question the establishment and probably speak some hard truths to so called Christians.Their's a saying that goes,'If Jesus was alive today he wouldn't be a christian'.I think that's the truth.

Well, it is actually true. Jesus never died to save himself, so he can't really accept his own sacrifice considering it wasn't for him, leaving him Jewish.

Originally posted by Alliance
Dark and light are the same.

Originally posted by FeceMan
I call bullshit. Like in that Penn and Teller thread about that Penn and Teller show.

Its a fascinating philosophy. Aren't good and evil merely constructs that we create? I feel they can be useful, but that doesn't mean they are valid.

Originally posted by Mindship
Considering that Jesus was a devout Jew with no intention of starting a new faith (let alone one in his name): suppose he had been transported miraculously to modern times, say about twenty years ago, living in secret so that he could get used to the modern world, observe and try to understand it: what would he make of Christianity?

What would he make of either faith today?

(Please offer well-considered responses, not pontifications nor flaming.)