Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!ittvax!wxlvax!awex From: awex@wxlvax.UUCP (Alan Wexelblat) Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Why I object to the term Judeo-Christian Message-ID: <230@wxlvax.UUCP> Date: Tue, 7-Feb-84 00:57:25 EST Article-I.D.: wxlvax.230 Posted: Tue Feb 7 00:57:25 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 9-Feb-84 22:12:06 EST References: druxu.925 Lines: 27 There are many people who insist on lumping together Jewish and Christian religious ideas under one heading. Admittedly, most of Christianity is descended from Judaism, but the differences are enough that it still matters whether one is a Jew or a Christian. Let me give an example, which I hope will spark some discussion: For a Christian, the Golden Rule is: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." But for Jews, it is (as expressed by Rabbi Hillel): "Do not do to others as you would not have them do unto you." Is it clear that these two are not logically equivalent? The second formulation merely forbids certain acts, but does not enable any others. On the other hand, one could justify such things as burning witches under the first version, since you are "saving their souls," and you, the burner, certainly would want your soul to be saved. I believe that this is one of the main reasons that Christians proselytize, and Jews do not. (Please forgive me if I've over-generalized; I don't think I have. } For those with insatiable curiousities, I was born and raised Jewish, and am currently "Undecided." --Alan Wexelblat (Koyaanisqatsi) ...decvax!ittvax!wxlvax!awex