Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[flying_pig319]

I have a question for Christians:
If the Jews are G/d's "Chosen People", then why don't Christians convert to Judaism?

I don't mean this to be rude, I just am confused and want to understand

[asterix]

There is no god, as any examination of world events will show.
The Israelites are God's chosen people, in any case, and they are not necessarily synonymous.

[flying_pig319]

[Bob S.]

[flying_pig319]

[Bob S.]

[flying_pig319]

Ah, but Christians do NOT believe that their religion is somehow intrinsically inferior or flawed in comparison to Judaism. Remember that everyone thinks that what they believe is correct, or at least more correct than what other people believe. Otherwise they wouldn't believe it. <<That makes sense, of course. I guess you're suggesting that 'being the chosen people of G/d' isn't the same as 'being the "best" religion'. I guess I just don't really see it, (but I believe it).

So with regard to Christianity's perspective on its relation to Judaism, there are a few schools of thought on that. The more anti-Semitic view says that Judaism became corrupt and legalistic (as shown by Jesus's conflicts with the pharisees and sadducees), so God brought in Christianity as a better replacement. <<Woah... *smiles*

(Islam has a similar perspective of itself with respect to Judaism AND Christianity. Go figure.) << You can say that again

Another more common view (though probably not much less offensive to you) is that Christianity is the fulfillment of the promise of Judaism and all the prophesies of a coming Messiah and the establishment of God's Kingdom on Earth (in the form of the Church).<<It's like "Judaism: The Sequel"

The Christian would regard the relation of Christianity and Judaism the way he regards the relation between a butterfly and a caterpillar. Converting from Christian to Jew would be a step in the wrong direction for a truly devout believer. <<Seems pretty similar to the above view, but I like your analogy

The first Christians actually regarded themselves as both Jew and disciples of Christ.<<I guess that's how all religions form, right? Sort of budding off each other

They attended synagogue, kept kosher, observed the Sabbath, AND met with other Christians. Gentiles who wanted to become Christians were expected to first convert to Judaism (get circumcised, keep kosher, and so on). As Christianity spread throughout Asia Minor and the Roman Empire, the apostle Paul discouraged that practice for new converts as unnecessarily burdensome with the minutia of the Law and distracting from the spirit behind the Law and the principles of salvation (faith, grace, love, etc). Those 1st century Christian Jews were probably all wiped out when the Romans sacked Jerusalem, thus severing the link between the two faiths. <<Interesting. I wonder what the Romans would've done if they knew they were hurting more than just Jews with their attacks..?

[Ducky]

I am Christian, though i don't practice much, and other than in the old testiment i've never heard of "God's chosen people". Since the Christian bible is a combination of Jewish beliefs and the New Testitiment Christians beleive that it is a continuation of God's message to his people. They don't view Judaism as 'wrong', they simply follow addictional scripture.

[ieltsinsider]

Maybe some people don't like being chosen and like to keep a low profile.

[flying_pig319]

[CP]

Bob S.'s August 4 post has more food for thought than the average post times 10. Good one, Bob S.

Now, FP, great question. I don't have a real answer, and this is probably off topic, but here goes anyway.

I have to confess that I used to waste time watching "The Jerry Springer Show." Jerry, who is Jewish, would sometimes get Neo-Nazis and white supremicists and their ilk on the show, and they would routinely spew all kinds of ignorant Jew-hating rubbish, often in the vilest terms. Jerry was always very cool about it, letting them show their ignorance and stupidity with their own words, sometimes helping them do a better job of it.

One fellow had the world divided up into white people, Jews, Orientals, Nig gers, and everyone else. (Not to offend anyone. I'm just repeating what this ignoramus said.)

Somehow he ended up ranking people according to intelligence, and Orientals came out the smartest, Jews next, then white people, then Nig gers and everyone else. Jerry pointed out to him that the man's own group, white people, were only third smartest, and the guy said that's right, but at least white people are smarter than Nig gers.

I don't know why, but that was so funny to me. What a dope!

I guess the connection to your topic is that the guy who ranked his own group third smartest sort of seems like the Christians who consider the Jews the chosen people, but are not themselves good enough to make the team.

Who knew Christians had such an inferiority complex?
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[RedRose]

I have a question.

If a Christian man marries an atheist woman, then they are still allowed to celebrate their wedding in the church?

[beancurdturtle]

[RedRose]

[beancurdturtle]