Western Civ Class 18 March 2, 2015 Judaism and the Rise of Christianity In the Western Tradition

Factors of Influence We are Judeo-Christian. Whether or not we are. We are. – Because the West was, has been, is. – And maybe more so, than any other set of factors. – So if not “are,” then “in reaction to” and “modified by” – Some of the factors in both were taken from previous sources. But not “all” (perhaps not even “most,” although we can’t be sure of that.

Judaism Recall, that we said a number of times, that we’d come back to the Jews. Cause they were always there, in Canaan or elsewhere, maybe back to... Relatively small in number But in every culture we’ve studied (or will study) Not often, or for long, in charge of their own land and/or at war to control a place.

From Judaism Religious/theological features Religious/theological features – Monotheism – The notion of “the Chosen People” – Eschatology (concern with end of the world) – Apocalypse (days of judgment/coming of God) – Messianic (return of a savior)

The law, given by the almighty The Old Testament – A wide variety of themes within the laws and books Judaism has its text (and related books) and is almost always pretty sure about it/them Local religious leadership (no elected/appointed prelate and/or broad hierarchical organization). Objects and iconography as representationally symbolic (THIS IS the ark; THAT ISN’T the almighty) From Judaism Religious/theological features

Diaspora – And particular ways to survive it Especially the meeting-place-based (synagogue) community centering Functional arguments about fixed truths – Because of diaspora and community-based religious leadership, “truths given by the almighty” were interpreted/applied via argumentative variety Paternalistic religious hierarchy Historically based call on the lands of Canaan – Of course, repeatedly hotly contested. From Judaism Civic/social features

Re-interpretation of almost every Hebrew perspective – Monotheism turned tri-partite, yet, monotheistic. – The notion of “the Chosen People” Now means the baptized AND rule followers – Eschatology (concern with end of the world) – Apocalypse (days of judgment/coming of God) Christ having come re-orders what might happen next – Messianic (return of a savior) He DID return and his name was Jesus Christ From Christianity Religion/Theology

A “New” Testament (over-whelming the Old, yet, eventually using the Old as a foundation) God-made-man, but not as a world leader (pharaoh, king, emperor, monarch) Eventually, for all (not for an exclusive set) At the beginning, not mandatory (though within 400 years, becomes pretty strongly encouraged). Evangelization in civic and theological affairs

Centralized/hierarchical theological leadership – With lots of claims and counter-claims, but with the goal of “one true church” Somewhat less “book” based than Judaism – The book is there, but there’s more bureaucracy— and that becomes the focus “Miraculous” elements that extend past the founder/savior (lots of em) Eventually, very strongly anti-Hebrew/Jewish From Christianity Religion/Theology

A little broad… hard to know where to begin or what captures it Connections to Greece and Rome and Judaism. – We get a lot of what was best in those traditions, filtered through Christian treatments – But, anti-classical to start, and eventually, very strongly anti-Hebrew/Jewish (anti-Sematic) A semblance of order in the Middle Ages – With Rome gone, the invasions could have changed everything, even more, forever. The Church provides the West a degree of insulation (Holy Roman Empire and beyond) From Christianity Civic/social features

Despite the “order,” also extensive WARS against non-Christian people. – And virtual wars with even Christian people who didn’t behave in “approved” ways Evangelization in civic and theological affairs About ¾ of what served as “culture” for during the Middle Ages – Plastic arts, music, literature, the education system, architecture The inertia against which the Renaissance, the Scientific Revolution, and the Reformation all flourished. From Christianity Civic/social features