Western Civ Class 16 February 1, 2016 Judaism 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/or “modified by” – Some of the factors in both (Judeo- Christian) were taken from previous sources.

Hebrews/Judaism 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.

Mesopotamia-1450 BC

Biblical Land of Canaan

Israel Today

The Hebrews & Judaism The timelines are all very rough and most are contested particularly because – Biblical dating doesn’t match up with – Historical dating/circumstances – We’ll use historical dating

Between BC: Biblical Abram 1200 BC: Hebrews move to Palestine – So there are years of difference between the Biblical accounts and history. – LOTS “happens” in the Biblical accounts of those times for which there is no historical record AND – The Hebrews were not yet in the places in which the Biblical stories were said to have taken place. By 1000 BC, the various Hebrew tribes had carved out areas in Palestine c BC, David united the tribes c , Solomon & first Temple in Jerusalem c BC, After David, Solomon, after Solomon’s sons, two Hebrew kingdoms

c BC: first Torah texts appear across times of diaspora raising (and attempting to resolve) many questions of who and what to believe about “the chosen people” – 950 BC (Yahwist) – 750 BC (Elohist) – 650 BC (Deuteronomist) – 550 BC (Priestly) c. 721: ½ fall to the Assyrians c. 587: the other ½ fall to the Neo-Babylonians (Temple destroyed) c. 538: Persian emperor Cyrus allows exiles to return to Judah c. 515: Temple in Jerusalem rebuilt Between BC: First full textual accounting (Old Testament) – As is the case with the Christian New Testament, much time passes and many circumstances change between the times of the Biblical events and the much later authorship of the agreed-upon recorded text.

From Judaism Religious/theological features--All become considerations (some +, others -) for the Christians Some of these elements are very similar to (borrowed from?) Zoroasttrian & ancient Egyptian and Assyrian beliefs/practices 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 – This is an important element when, later, by contrast, the laws and texts are NOT giving to the Christians in the same ways 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 (Christianity, somewhat less so) From Judaism Religious/theological features

Local religious leadership (no elected/appointed prelate and/or broad hierarchical organization). Strict understanding of the differences between Objects and Iconography – THIS IS the Ark of the Covenant or the Torah—they don’t merely stand for the almighty’s rules and selection of the Jews, they ARE both – THAT (XyZ) ISN’T the almighty—it’s representationally symbolic ) – Christianity will sometimes collapse the categories theologically (consecration of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ… is believed to be BOTH object AND symbol). From Judaism Religious/theological features that differ strongly from later Christian aspects

Diaspora (displaced from native land) – 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. – And, historically, not the “first arrivers” as is claimed Biblically From Judaism Civic/social features

From Judaism Sometimes we seem to sorta forget that Jesus and the apostles/disciples were, for the most part, Palestinian Jews. – Although Christianity comes to be dominated by Europe, it’s heritage is in the Middle East. Because the Jews lived largely in Diaspora, they were present in most (or all) of the places we study, so retain/maintain/transmit many of the influences of those mixings.

From Judaism – For example, the evangelical Christian apostles/disciples were largely Palestinian Jews. Yet, they spoke and wrote GREEK. How? – Many Jews lived in and traded with Greece. Greece influenced the entire West. Almost all of the Hebrews went through Hellenization when Greece was empire. – Koine Greek, was the common language of the Eastern Mediterranean after the conquests of Alexander the Great. – While the Christian apostles/disciples went forth speaking whatever they spoke, the early New Testament fragments, and first collected versions, were written in Greek. No Palestinian Jews writing Greek, no New Testament. No New Testament, no long-term Christian influence.