I was listening to the misquoting Jesus podcast a week ago where you stated that Jesus’ innovation was to love the stranger without regard to anything, among others without regard to religion. I find that claim truly exaggerated. The commandment of Exodus 22:21 does not distinguish between jews and non-jews, i.e. religion. The term “ger” might imply residency limitations, but its is open to the usual dynamic interpretations of the oral law. (Similar to Makkot 7a in a different case, meaning the case of the death penalty.) Due to the “you were strangers in Egypt.”
Now Christianity turned out to be supranational, due to the work of Paul, not the teachings of Jesus. But that Christianity would have been loving to non-christians is a little bit pushing it. Jesus obviously continued the Jewish law. Historical development expanded it in one respect, and restricted it in another. (Supranational the one, religious intolerance the other)
It’s just a guess, but the enlightenment may have more to do with today’s universal tolerance, than Christianity.
It’s the first time in 10+ years, and 15+ books of yours that I feel I have to disagree.
I can’t comment on how the Jews historically understood that command, nor on how Jesus interpreted it, but I can say quite confidently that understanding it to extend to strangers and non-Christians antedates the enlightenment by many centuries.
This makes perfect sense as the theme is in canonical scripture, e.g., Mt. 5:44.
Welcome nyiribb! If you want to respond to Prof Ehrman directly you’ll have to go to the Recent Posts link. Even though each of Prof Ehrman’s posts is themed he takes questions on any subject at any time. I confess my natural impulse is to respond similarly to you to certain Christian claims. There’s been a recent tendency among even secular historians to give Christianity a lot more credit for subsequent developments than it probably deserves. I look forward to reading Prof Ehrman’s book very much.
This is an old argument but here I simply note that the abolition movement, the legal codification of individual human rights, the suffrage/feminist movement, the modern welfare state, etc etc are all secular post-enlightenment projects.
BDEhrman
FreedomBen
evgendob
Robert
1 Guest(s)