Op-Ed: “Jews & Christians – An Ancient Faith Family”

Published On: November 9, 2018|Categories: MRFF's Inbox|2 Comments|

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Anti-Semitic racists (American Nazi Party, Ku Klux Klan, Neo-Nazis, Patriot Prayer, Proud Boys, Skinheads, Unite the Right, Westboro Baptist Church, White Aryan Resistance, et al) are white supremacy scoundrels and alternative-right rogues who spread hypocritical hatred against Jewish-Americans and others making a mockery of moral teaching, common decency and sacred scripture (Charlottesville VA, Newnan GA, Portland OR and Washington DC rallies).

It is a sad commentary on humanity when ignorant bigots (many claiming to be Christians) hurl hate at fellow Americans because they were born of Jewish mothers (like Jesus). It is the reason moral Americans reject the insidious intolerance of religious racism. Such willful ignorance is a conscious choice and difficult to dissuade when encouraged by poisonous political pandering and propaganda.

This misguided malice reflects only on the pernicious perpetrators. Such hateful prejudice begins with shortage of self-esteem, is perpetuated by racist radicalization, proceeds to toxic tribalism (“We are better than you”), and deteriorates into punitive pogrom (discrimination, persecution and violence). The Holocaust genocide was the worst example and the Pittsburgh Synagogue slaughter is the latest example.

As a 4th generation Texan who was born, raised and educated as an American Christian (also certified to teach and taught biblical history for many years), I know and appreciate Christianity is just a branch off the ancient tree of Judaism. Jesus, his disciples and biblical authors were Jewish – not Christian. Jesus was known as “king of the Jews” – not Christians (Matthew 2:2; 27:11, Luke 23:3&38). Jesus preached “salvation is from the Jews” – not Christians (John 4:22). There would be no Christianity without the Jewish faith, culture and people.

Judaism based Christianity also teaches God created all human beings equal and it was very good (Genesis 1:27&31), the 2nd greatest commandant is to love one’s neighbors (Mark 12:31, Luke 10:27), and there is no difference between Jew and Gentile for we all are one (Romans 10:12, 1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:28).

Some unthinking Christians ignore history, shun scripture and contribute to anti-Semitism by proclaiming America was founded on “Judeo-Christian” principles then completely contradicting themselves by concluding we are therefore a “Christian” nation (inexplicably excluding Judeo which means Jewish). If we were founded on Jewish-Christian principles, then we would be a Jewish-Christian nation. Deliberately dropping Jewish is disingenuous, discriminatory and dishonest. However, it is fact, history and law our nation was founded on secular republican principles – not sectarian religious principles (neither Judaism nor Christianity nor another religion).

America’s original religion was Native American Animism followed by Viking Old Norse Polytheism – not Christianity. Christianity was a later foreign import from the ancient Middle East by way of Rome. Neither Middle Easterners nor Romans discovered America or founded the United States. History documents American colonists fled Europe to escape oppressive control, corruption and conflict of the Roman Catholic Church and Church of England (Christianity not Judaism nor another religion). Over 80% of colonists did not belong to Christian churches in 1776.

The largest survey of religious identity in all 50 states was conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute in 2016. The most educated Americans include Jews. American Muslims are more educated than white male fundamentalist Christians who are the least educated. The latter comprise only 17% of the US population. 25% of all Americans are “nones” (no religion) with 39% of Millennials (age 20-35).

Freedom of belief is the egalitarian essence of American liberty. In fact and truth, we are all human brothers and sisters with the moral responsibility of caring for each other and sharing our earthly home. Unfortunately, a few malevolent malcontents have not accepted that reality and learned to live accordingly.

Christian Philosopher BLAISE PASCAL wisely wrote – “Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.”

American poet laureate WALT WHITMAN’s legendary line to a lowly outcast – “Not till the sun excludes you do I exclude you.”

American writer & 3 time Pulitzer Prize Winner CARL SANDBURG profoundly proclaimed –

“There is only one man in the world and his name is All Men.
There is only one women in the world and her name is All Women.
There is only one child in the world and the child’s name is All Children.”

John Compere
Texas rancher
MRFF Advisory Board Member

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2 Comments

  1. Beth Zion MMC November 11, 2018 at 10:51 am

    “Thomas Jefferson and the Myth of a Secular America”
    https://barbwire.com/thomas-jefferson-and-the-myth-of-a-secular-america/

  2. Beth Zion MMC November 11, 2018 at 10:53 am

    Alexis De Tocqueville—a Frenchman who authored Democracy in America in the early 1800s, helps to open this letter: “I looked throughout America to find where her greatness originated. I looked for it in her harbors and on her shorelines, in her fertile fields and boundless prairies, and in her gold mines and vast world commerce, but it was not there.”

    “It was not until I went to the churches of America and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her success. America is great because she is good, and if America ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.”

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