Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Christians and Judaism

Ok, so I am Jewish by birth. Meaning my mom is Jewish, so I'm Jewish. My mom didn't follow any religion (except possibly drunkism or speedianity), so I had no belief of one kind or another. When I moved to Alabama, obviously the Southern Baptists prevailed. At 15, I was saved, went to church, Bible study, the whole nine yards. While I don't want to say this was a phase because I certainly enjoyed the feelings that being one with God, I had many many questions that went unanswered, and eventually 'backslid' as other Christians would say. As the years have went by, I've realized that I don't believe in Jesus Christ as savior and the Son of God. I know, burning in hell, heard it before, I am at peace with my decision. Hopefully for Christians reading this, you might refrain from decrying "SINNER!" at the top of your lungs (and keyboards) long enough to finish reading this. OK, sorry, not trying to be mean there, just had a bad experience with a born-again that exemplifies all of the bad stereotypes. Upon telling him my religious views (in a very polite way) and discussing my pro homosexual marriage views (Proposition 8 here in California, very big deal to many), he proceeded to condemn me, with (pun intended) no chance in hell of going to heaven. Upon asking him about the old adage of "Love the sinner, not the sin", he told me that isn't in the Bible! While I know that the exact words are indeed not in there, I have read and studied the Bible. I seem to recall the "Judge not, lest..." section. Guys like this give Christians a bad rap.
Anyway, now that I'm off that little soapbox, I come back to my original thought. Why is it that Christians seem to love Jews so much? Everytime a group of Christians come to my door to invite me to a concert or to church, I explain to them that I am a Reformed Jew, and politely decline their invitation. As soon as I say 'Jew', they are like, pardon me, little puppy dogs. "Ooh, you're Jewish, we would love you to come, etc, etc." Again, I love Christians (used to be one), and am all for anything that makes people be good to each other, be it Christianity, Judaism, more moderate forms of Islamic, or even computer worship. So I again decline, but the event repeats itself every time I tell Christians I'm Jewish. So why is this? Is it because Jesus was Jewish, or because we are the 'chosen people'? I honestly don't know, but it's kinda funny.
Well, hoping I get good answers back, preferably didn't offend anyone too badly. If I did offend, I deeply apologize.

5 comments:

  1. Micah,
    Mom and I read this. We laughed & did not scream SINNER or think it either. LOL It somewhat reminds me of Dad. He use to say he didn't believe in God. But as time went on and we talked more about it, I came to find out that it wasn't that he didn't believe in God, it was that he didn't believe in organized religions. He always said it bothered him when he was in Alabama and all week long he would see everyone out drinking, and having affairs on each other and everything, but come Sunday everyone would be dressed in their best and all smiles. Then once Churh was over it was back to the same old thing. That is what he couldn't handle. I totally get that. However, unfortunatley you can find that in many different religions.
    OK.. I will stop rambling..

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  2. Well Micah.. I like all think you have a right to your beliefs. I think the people loving the Jews is the whole thing about Jesus being a Jew and the chosen people.. I have seen this also. I don't get it much myself..I think you should love everyone regardless..

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  3. First, it's baptist not babtist! lmao! as for the rest, very well written and thought through.

    Not bad shortie! :-)

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  4. ever seen the movie "clueless?" ever noticed that when missionary (ha!) christians hear "i'm a jew," they clasp their hands in front of them? surely they are screaming, "project!" in their heads. too bad cher's project turned out to die of a drug overdose....

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  5. Micah, I enjoyed your blog post. You do an admirable job describing the courageous approach to identity. You speak to how hybrid or mixed we are all. Identity is one of those terms we can't really use anymore and yet we can't do without it. Who we are isn't born in us and yet who we become isn't determined entirely by our own volition. What a cool journey yours is. Keep writing. And I don't understand the flap over Jewishness among evangelicals either. I wonder if the idea of Jewishness for some Christians is a bridge to the "other." For example, I think that some folks are so uncomfortable with the idea that large numbers of people do not believe as they do, that they just shut out the idea of "the other" being at all like them. In fact, the postcolonial and the Lacanian psychoanalytical approaches see the use of the "other" as a way to define the self. But as for Jews, there is a familiarity--it is a presumed familiarity based on cultural stereotypes, perhaps, but a familiarity nonetheless. Therefore, the "restoration" of a Jew out of the "other" and into the recognized "one of us" would be a comforting form of the originary myth that all humans are "like me." Just a thought. (Pam Horn who can't figure out how to post this yet except as anonymous.)

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