Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Answerer · 04-16-2005, 09:14 AM

Well, before any of you complain about the atheist contents of the book without having to read it. Allow me to inform you guys that the author of this book, Why the Jews rejected Jesus, is not an atheist but a deeply devoted Jew. By the way, I seldom recommend book written by theists.

Now, a brief summary from the cover of the book:

Quote:

Klinghoffer (a conservative writer and practicing Jew) frames his thesis by explaining what the Jews of Jesus' time would have expected from the Messiah whom they were awaiting. He bluntly notes that Jesus did not fulfill these expectations (the defeat of Israel's enemies and the establishment of universal peace), and he carefully debunks the biblical texts, such as Isaiah, that Christians claim prove otherwise. Using Talmudic sources that are little known or barely acknowledged, he paints a more complete picture of what the Jewish community has thought about Jesus through the ages. Writing clearly and cogently, Klinghoffer offers detailed analyses of the prisms through which Jews and Christians view each other. Moreover, the book concludes that Jewish rejection was the best thing that could have happened to nascent Christianity. Even incorporating the teachings of Jesus, Judaism with its many commandments (including circumcision) never would have been accepted by the European masses, and the course of Western civilization would have been forever different. Provocative reading for those on both sides of the Jewish-Christian divide.

After reading the book, I must say that the author's arguments are rather much more convincing than any Christians I had heard or came across including those God inspired scholarly ones like Bede, etc. (Oops

)

I don't really recommend it to all christians though unless you are the ones with lots of guts or are open-minded enough or on the verge of conversion.

Anyway, this book give me the insight on the vast intelligence gap between the Jews and their Christian counterparts. No offense but its the truth.

TheBigKahoona · 04-16-2005, 11:06 AM

Quote:

I don't really recommend it to all christians though unless you are the ones with lots of guts or are open-minded enough...

Why don't you just get it over with and say, "I bet you aren't cool enough to read this book".

Answerer · 04-16-2005, 11:38 AM

Well, I'm trying to be polite.............

But I do believe many of them will become outrage at the author.

By the way, we got to thank Mei Gibson for this book.

jdlongmire · 04-16-2005, 12:16 PM

Just another "what if" book...and the crux is, if I may be so bold as to project, no True Jew (TM) would have ever accepted Christ as Messiah.

Silly, silly Christians!

Nicodemus, and any the other Jewish teachers that converted, what an idiot you were!

If only you had the "blessing" of modern scholarship, you would never have left the fold!

-JD

Toto · 04-16-2005, 12:22 PM

This book has already had a thread about it: Why the Jews Rejected Jesus (and saved modern civilization). See the Nation Review article linked there.

Kinghoffer is a conservative Jew whose major political allies are evangelical Christians. He evidently thinks that Christians will love the book, just as he loves his Christian friends.

Toto · 04-16-2005, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdlongmire

. . .
Nicodemus, and any the other Jewish teachers that converted, what an idiot you were!

. . .JD

Did Nicodemus convert? Do you have a cite for that?

Amaleq13 · 04-16-2005, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdlongmire

Just another "what if" book...and the crux is, if I may be so bold as to project, no True Jew (TM) would have ever accepted Christ as Messiah.

I think a more accurate characterization would be that any Jew who did accept the sacrificed Savior of Paul's beliefs and the Gospel's narrative, also accept the related, necessary redefinition of what it meant to be "the Messiah".

Zeichman · 04-16-2005, 07:22 PM

I am a Christian, and if I felt it might be worth my money or time, I'd buy or read it. But given how my college library doesn't have it and I'm poor and that it's likely stuff I've heard before, I'm not going to buy it. If someone wants to buy me a copy, I'd be more than willing to read and review it.

Chris Weimer · 04-16-2005, 09:48 PM

Zeichman, it's very tempting, but alas, I'm also poor :P

Answerer · 04-16-2005, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

Kinghoffer is a conservative Jew whose major political allies are evangelical Christians. He evidently thinks that Christians will love the book, just as he loves his Christian friends.

But they don't love the book as their review had shown.

Quote:

I am a Christian, and if I felt it might be worth my money or time, I'd buy or read it. But given how my college library doesn't have it and I'm poor and that it's likely stuff I've heard before, I'm not going to buy it. If someone wants to buy me a copy, I'd be more than willing to read and review it.

Its more in historical detail rather than in the usual question and answer format. If you want it free, you might have to wait for a year to get it at your local library.

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04-16-2005, 11:38 AM	#3
Answerer Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 3,956	Well, I'm trying to be polite............. But I do believe many of them will become outrage at the author. By the way, we got to thank Mei Gibson for this book.

04-16-2005, 12:16 PM	#4
jdlongmire Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: American by birth, Southern by the grace of God! Posts: 2,657	Just another "what if" book...and the crux is, if I may be so bold as to project, no True Jew (TM) would have ever accepted Christ as Messiah. Silly, silly Christians! Nicodemus, and any the other Jewish teachers that converted, what an idiot you were! If only you had the "blessing" of modern scholarship, you would never have left the fold! -JD

04-16-2005, 12:22 PM	#5
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	This book has already had a thread about it: Why the Jews Rejected Jesus (and saved modern civilization). See the Nation Review article linked there. Kinghoffer is a conservative Jew whose major political allies are evangelical Christians. He evidently thinks that Christians will love the book, just as he loves his Christian friends.

04-16-2005, 07:22 PM	#8
Zeichman Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA Posts: 562	I am a Christian, and if I felt it might be worth my money or time, I'd buy or read it. But given how my college library doesn't have it and I'm poor and that it's likely stuff I've heard before, I'm not going to buy it. If someone wants to buy me a copy, I'd be more than willing to read and review it.

04-16-2005, 09:48 PM	#9
Chris Weimer Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: none Posts: 9,879	Zeichman, it's very tempting, but alas, I'm also poor :P

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