Friday, March 24, 2006
into the rabbit hole
Out of Christianity and into the rabbit hole we go!
My friend, Provoked, recently made this post about his journey into B'nai Noach (children of Noah). Put simply, the Noachide Covenant is the covenant made with all humanity, with the Jews later "leading the way" (a task all its own) via the covenant with the children of Israel. In the post, he addresses his concern of his former Christian New Testament being tainted. Roman influence; Pagan influence; Misreadings of very Jewish authors into something very Greek in understanding; Taking the NT out of its time/culture context; Bias in the canon; Bias all around.
Stephen commented that he was interested in some sources for these meanderings. While I wouldn't be able to sum up my last 11 years of study in less than a few books worth of writing, I can offer some places to start. I put an "*" next to those I deemed most pivotal or enjoyable.
You have been replaced but we still love you!
**My friend, Nethaneel, is convinced that a lecture series I let him listen to is one of the best places to start, and has been playing it for as many people as will let him, and that's only the first 6 of 20 tapes of lectures. The lecture series is called "Replacement Theology", sold at Hatikva. The author of the series, Joseph Good, doesn't have a very good reputation amongst Christianity. This due mainly to the fact that he publically denies the Deity of Jesus, not to mention that his studies are very challenging to Western Christianity.
In Replacement Theology, Good explores the first 300 years of the development of Christianity. From an accepted sect of Judaism (along with its Noachides), firmly placed within Jewish theology and framework, to a very Hellenized, pagan, and politically corrupt Christianity. Replacement Theology is the idea that Christianity has replaced or is the new Israel. What struck me is that much of that information is found within the pages of our most widely used Seminary textbooks, though not generally taught in Seminaries. Good quotes the textbooks widely. Though he's not that great of a speaker, in my opinion, the information he offers is priceless, and albiet frightening. It's expensive as well, and I'm trying to find out if they will sell the notes or transcript without the audio.
For those who know me personally, I'm more than willing to let you borrow the first 6 tapes, since they were part of our discussion group. I no longer have the rest available.
Two Jews, Three Opinions
I started at the American Institute of Holy Land Studies, whose instructors are a conglomeration of highly esteemed scholars and authors from many different institutions. This is what led me to the first set of classes and books on the Jewish roots of Christianity and the NT. While many of my early studies tended to be with the "Jewish roots" crowd, they encouraged me to study more deeply, and set me on a journey into a very Jewish world. Also, this led to a very Jewish understanding of the main two Jews who are the most taught and most misunderstood in Christianity today, namely Jesus and Paul.
Choose your own adventure!
I do not like having to start within the more Messianic circles, but every journey has its beginning, and that beginning is usually right where your at that moment. I found a very helpful datafile (multi-media presentation) on the difference between Greek/Western and Jewish/Hebrew thought that I believe will help. Thinking Hebrew will hopefully help set the mindset for exploring the subject more.
David Bivin and Roy Blizzard offer a simple look into these roots. Many scholars consider them a bit too simple in their approach. You can find some of their work at Jerusalem Perspective Online, as well as some of my other old professors.
My first professor, Ron Moseley, has an incredible book online that does much to validate Torah within Christianity. The Spirit of the Law is available here. I have to warn you though, I had to read it several times before I fully understood what he was saying. I attribure this a little to the paradigm shift, a little to his style of writing, and a little to both of those put together.
*Brad Young comes with a high recommendation. His book, Paul the Jewish Theologian, is the first thing that comes to mind when someone asks me where to start. suprisingly, Paul is taught more than Jesus in most Churches. Being able to get inside the head of this first-century Pharisee is perhaps the most important study one can do within Christianity. Jesus the Jewish Theologian I found to be a bit dry, though useful. The Parables is a bit long, but offers some incredible insight into the Rabbinical background of each of Jesus' parables, most if not all of which were told long before Jesus.
For an interesting study into Pagan influences in Christianity, Frank viola's Pagan Christianity seems to be an enlightening read. He tends to still be very much into replacement theology however.
Joseph Shulam has a scholarly look into the book of Romans that I recommend. I believe it helped me understand Paul at a whole new level. Those who struggle with Romans 9 through 11, the main proponent of replacement theology, might find this helpful.
*The one that Nadine found easiest to read, though lengthy, was Marvin Wilson's Our Father Abraham. This book, along with Brad Young's book above, gives a very thorough look into the New Testament. I believe it was the basis of my college's curriculum, and also an excellent place to start.
*Though I don't agree with the tone of the following website, this one lesson series from an outside teacher I found to be indispensable. Adonai Echad, by Uri Marcus, explores and deconstructs the claims that Jesus is Deity, or that Messiah even need be Deity.
*While I'm thinking on that, 1st-Century Historian N.T. Wright has 4 lectures on Jesus on this website that give a look into what perhaps Jesus and those around him understood about what he did and said. A bit biased in replacement theology, though not the focus at all, theses lectures are enjoyable to listen to, as well as offer a refreshing look at a plausable Jewish Messiah.
**I saved this one for last because it is written by an Orthodox Rabbi, as opposed to Jewish roots advocates. It is also one of the best books I've read on the subject of placing Jesus into proper context. Jesus the Pharisee, by Rabbi Harvey Falk.
Judaism = funny clothes and lots of rules
While there are many outsider ideas of what Judaism is ranging from the comical to just plain hateful, many have formed an opinion that is far from reality. There are many branches to Judaism, which, I might add, are not as divisive as denominations are to Christianity. There are also a few different cultures within Judaism.
Ashkenazi are generally of German influence, speak Yiddish, and dominate American Judaism. The more Orthodox (about 10%), passionately follow Torah ("the teachings", not the western idea of "Law"), dress in all black to mourn the Temple, and hold many of the visual stereotypes of Judaism.
Sephardic Jews are those who came from the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern areas. They have a very holistic approach to Torah and life. Aparrently, a lot of us have dreadlocks. Mizrachi Jews were thrown in with Sephardic somewhere along the way. They are very similar, yet come from more Eastern to Middle Eastern areas and cultures.
Dude! Where's my Judaism?
While you and I are still recovering from the fact that I really did just use that subtitle, I would like to offer some resources on learning about Judaism itself. The spirituality and worldview of Judaism, I have found to be very life-enriching for anyone. Here is a start from some very encouraging Rabbis...
*Lawrence Kushner - Jewish Spirituality: An Introduction for Christians
By far one of my favorite authors. Kushner has many excellent books, each a life-giving look into Jewish spirituality.
*Rami Shapiro - Open Secrets
This book reached into my head and put my thoughts on the paper in front of me. It is a fictional account of letters written from a Hasidic (the "really spiritual orthodox") Rabbi to his student who moved to America and still had many questions. Shapiro uses this as a vehicle for his own thoughts about Judaism. Very thought provoking, and probably my favorite book out of them all.
Shmuley Boteach - Judaism for Everyone
Great for a look into the mysterious world of the Orthodox. It seems to make Orthodox Judaism much less intimidating.
Joseph Telushkin - Jewish Wisdom, or Nadine's preference, Jewish Values
These two tend to be more of a daily reader rather than books to read straight through. They're also lengthy, yet full of insight.
Michael Lerner - Jewish Renewal
Lerner is the founder of Tikkun. Perhaps you've seen the magazine? Tikkun is also an organization and a network that focuses much on healing our world.
Zalman Schacter-Shalomi - Jewish With Feeling
Founder of the Jewish Renewal movement, Rebbe Zalman was once Orthodox, who left to seek a more holistic and less closed-off Judaism. This is the Judaism I have found myself in.
For those interested in the Noachide side of Judaism, the Root and Branch Association offers a helpful gateway on their site, here.
Also, I've found aish.com to have great articles for those interested in Jewish spirituality and living. It is, however, a Jewish website, so may contain some confusing terminology if your not Jewish.
The Highway to Hell
Barring that the current Christian idea of Hell is very Greek in origin, and that the Jewish Hell is a place of refinement and restoration, I don't hear being told that I'm going to Hell for going down this road as a bad thing. I did want to warn you though, studying these things will lead you into theology that most Christians consider heretical. Ofcourse, they would probably be agreeing with you if they studied with you. But the general consensus is that these ideas are heretical, of for no other reason than that they challenge traditional Christian thinking.
Studying this led me completely out of Christianity and into Judaism; and a very different Judaism than I was taught existed. Not that you will become Jewish or perhaps not even consider yourself Noachide, but I do believe that in these studies you will find challange, growth, enlightenment, enrichment, a passion for self that you didn't know was there, compassion for others in the way you only thought about before, a haven for the spiritually discouraged.
"...there is also a tendency towards transcendence and health in the universe. The Power that makes this transcendence possible is what we Jews call God."
~Rabbi Michael Lerner
