CLASS NOTES (Alex Torday--for 2-4-02)

Christian Attitudes Toward Judaism

The Two Views 
-View of Christian Anti-Judaism Anti-Semitism-hatred of Jews, 
perceived as inferior race
-Co-Covenantal View Anti-Judaism-belief that 
Christianity supercedes Judaism

** see handout for more details.

Why is 70CE the first significant date since the death of Jesus??
-temple destroyed the Romans
-changed character of Judaism–Judaism now centered more on the Torah
-Rabbinical Judaism on the rise
-new form of Judaism emerges as Christianity which is centered around Jesus.


Persecution of Christianity in the Roman Empire (2nd and 3rd centuries CE)

-Rationality for persecution-if people practiced Christianity then they would 
not have sacrifices for the Roman gods/goddesses on behalf of the Roman 
Emperor
-Judaism was not persecuted because it was viewed as an ancient religion (Romans 
based "truth"
according to things that were "really old")
-Some Christians claimed that they were the "authentic" Jews to get exemption 
from persecution
-Christian God claimed absolute allegiance (Christ only Lord) therefore they 
could not worship 
the emperor.
-Christians appeared to be political rebels in the eyes of the Romans
-To be persecuted one had to be accused by another member of their community 
(accusations not 
to be made lightly) if judgement was made in the favor of the accused then the 
accuser would be
punished.
-The accused had 4 options
they could plead innocent or get a forged certificate that they indeed make 
sacrifices on behalf of
the emperor or just make a sacrifice to prove their allegiance or take 
consequences for not making sacrifice on behalf of the emperor.
-Some chose the option to become Martyr’s for their faith which may or may not 
involve dying 
for their religion 
-Martyrdom was a "very Roman" thing to do-this was culturally valued because the 
Romans 
valued performance in the court and the arena.
-Stoics valued self-sacrifice

Martyrdom of Perpetua

-She along with others was imprisoned for her faith. She chose to give up 
everything including her infant child, family and eventually her life for 
Christianity.
-202 edict of Emperor Septimus Severvus forbade conversion to Judaism and 
Christianity
-Martydom -gains one charismatic authority which can compete with institutional 
authority
-Catechumens-are people preparing for baptism
-What was the meaning of Christianity to Perpetua??
not denying her Christianity even when she felt tension in her allegiance 
between her religion and
family, child and state (in the end she chose faith)

Roman View of Christianity
-Christians