Waldo wrote:
Yang, AthD (h.c) wrote:
Yep that vaunted Christian moral superiority
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_antisemitism
Constantine the Great, who is considered a Saint by the Greek Orthodox
Church, instituted several legislative measures concerning the Jews
and all other religions excepting Christianity:
Constantine was no "Christian". He was a warlord and a masterful
politician who understood that in order to unify his kingdom, he would
have to institute as State Religion. He chose Christianity as the tool
he would use for this purpose. Constantine was not the first to use
religion for political purposes, and he certainly was not the last.
Non-Christians were
forbidden to own Christian slaves or to circumcise their slaves.
What? Jews were forbidden to hack away at the genitalia of the
servants? That *****!
Conversion of Christians to Judaism or other religions was outlawed.
As I said, he had instituted Christianity as the State Religion - and
as you pointed out, conversion to *other religions* was also forbidden
- so you can hardly call this "anti-Semitism".
Congregations for Jewish religious services were restricted but had
elevated status over pagan religions.
Yet you have the chutzpah to call this "anti-Semitism".
Constantine also supported the
separation of the date of Easter from the Jewish Passover (see also
Quartodecimanism), stating in his letter after the First Council of
Nicaea:
The holiday known as Easter (originally pronounced "Ishtar") was a
'pagan' rite whose roots are far older that either Christianity OR
Judaism. Indeed, much of Judaism - including its heroes and lore, were
adapted from much older 'pagan' versions of the same stories.
Of course. In fact, Judaism has struggled with paganism from its
earliest days. Read Kauffman, "The Religion of Israel" for a detailed
description of it.
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