From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhtsa!alice!npoiv!npois!houxm!hogpc!hogpd!avi
Newsgroups: net.religion
Title: Re: Public Reply to charge of Anti-Semitism
Article-I.D.: hogpd.27
Posted: Sun Apr  3 20:01:28 1983
Received: Mon Apr  4 02:36:31 1983
References: qubix.189

I am not responding to the original comments about Anti-Semitism. I just
want to comment on some of Larry Bickford's Statements in which he
defends himself from the charge - not on the original charge.

My definition of Anti-Semitism involves acts that reflect on Jews in the
present day and age. It does not include other "semites" such as many of
the Arabs in the region. It does not matter to me if someone liked what SOME
Jews did several thousand years ago. Most present day Jews do not consider the
early converts to Christianity to be Jewish.

Once you convert to what is considered "Idol Worship", you are no longer a
member of the "Jewish religious fold" and can not be used as an example of
a Jew. This is definitely true from the Orthodox viewpoint, and many of the
other branches of Judaism would also agree. Jesus may have been born Jewish
(although of questionable parentage), but any followers who worshiped
him (and his image) would be considered Idol Worshipers. His entire following
is considered an embarrassment to most Jews. We are not proud of them or their
teachings.

I also debate the statement Larry made about whether Jews and Christians
worship the same God. Do you also claim the Moslems have the same God?
What do all these "Gods" have in common? Jews do not believe any of the
modifications added by Jesus and Mohammed and their followers. We also
disagree with the way that all the books we had are reinterpreted by
others. Obviously everyone is free to interpret. However, do not make
any claims of commonality after you have done so. You now have SEVERAL
disparate religions that share common origins.

The early Christians were only successful in converting a rather small
minority of the Jews they lived among. You are claiming that the fact
that you agree with a small group of "SEMITES" proves you are not
Anti-Semitic. What about the rest of us? Don't our religious beliefs - which
have a rather broad range - count? Please don't use sophomoric tricks like
this to try to wriggle out of any charges. I do not remember what the original
statements involved were. My impression is that your statements denied Jews
(among others) the right to have their own religious beliefs. That is not
necessarily Anti-Semitism. It may be the harbinger of plain old Discrimination
against any group whose beliefs cannot be mapped isomorphically onto yours.

	Avi E. Gross	(ihnp4!houxb!hogpd!avi)