Dawn asked:

What is Christianity? I am doing my own research because I don't want to be pushed to believe
something. I just want to know what it is. I will really be thankful if you can help.

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Christianity is a reform of Jewish religion — I do not say Judaism, because Judaism did not exist as
such at the time of the reform. Jewish religion is historical and ethical. For Jewish religion history is
one great tracing of God. God is the Origin of all that is. Ancient Jewish historiography (of the Old
Testament) interprets the way things happen, both nationally, internationally and personally to the
individual, in terms of God. And Jewish religion is born and raised on the experience that God is living
and, as such, revealed Himself, first and foremost, to Abraham, to Moses and the prophets. To
Moses he revealed a Law (the 10 Commandments). Jewish ethics is not therefore grounded in
reason, rather, reason is grounded in ethics and ethics in historicity, or rather, ashistoricity.

Jesus revealed something about the nature of this Law and about God (a 'new' testament to Him),
although retrospectively it seemed that the prophets had always been trying to work towards it, and
some of the later prophets (men of extraordinary moral insight) were explicit about it, but to no avail in
the life of their people. Christians believed that Jesus himself was a revelation of God. There had
been some general expectation among Jewish groups of such a revelation. Followers believed Jesus
was the 'Son of God' because of the spiritual authority of his life and teaching. What Jesus revealed
about God is that forgiveness is the essence of the Law (of Moses), which meant sacrifice for others,
and never at the cost of anything less than life. He revealed that 'God' is related to Man intimately,
familiarly, and is not exterior, not jealous, not like a judge in court; His Law is not that kind of Law, but
rather God is "with us". Jesus revealed that there is life with God after death for those who seek it in
this world. Jesus revealed that the Law is for our freedom — our life — it should not be a burden or a
restriction (which it seemed like to many Jews under the religious authorities). Instead of looking for
'loopholes' in God's law (like the Pharisees) and trying to tie them tie them up, the Law should be an
inner law which is an expression of our love. Jesus naturalised and internalised the Jewish Law. He
taught that the law was intended to transform the world into a place of peace and the brotherhood of
all people, not just Jews, not just men, not just 'good' people, not just 'religious' people.

Matthew Del Nevo

www.sicetnon.com

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