Dear Christians: What does your god actually do?

[Vicki Q]

 
I disagree entirely that Jesus put any effort into trying to move Judaism away from the teachings of the Pentateuch.

Up to a point I agree with you. Jesus endorsed the OT 'project'; he needed it to explain what he was doing. He never rejects the Pentateuch, Torah, or prophets, but their part is played. Like the taxi driver that takes you home, once the journey is over, you don't need to continue to be with them.

Jesus put a lot of effort into saying that Judaism was entering a new phase. That things were redefined around him and his actions. That the older symbols of Temple, food, nation and land were no longer the defining points of Judaism. That he was the culmination and fulfilment of the OT project.

Regarding the NT as a historical document, with all the biases, errors and omissions that entails, still leaves little doubt that what Jesus said went along those lines. Multiple attestation of sources and forms pretty much guarantees it. Plus, he had to be saying something beyond “I want a fairer Israel for all” to get himself killed.

My avatar is William Hartnell.

I did wonder. (But was too lazy to Google. Does that make me a bad person?)