[Serious] The Story

[Vicki Q]

In a rigid OT framework...both good....and profitable.

Thanks for the reply- very thoughtful!

In a rigid OT framework, jesus' death means nothing in particular.

Surely the Suffering Servant passages tell us that Jesus death should be seen as redemptive?

Why do the gospels and epistles make effort to recast the OT as it's own supporting documentation?  Because they felt it useful to their new religion.  There was quite a bit of debate in proto christianity whether the whole lot could be cast aside.  

Could you point me towards the evidence for this statement? I'm not aware of any debate within the Early Church about Jesus as fulfilment of OT prophecy. The NT documents are very clear on that point.

For better and for worse (largely for worse..I'd contend, obvs) christian authority determined that christianity could not make it on it's own.  

Christianity might be seen as a separate religion to Judaism today, but that's wrong, and not how it was seen by the Early Church in C1. Paul's olive tree illustration amongst other writings tells us as much. Could you explain what the evidence is that Xianity considered itself apart from Judaism?

There's nothing explicitly historically accurate about relative moral ideologies...As though the christian's new religion was the proper historical form of judaism, through the implication of prophecy.  It isn't.  

Surely it's a question of history rather than morality? The central Judeo-Christian claim is that YHWH has acted in history to  inaugurate His Kingdom. Is that a moral or historical statement?

You could not become, by self affirmation, a member of the chosen people under the previous view of divinity. This necessarrily constrained it's share of the religious market. Altering that notion was both good....and profitable.

Converts to Judaism were not uncommon in the C1 Mediterranean world. They would find a ready made international community accepting them. Converts to Xianity walked around with a huge target on their back. They were denying the rule of Caesar, denying the Torah/Jews as unique people of God, and denying the role of regional gods, thus angering (in order) the Romans, Jews and pagans. Pretty much everyone wanted them hurt.

Not good for the bottom line?