reply to post by adjensen
Judaism was (and still is, mostly,) an exclusive religion
That is incorrect. Heres some of the ancient sources that speak of Jewish proselytism or at the very least "influence" of the Roman populations by
making them forsake the state worship of the Roman gods and becoming what theycall "G-d fearers"
Horace:
" When i find a bit of leaisure, I trifle with my papers.
These are on of those lesser frailties i speak of,
and if you should make no allowance for it,
then would a big band of poets come to my aid -
for we are the big majority --
and we, like the Jews, will compel you
to make one of our throng.
Many scholars take the last line of ths satire to refer to "strong Jewish missionary activity in Rome"
Cicero:
"another debate dealt with the proscription of the Egyptian and Jewish rites, and a sensation edict directed that four thousnd descendants of
enfranchized slaves tainted with that superstition [Judaism] nd suitable in point of age, were to be shipped to Sardinia and there employed in
supressing brigandage. "if thy succumbed to the pestilential climate, it was a cheap loss". The rest hd orders to leav Italy, unless they had
renounced their impious ceremonial by a given date"
Seneca (as reported bu Augustine):
"But when speaking of the Jews, he [seneca] says: "Meanwhile, the customs of this accursed people, have gained such influence that they are now
recieved throughout the world. The vanquished have given laws to their victors". He shows his surprise as he says this, not knowing what was being
wrought by the providence of God. But he adds a statement that shows what he thought of their system of sacred institutions. "The Jews, however are
aware of the origin and meaning of their rites. The greater part of the people go through a ritual not knowing why they do so"
Domitian:
"Besides other taxes, the fiscus Iudaicus was administered with the uttermost vigor. Persons who were either living a Jewish life without publicly
acknowledging it or, concealing their origins, did not pay the tribute that had been imposed on their people, were prosecuted. I recall being present
in my youth when the person of a man 90 years old was examined before the procurator and a very crowded court, to see whether he was circumsized"
Cassius Dio:
"And the same year Domitian slew, along with many others, Flavius Clemens the consul, although he was a cousin and had to wife Flavius Dimitilla, who
was a relative of the emperor. The charge brought against him was that of atheism, a charge of many others who drifted into Jewish ways were
condemned. Some of these were put to death and the rest were atleast deprived of their property. Domitilla was merely banished to Pandateria"
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So, contrary to what you think these historians/poets speak for themselves. Jewish beliefs had infiltrated Roma Pagan society and values and this was
a bane to the Roman authorities, as it challenged more than just their religious beliefs, but their whole way of life (which included their
power)...
More importantly though, Judaism allows converts when the person is SINCERE. It doesnt just go seeking converts. In the past if there were many
converts it was due to the fame and reknown of the Jewish people and their religion. But that isnt possible today thanks to the demonizations of the
Christian religion.
So one who is "chosen" isnt chosen by birth, but by inclination of spirit. If one yearns for truth, and yearns for G-d he is led to Judaism and
becomes as equal a Jew as one born a Jew, as the Torah emphasizes many times.
" you shall treat the Ger the same as the Citizen - there shall be one law for all"
The Romans cut the Jews a lot of slack, particularly in the area of religious observances, because they were so stubborn and unyielding about their
faith
Huh? Umm.. 70 CE the ROMAN emperor Vespasian led by his son and general Titus destroyed the Jewish temple. In 135 CE, according to Cassius Dio, during
the war [ the bar Kobha rebellion] 580,000 Jews were killed, 50 fortified towns and 985 villages razed. And millions of other over the following
centuries were exiled from the land.
Ya...Thankyou Rome for showing the Jews slack.
