Musings on Religion

There is a confluence this weekend of holy days from two venerable monotheistic religions. Today is Easter, which represents the anniversary of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, a foundational theological principle of Christianity. Christians await the Second Coming, when they believe that Jesus will return to establish a world of peace and justice.

Passover, which began on Friday evening, celebrates the iconic and gripping tale, chronicled in the Book of Exodus, of the emancipation and liberation of the Jews who were enslaved under a cruel Egyptian regime. The yearning for freedom and resistance against tyranny carefully documented in the Torah, is truly a universal template that is relevant to this very day.

Jews Crossing the Red Sea Leaving Bondage Behind

The religions are so deeply intertwined. While I am neither a Christian nor a scholar, I have taken some effort to study the New Testament so that I might gain some understanding of this ‘offshoot’ of my own religion. Indeed, true scholars of Christianity teach that it is not possible to understand Christianity without having a deep understanding of Judaism. When one considers that Jesus, his disciples, the pharisees, the priests and other figures highlighted in the New Testament were all Jews, it is obvious that understanding their birth religion is a prerequisite to understanding how and why Christianity developed and thrived.

Consider some fascinating queries. Did Jesus eat matzoh on the Passover? Was the Last Supper a Passover meal?

I am not naïve and am well aware of the deep hostility that Jews have suffered from Christians both centuries ago and in recent times. There has been a rapprochement, but the work is not finished. And, my own house is not yet in order. Many Jews and others are troubled by the principles and actions of the current Israeli government. I presume these leaders, like Jews throughout the world, were at Passover meals, called Seders, this weekend, when they read about the plight of their subjugated ancestors. Did the ancient Exodus narrative offer them any perspective on current events? In our own country, ignorance and prejudice against Islam has been used for malign purposes.

Many believe that religion has caused far more harm than good for humanity. As we gaze around the world today, their argument is very plausible. Where do we go from here? Who will reach across rather than turn away? Who will listen with an open mind and an open heart?

Must we all wait for an apocalypse, described in Revelation, or a series of catastrophic plagues, as appeared in Exodus, for a peaceful world to emerge? Is there anything we can do now?

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