What religion was Jesus Christ? He was born a Jew and left the church to pursue Gods will.?

Question

I had someone tell me Christ was a Christian and that is not remotely possible considering that Christianity came about after Christ's death. So if there is only one church and one religion can you tell me what church Jesus attended and what religion was he?

Answer 1

Jesus (Yeshua ben Yosef in Hebrew) was babtized by John the babtist into the Nazarene school of Essene Judaism. Essene's lived in communities (the largest along the shores of the dead sea. Essene communities were of two varieties (celibate monestries and non celibate family communes). The Essenes practiced vegetarianism and also embraced the concept of the Divine Feminine and the notion of equality for women. Hence Jesus promoted Mary de Magdalene to evangelize along with Salome and other women.

Both aspects of Essene Judaism (vegitarian and the divine femine) were causes of splits in the early Christian church. The first split occured when Peter forbid women to preach (as was akin to his background as a Pharisee). The original 12 disciples were composed of 4 Nazarene's, 4 Pharisee's and 4 saducee's (representing the 3 main school's of Judaism). After Jesus' death, those Pharisee and Saducee disciples whom found female priestess' to much to stomach split from the Nazarene's. The second split occured between Christians whom followed Peter and gentile christians whom followed Paul of Tarsus. Paul rejected vegitarianism in preference to Pharisee culinary tradition.

By the time of orthodox convergence in the 4th century, the Nazarene Jews had all but been driven underground under the guise of Egyptian Gnostism. Although Nazarene Judaism persisted in Christian churches founded by Judas Thomas (Jesus' twin brother) in India lasted until the first western evangelizing in the region many years later, when most Indian Christians converted to orthodox christianity. All the information we have on Nazarene Judaism comes from the Nag Hammandi Library, and the dead sea scrolls found at Qumran (which may or may not have come from the schools of Essene Judaism).

The key difference between Essene Judaism and Nazarene Judaism is that the Nazarene's were evangelists whom believed in spreading true judaism (as they saw it) to the other tribes of Israel (where as the Essene's were community based and did not interact with non Essenes). The Essene Jews believed that Isiah's prophecies concerning the Messiah would be born out through a member of their communitity, and hence out of Essene Judaism came the Nazarene's.

Nazarene initiation required the potential inductee to spend time in isolation for 40 days and nights without food or water (it is thought they practiced a kind of meditation similar to Vedic or Buddhist monks). It is this initiation which is narrated in the bible concerning the temptation of Jesus by Satan. Indeed, Satan is really a metaphor for weakness within one's self. The purpose of the 40 days/nights in the worlderness was to become competant at self control of the senses, and facing one's inner demon's. It is likely that Jesus faced Satan in trance in a cave somewhere near Qumran.

Other aspects of Nazarene initiation include the babtism (which survived in modern forms of christianity).

Modern Judaism stems from Pharisee Judaism, as most other Jewish school's were wiped out after the fall of temple 70AD. Essene judaism didn't survive that revolt.
Indeed, to avoid being labelled Jewish (and to incure the roth of the Roman empire) christians started distancing themselves from Jewish schools.

It is possible that some Essene traditions still exist today (but unknown to westerner's), as many Jew's were exciled from Israel by those whom concured the land of Judah and Ishmael. It is known that African tribes practice Jewish traditions even though they did not realise they are Jewish.

It is important to realize that Nazarene Jew's had no formal church buildings within which to worship, and they often took their missionary to towns and village's. Worship would most likely be in the form of lectures given by Jesus (previously John the babtist) with people free to ask questions. Learning the truth (the word of God) was the purpose of worship, rather than praying or singing hymns (as in modern churches today).
Also preaching would have been done at people's homes. The Essene Jew's were accomplished medic's of their time, and 1st century techniques used by the Essene's were still in use by the Nicene creed. So as well as getting healed physically, Nazarene's would attend to your spiritual needs also.

Answer 2

Here we go again! Christianity began as a Jewish sect. In his time, Jesus hung out with rabbis, hookers, street people, and lepers.Not ministers.So of course if Jesus ever really existed, he was more of a Gandhi or Caesar Chavez type than an ethereal saint. Everything attributed to Jesus evolved from ancient myths and is similar to stories of the heroes Horus and Osiris.They were thought to be off springs of a god, born of a virgin.Now hero worship is all very well, but do many of us-especially in the churches-strive to exemplify Jesus' goodness and unselfishness? Apparently, not. Many would rather argue and put down others beliefs. An avatar who should inspire unity is used to stir up suspicion, division, and hated.How Christian is that?

Answer 3

Jesus the Christ was 'born a Jew' and was a Jew until he died on the cross. He had 'arguments and disagreements' with the Jewish faith and the 'synagogues' (they don't worship in 'churches') and the 'heirarchy' of the Jewish faith ... he was a 'nomadic teacher' and didn't 'go to church' regularly, but I think we can assume that he did 'attend services' at whatever Jewish synagogue was 'closest' to where he was on their 'sabbath' (Friday night to Saturday night) ...
You are correct in saying that the 'religion' we know as Christianity (actually it was the Holy Roman Catholic Church) did not start until nearly 100 years after Christ died ... but certainly Christianity is the only word to use for those who 'followed Christ' even BEFORE he died, too ... but Jesus Christ was ALWAYS a Jew.

Answer 4

Jesus was a Jew. although Jews then as many Jews now consider the followers of Jesus to be heretics. It was originally considered a sect of Judaism and for some Christians it is still considered to be a split off of Judaism. This is not always pleasing to Jews but that is the way it is. Jesus spent His entire life as a Jew. His original followers were Jews and many for their entire lives followedall the laws of Judaism but also believed Jesus to be messiah

Answer 5

Christ did not left the church.
He built the Church by the will of God.

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Inside the Church built by God through Jesus Christ teaches the true religion.

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

The only true Church is this:

1Timothy 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Answer 6

Who said he left the church? He did not set up the Christian church, his disciples did after he died.

The main religion back in those days was some Pagan religion (I don't know which one, and too lazy to google right now). The Romans worshipped many gods, and Jews were a small minority. But yes, Joseph and Mary were Jews.

Answer 7

Christ was Jewish which had deferent sects sorta like today would liberal conservative etc., he did not leave being a Jew during his lifetime that i am aware of. As far as what church he attended in his childhood he was found one time at the Synagogue when he became lost from his parents. As far as his adult life he was often found preaching in the different Synagogue Courtyards. Christianity was formed from Judaism.

Answer 8

you are right Jesus was ajew and he came to forefill Jewish scriptures as the massiah. I had an exboyfrioend ( catholic) tell me Jesus was not a Jew but the first chistian?
as christian came from being a follower of Christ ( the messiah) it is very sad catholics do not know even that Jesus was the Jewish messiah. nhe was trying to draw the jews back to God but the pharasies rejected him those who believed and followed his teachings were called christians.
Ps this ex was not stupied he is quite cleaver in many ways yet his church had lead him to believe Jesus was Christian.

Answer 9

christianity was originally called ''the way.'' since Jesus is Lord, there's no real need for a religion, but if i had to say anything, i'd say He was jew. in an ethnic sense, that's right.

Jesus built the church. there were no churches before Him. ''church'' is a christian term.

Answer 10

What religion was Jesus Christ? Interesting question, however not knowing this answer does not bother me, because I know that if Jesus was divine, then his religion was the love of God. I'm guessing it was a form of Judaism, however, regardless of creed, we all are connected to the same God, the underlying stratum of reality. We can never opt to participate in a different level of reality.

Answer 11

He was Jewish, obviously. And a "member" of an Essene sect, a more esoteric branch of the religion, as befits someone with a high IQ, and plenty of depth.

Btw, for some interesting insight on the "new testament", a total fraud, what a shock :)), see http://www.nexusmagazine.com/articles/NewTestament.html