What do fundamentalists think of the Toldoth Jesu?

Question

"The Jewish Life of Christ" It's a Jewish gospel. Check it out at http://www.ftarchives.net/foote/toldoth/tj 1.htm. Or just google up Freethought Archives.

I'd be interested to hear your opinions.

Answer 1

It is interesting that no fundie bothered to answer. Even assuming they have never heard of this spurious hate-propaganda,you provided your source and it's online and only some ten pages or so. It isn't the only example of hate-christian literature emanating from jews; the Talmud is filled with incredible stories claiming christ was the bastard son of a roman soldier,or that he is boiling in excrement in hades,etc. Similarly the kabballa. If fundies are so gung-ho for the jewish occupation of Palestine,you would think they would trouble to discover something of jewish commentaries on christ. They do not appear to be aware that the bulk of jewish sacred literature is after the time of christ; they seem not to be aware of anything but the tanahk or OT. If they were,it would be difficult for them to rationalize their enthusiasm for zionism with the traditional jewish hatred of christianity. The book you mention only came to the attention of christians in the 10th century,which is the period when pogroms began to emerge. They were likely an understandable response to this vicious attack of their beliefs - something no jewish historian is ever going to approach. And i don't think Rabbi Eshkiel is ever going to mention the matter since he's currently squeezing about 140 million dollars a year out of the predominately lower-income fundies,to be used for pro-zionist propaganda and AIPAC. A look at jewish writings on christ illustrate the old dictum that one does not always pick one's enemies; sometimes they pick you. When I was in college it was Hyam Maccoby who was writing book after blaming christians for everything he didn't like about our world. Some things never change.

Answer 2

Well few Christians have ever heard of it, so it is unlikely fundamentalists (or anyone else) even thinks about it at all.

Obviously, for myself, as a bit of fourth century anti-Christian hate propaganda that reviles Jesus' mother Mary as a prostitute, I (as a Catholic) can't really be expected to think that much of it.

Answer 3

The Jews have little respect for Jesus, they suppose that He was a prophet and no more. They have little respect for His mother, denying the virgin birth, and believing that Mary was a prostitute. Fundamentalists would be appalled at such an idea.