Jesus and the Kabbalah--interesting book

[HashemEchad]

Back when the subject of the Kabbalah arose, I did a search on Amazon to see if there were any books about Kabbalah that Christians could understand.

I found one book that sounded fascinating, so I ordered it. I have not been able to put it down since getting it this morning; the author is very knowledgeable about Jewish history, esp. the time period when Jesus is reported to have lived.

She is a Catholic, but has some new agey beliefs (be forewarned if you decide to get the book!) But apart from that, there is a lot in here that could explain Kabbalah to Christians, and she seems to have discovered what I did: that much of what Jesus is reported to have said in the NT, came form Kabbalistic teaching.

She also answered some questions I’d posed to this very forum, that no one was able to answer to my satisfaction.

For example, I was not sure Jesus ever existed, since the historical evidence for him is so sparse (yes, I know about Josephus, but historians feel the passage attributed to him was a Christian addition, and this author agrees with that.)

But she points out that many Christians were being martyred for their belief in Jesus (which IS a well-known historical fact), and that much of the martyrdom happened a mere 30 years after Jesus lived…surely (she says) included in the number of martyrs were people who had met him. She’s right! I never thought of that before, and evidently neither did anyone on here.

If anyone would like to get this book, it is:

“Keys to the Kingdom–Jesus and the Mystical Kabbalah” by Migene Gonzalez-Wippler

(based on some online research I did on her, she was raised a traditional Roman Catholic but has Spanish Jewish ancestry–perhaps of marrano/converso ancestry as my mom had.)

 

[Verisimilitude]

I read a book a couple of years ago written by a rabbi about the Kabblah. I forget the name and author and so far I can’t find it at the moment, but I found it very interesting. The rabbi did not mention Jesus or Christianity in the book, but I could see many similarities myself in How Jesus conducted Himself. It doesn’t surprise me because Jesus is a Jew.

I especially liked the description of how and why a perfect God would be more perfect in His creation by humanity. My lasting impression of it was a very deep and logical thought process Jews have regarding God, but that largely because of my own belief I thought the extensive details and minutia of such thinking blocked out the larger meaning of God.

I liked it, but in some ways it was like reading yesterdays paper for me.

Regarding the martyrs/historical Jesus connection I think that is a sound and maybe obvious support I sometimes overlook myself to use instead of referencing the fact that in about 300 years after the crucifixion the worlds empire -Rome, the same power that administered the execution on Jesus, adopted it’s faith in Him for the empire. Something I think only God could do.

 

[HashemEchad]

I read a book a couple of years ago written by a rabbi about the Kabblah. I forget the name and author and so far I can’t find it at the moment, but I found it very interesting. The rabbi did not mention Jesus or Christianity in the book, but I could see many similarities myself in How Jesus conducted Himself. It doesn’t surprise me because Jesus is a Jew.

I especially liked the description of how and why a perfect God would be more perfect in His creation by humanity. My lasting impression of it was a very deep and logical thought process Jews have regarding God, but that largely because of my own belief I thought the extensive details and minutia of such thinking blocked out the larger meaning of God.

I liked it, but in some ways it was like reading yesterdays paper for me.

Regarding the martyrs/historical Jesus connection I think that is a sound and maybe obvious support I sometimes overlook myself to use instead of referencing the fact that in about 300 years after the crucifixion the worlds empire -Rome, the same power that administered the execution on Jesus, adopted it’s faith in Him for the empire. Something I think only God could do.

Personally, if I were trying to prove Christianity, I wouldn’t use the fact that Constantine adopted the religion as the state religion for Rome…because his conversion was not seen by history as authentic, but as a way to gain/keep power.

I’ve never seen the adoption of Christianity by Rome, or the fact that we date our years from Jesus’ birth/death, as meaning Christianity is a true religion. Because then one could also say the ancient Nordic beliefs were true, since our days of the week are based on the names of their gods (Thorsday, FreyasDay, and the like).

 

[Verisimilitude]

Personally, if I were trying to prove Christianity, I wouldn’t use the fact that Constantine adopted the religion as the state religion for Rome…because his conversion was not seen by history as authentic, but as a way to gain/keep power.

Results are what matters. Constantine is one man. His mother (or wife) was seemingly the influence behind it, but so what. By decree tens of millions were introduced to Christ and it was accepted without a fight. The symbolism should not go unnoticed either that the Seat of Peter is in Rome where it was the Power that killed Christ, and where St. Peter and St. Paul were martyred for belief in Christ.

I’ve never seen the adoption of Christianity by Rome, or the fact that we date our years from Jesus’ birth/death, as meaning Christianity is a true religion. Because then one could also say the ancient Nordic beliefs were true, since our days of the week are based on the names of their gods (Thorsday, FreyasDay, and the like).

The fact we count the days according to Christ is just another proof of His divine impact. I agree, it is not a proof in itself just like Romes adoption of Christianity is not a proof in itself, but they are characteristics of something more than just a man in history.

Pilate asked “What is Truth?”
Truth is the historical Jesus.
Truth is over 30% of the world today call themselves Christian.
Truth is over 90% of the world has likely heard of Jesus and therefore God.
Truth is Jews make up 0.23% of the world population and are still considered one of the “Big 3” religions. There are nearly as many Hindu as Muslims.

With numbers little more than Bahai’s, Jews would have as little voice as they without the Truth in which it is founded to be considered a true religion.

 

[HashemEchad]

Constantine’s adoption of Christianity was politically motivated, so to me, it doesn’t have any spiritual significance in the truest sense of the word…though of course, others can see it as they wish to.

Our months are named for ancient Roman deities, so one could say their religion has survived the test of time also. The days of the week are named for Norse gods, so you could say the same of them.

And remember, in MOST of the world, they do not date things from the time of Jesus, only in the West. The Asian, Jewish, African, etc cultures date things differently.

We in the West tend to see the way we do things as being the benchmark for everyone else.

 

[MementoMori3283]

She also answered some questions I’d posed to this very forum, that no one was able to answer to my satisfaction.

For example, I was not sure Jesus ever existed, since the historical evidence for him is so sparse (yes, I know about Josephus, but historians feel the passage attributed to him was a Christian addition, and this author agrees with that.)

But she points out that many Christians were being martyred for their belief in Jesus (which IS a well-known historical fact), and that much of the martyrdom happened a mere 30 years after Jesus lived…surely (she says) included in the number of martyrs were people who had met him. She’s right! I never thought of that before, and evidently neither did anyone on here.

Sorry for not stating the obvious, if it was ever proposed in a thread I have contributed to.