WriterAlexis I once tried to explain that to an American woman who was claiming that "Xmas" was an attempt by "certain people to remove Christ from Christmas."
I actually also had this assumption. Interrestimg to learn it's actually the opposite.
Merry Christmas
- Edited
youdontknowme
Actually only parts of the New Testament were originally in Greek. The largest part was originally written in Aramaeic, which was at the time of Jesus the language of the common people in that region. Only those with high education were able to speak Greek (even fewer to read and write).
WriterAlexis Her response to my etymology was that we shouldn't use Greek words for Jesus because "the Bible was written in English."
You would be astounded to learn that many Americans (meaning U.S.) are not aware there is a world outside their borders (maybe just Canada / Mexico). But I bet when you randomly pick 100 people from the U.S., not even half of those could correctly point out Germany, France, India or Japan on a world map.
curious Actually only parts of the New Testament were originally in Greek. The largest part was originally written in Aramaeic, which was at the time of Jesus the language of the common people in that region.
The sources used by NT writers, yes. The gospels have some quotes in aramaic (most of which are immediately translated into Greek or whatever bible translation you are reading).
But both the gospels and the epistles were written to "make disciples of all nations" (as Mt put it), to spread the faith throughout the Roman empire. So while they had lots of Aramaic sources at their disposal (the gospels were written many decades after Jesus's works, after all, and the epistles were mostly directed at communities far from Judea), the books that eventually made it into the NT have pretty much all been written in Greek.
Only those with high education were able to speak Greek
Jesus and multiple disciples almost certainly spoke Koine Greek in addition to Aramaic. Andrew and Philip are even Greek names.
His adoptive father was a tradesman, and Greek was being used as a lingua franca for business in the eastern Mediterranean during the 1st century. There is archeological evidence to support Greek usage in Sepphoris at that time, which was 4 miles from Nazareth. In John 7:35 the crowd even speculates that Jesus might leave them and go and teach Greeks, which presumably means they thought he could speak Greek. Some scholars believe the Sermon on the Mount could have even been delivered in Greek, considering the large diaspora of Jews present.
But I bet when you randomly pick 100 people from the U.S., not even half of those could correctly point out Germany, France, India or Japan on a world map.
It goes deeper than a lack of geographical knowledge. The Amerocentrism is built into the way we construct our thoughts.
I was making a similar argument during a church youth group in which I invoked an old poll in which Jesus had been selected as the 8th most "popular American."
The response from the leader was "Yeah! Why wasn't he higher?"
That was actually the exact moment that I realized I might not be cut out out for this organization.
WriterAlexis I mean, this is hardly unique to America. Maybe it is more extreme in how churches with rather fringe beliefs have gained mainstream recognition (with LDS probably rather big among them), but European churches have also created very whitewashed depictions of Jesus in which he looks suspiciously Germanic (or Greek, in the eastern churches). Then there is that sect in Japan which believes that Jesus had a Japanese brother or something. Cultures have been trying to make Jesus their own for millenia at this point.
If Jesus came to earth today, looking like a middle-easterner and spreading his message of loving the marginalized, very few of his self-proclaimed followers would recognize him.
youdontknowme
Xenophanes, a pre Socratic philosopher, wrote that if horses could draw, they will draw god as an horse. We all imagine our God as similar to us. Historic coherence is not so important in this case.
Milord or as Voltaire put it:
If God has made us in his image, we have returned him the favor.
To the defense of LDS members, the church does teach that Jesus did appear in the land Bountiful after the resurrection (3 Nephi chapters 11-17.) But that was before 1776, so my point stands.
If Jesus came to earth today, looking like a middle-easterner and spreading his message of loving the marginalized, very few of his self-proclaimed followers would recognize him.
@Valadar has some interesting positions regarding that point.
WriterAlexis can you give me some more information about LDS? In Italy it’s hardly known
WriterAlexis To the defense of LDS members, the church does teach that Jesus did appear in the land Bountiful after the resurrection (3 Nephi chapters 11-17.) But that was before 1776, so my point stands.
A church started in America has, in parts of the scripture that are unique to that church, an explanation for Americanizing Jesus. My point stands.
can you give me some more information about LDS?
If you want, I can send two bicycle-riding, tie-wearing, young men to your door equipped with talking points and literature.
WriterAlexis Over here a lot of the door-to-door jesus sales market is cornered by JWs.
WriterAlexis here in italy we have JW, same style?
a year later
I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, good health and a Happy New Year.
Happy holidays to everyone here
Best holiday wishes for everyone!