User:Java7837/706

Jews in America consist of about 5.3 million adults: 53% followers of Judaism, 26% of other religions, and 20% of no organized religion.

Outlook All adults Young (18 - 34) Senior (over 64) Religious     37%       27%           47% Somewhat secular 6      9              3 Secular        10      14              7

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_prac2.htm

The Jews proudly viewed themselves as the people to whom the God of the universe had chosen to reveal not only his nature but the ritual and law by which men ought to live. Believing this, it was natural that, under Pharisee influence, they should wish to convert others to their faith. Their readiness at this stage of their history 'to compass sea and land to make one proselyte' is a well-established historical fact. The edict of Hadrian forbidding circumcision, at least of proselytes, was needed to quench it. With Jerusalem in her glory and Carthage in ruins the scattered Phoenician traders with their close racial affinity to the Jews were likely to be the readiest converts {Sigmund Freud identified with Carthage - see p. 146 at freud.html}. From the time of Plato a certain drift towards monotheism had begun to affect the thought of the Graeco-Roman world. The Greeks and Romans viewed the religion of Jehovah with involuntary respect, and until the fall of Jerusalem regular provision was made by Roman emperors for sacrifice to be offered in the Temple on their behalf. The Jewish communities in Rome and elsewhere were allowed to lead their separate life and accorded certain privileges. Except in Judea and Mesopotamia they had generally adopted the Greek language, and after the fall of Carthage the Phoenician traders no doubt followed suit. They had thus every motive as well as every facility for abandoning the worship of Baal, with its hideous and barbarous rites, for that of Jehovah and for merging themselves in the Jewish communities. The process was gradual, and we know from Tertullian that up to the time of Tiberius they were still suspected of reverting to the practice of child sacrifice.

The Jewish conception of one righteous God was attracting converts in growing numbers. But the force of

{p. 170} this great conception was maimed by the limiting doctrine that God was interested in Israel only.

{p. 171} No one building has ever counted for so much to a people as the Temple at Jerusalem to the Jews

http://users.cyberone.com.au/myers/curtis2.html

Kotsuji