The Changing Christian World, livre ebook

An insightful exploration into Christianity today—written especially for Jews.

For many Jews, discerning the differences among various Christian groups is perplexing. As a result, they are stuck with an outdated understanding of Christian beliefs, practices and attitudes, especially with regard to their relationship with Judaism, Jews and Israel.

But Christian views are evolving, particularly since the landmark 1965 Catholic statement known as Nostra Aetate that forever changed the landscape of Jewish-Christian relations. This intriguing, brief introduction focuses on the changing Christian currents within the Roman Catholic Church, Protestant denominations, nondenominational megachurches and the emergent church. It also explores the essential doctrines that undergird most Christian belief, including sin, salvation, Jesus as the Messiah, the Second Coming and Christian Zionism—and compares them to the Jewish understanding of these issues.

Designed to answer Jews’ common questions about Christianity, this enlightening overview is also an excellent interfaith resource that will help all readers understand the changing Christian climate and what its implications are for the future of Judaism and interfaith relations.

Acknowledgments vii How the Christian World Has Changed 1 1 A Jew Looks at Theology 9 2 Sin 23 3 Jesus 37 4 End Times 53 5 Is the Bible True? 65 6 Are We Still Waiting for the Messiah? 77 7 Do Christians Still Want to Convert Us? 87 8 Israel and the Christians 99 9 Protestant Churches Today: Bigger and Smaller 109 10 Religious Influences on the U.S. Government 117 11 What Might the Future Hold? 131 Appendix 1: Dabru Emet 134 Appendix 2: Nostra Aetate 139 Notes 145 A Glossary of Christian Terms 148 Suggestions for Further Reading 154 Bibliography 159