J is for Judeo-Christian

Ju·deo–Chris·tian   adj   \jü-ˌdā-ō-ˈkris-chən, -ˈkrish- also ˌjü-dē-ō- or jü-ˌdē-ō-\

Definded  as - Having roots in both Judaism and Christianity (Online dictionary)

On a very basic level, Judeo-Christian is the opposite of a Pagan.

pa·gan [pey-guhn] noun (Online Dictionary)

1. one of a people or community observing a polytheistic religion, as the ancient Romans and Greeks. Synonyms: polytheist.

2. a person who is not a Christian, Jew, or Muslim. Synonyms: heathen, gentile; idolator; nonbeliever.

3. an irreligious or hedonistic person.

4. a person deemed savage or uncivilized and morally deficient.

Judeo-Christian concepts are based on Jewish Law and Christian law.  They would be unaccepting of anything that lies outside the two points of view and oddly enough even though Islam falls within the religions of Abraham; it is still rejected by this group.

Over the years, the evils objects from the Judeo-Christian belief have been applied to all things Pagan to demonize the culture.  Taking Baphomet for example or Pan (The Horned God); both positive figures in many Pagan cultures however; they have been changed to represent the Christian “Devil” as a way to control the people. 

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baphomet‎

Today many believe that the United States was a Judeo Christian nation.  They claim that our founding fathers were Christian and founded based on the bible. 

For those that agree I offer a few quotes:

"The hocus-pocus phantasm of a God like another Cerberus, with one body and three heads, had its birth and growth in the blood of thousands and thousands of martyrs." -- Letter to James Smith, December 8, 1822 - Thomas Jefferson "It is too late in the day for men of sincerity to pretend they believe in the Platonic mysticisms that three are one, and one is three; and yet the one is not three, and the three are not one: to divide mankind by a single letter into ["consubstantialists and like-substantialists"]. But this constitutes the craft, the power and the profit of the priests. Sweep away their gossamer fabrics of factitious religion, and they would catch no more flies. We should all then, like the quakers, live without an order of priests, moralise for ourselves, follow the oracle of conscience, and say nothing about what no man can understand, nor therefore believe; for I suppose belief to be the assent of the mind to an intelligible proposition." -- Jefferson's Letter to John Adams, August 22, 1813

(John Adams' reply to this letter shows that he did not believe in the Trinity either): "The human understanding is a revelation from its maker, which can never be disputed or doubted. There can be no scepticism, Pyrrhonism, or incredulity or infidelity here. No prophecies, no miracles are necessary to prove this celestical communication. This revelation has made it certain that two and one make three, and that one is not three nor can three be one. We can never be so certain of any prophecy, or the fulfilment of any prophecy, or of any miracle, or the design of any miracle, as we are from the revelation of nature, that is, nature's God, that two and two are equal to four." --Adam's Letter to Thomas Jefferson, 14 September 1813

"If we look back into history for the character of the present sects in Christianity, we shall find few that have not in their turns been persecutors, and complainers of persecution. The primitive Christians thought persecution extremely wrong in the Pagans, but practiced it on one another. The first Protestants of the Church of England blamed persecution in the Romish Church, but practiced it upon the Puritans. They found it wrong in Bishops, but fell into the practice themselves both here (England) and in New England."  Ben Franklin

As modern Pagans we welcome others around us with open arms.  Even those that carry a club behind their back to bash us.  We are open and caring to others yet, many of those in the Judeo-Christian faith, by the very definition cannot and will not have room in their hearts for those that practice a different faith.  This is my main complaint with many organized religions.  When you believe that you are the only one that is right, you should probably recheck your argument.


Namaste and Blessed Be
Sosanna
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