Portable God : The Origin Of Judaism And Christianity

Introduction

Biblical Studies Is Not Bible Study And Vice Versa

Israelite Religion And Its Legacy

Hellenism And Apocalypticism: Globalization And Millennialism In A Different Era

Sects And The City

Communicating With God Outside The Temple Walls

Where Is God? Divine Presence In The Absence Of The Temple

“By What Authority Do You Say This?” Interpretation, Authority And The Claim To Israel

The Question Of The Messiah

Glossary

Additional Info
Many Christians and Jews believe that their faiths developed independently from each other, and that their religions are distinct, even antagonistic towards each other. A Portable God dramatically departs from the idea that the birth of Judaism and Christianity are two separate, unrelated events. Judaism and Christianity’s origins are not seen as following a linear, chronological process that places the Israelites in the beginning, followed by the Jews, and finally the Christians. On the contrary, A Portable God shows that both Judaism and Christianity emerge from the same religious tradition — that of ancient Israel — at the same time. By telling the common story of Jewish and Christian origins, A Portable God shows Jews and Christians as siblings, rather than as parent and child, showing that the similarities between Judaism and Christianity far outweigh their differences, ultimately fostering appreciation for the shared heritage of Judaism and Christianity.