| Roy A. Rosenberg, in his book "A Concise Guide to Judaism", writes that
Judaism considers it a great sin for Jews to become adherents of other
religions. Although he doesn't go into it, this would relate to the
fact that many Jews do not consider the so-called "Messianic Jews" to
be Jews at all, but rather consider them Christians, notwithstanding
the trappings of Judaism.
Rosenberg does point out that Judaism does consider religions such as
Christianity and Islam to be "valid for the other nations of the
world." He then quotes from two historical Jewish texts regarding this
position. Maimonides wrote in the twelfth century:
The teachings of the Nazarene [Jesus] and the Ishmaelite [Mohammed]
serve the sacred purpose of preparing the way for the Messiah, who
is sent to make the whole world perfect in the worship of God with
one spirit; they have spread the words of the Scripture and the law
of truth over the wide world, and regardless of the errors to which
they may adhere, they will turn toward the full truth at the
arrival of the Messianic time. (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Kings,
11:4)
Rosenberg also quotes Jacob Emden, a German rabbinic scholar from the
eighteenth century, on the question of Christianity. The quote
expresses tolerance toward Christianity, and points out the great moral
precepts of the religion's founder. "Would that Christians would all
live in conformity with their precepts!", Emden says. He also says
that Christians do not sin in believing in a doctrine of the Trinity,
and he concludes that "they will receive reward from God for having
propagated a belief in Him among nations that never before heard his
name."
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