"Jewish custom" referred to is Christianity? Christianity is Jewish custom?

Question

Christianity is not atheism, but another religion.

Context:

First, a likely cause for investigation erupted right in Tacitus' backyard, so to speak, in Rome c. 95 A.D. Emperor Domitian's niece Domitilla, and her husband Flavius Clemens, were accused of "atheism," related to "being carried away into Jewish customs." Judaism of course was a recognized religion, so it is quite likely that the "Jewish custom" referred to is Christianity [Benk.PagRo, 15-16]. Here, then, was a perfect motive for Tacitus to investigate the movement historically. Some of Rome's highest-placed people seem to have joined the movement.

More:
http://www.tektonics.org/jesusexist/tacitus.html

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

NL888Christianity is not atheism, but another religion.

I don't see a question anywhere in your post. Are we supposed to guess something?

Do you want definitions of the words in bold? Do you want a paraphrase of the passage? Do you need an explanation of the history of that period?

CJ

Enoon · Answer

Time for a pop quiz, NL888.

1. Who founded Christianity? (Jesus)

2. What year was Jesus born? (1)

3. In what year was Domitian's niece accused of atheism? (95)

4. Jesus was a (Jew)
A. Jew
B. Roman
C. American

5. Who referred to Christianity as a Jewish custom? (Benko)

I'm trying to say that the answers to your questions are right there in your post and in your reading.

NL888 · Answer

Sorry.
My question is:
Wasn't Jewish custom Judaism? Wasn't then Christianity a heresy in their eye (so they didn't call Charistianity Jewish custom)?

CalifJim · Answer

NL888Wasn't Jewish custom Judaism?

Yes, it was the Judaism of that time in history. This passage seems to me to be written from the Romans' point of view, not from the Jews' point of view. To the Romans, Jewish custom was just the whole range of all the things the Jews did, and one of the things that a smaller portion of Jews did was to participate in Christian practices. Christianity was originally a Jewish invention. Only Jews were Christians in those times. If you weren't a Jew, you couldn't become a Christian. (It changed later.)

The Romans didn't care which kind of Jew you were, whether the Christian kind or any other. If you were any of those things you practiced Jewish custom, according to them.

NL888Wasn't then Christianity a heresy in their eye (so they didn't call Charistianity Jewish custom)?

If I'm not mistaken the concept of 'heresy' came later in history, so I don't think the more orthodox Jews thought of the Christian Jews as heretical — just as odd, maybe — but I may be wrong about this. In any case I find this irrelevant to the passage because if anything, it is the Romans, not the Jews, who are talking about "atheism" (or "heresy" if you will).

The Romans thought that Flavius and Domitilla must have been "atheists" (didn't believe in the Roman gods) because, apparently, the two of them participated in Christian groups, that is, in a branch of Judaism, which, according to Roman thought, I suppose, couldn't possibly have had anything to do with the true gods of Rome.
_____________

At least that's my take on the passage.

CJ

"Jewish custom" referred to is Christianity? Christianity is Jewish custom?

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