Science in the City asks, “Is Christianity Anti-Semitic?”

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/anders.jpg” caption=”Anders Runesson, assistant professor of early Christianity and early Judaism in the Department of Religious Studies.”]Whether they're using giant telescopes to explore the farthest reaches of the universe or electroencephalograms to understand language and musical acquisition, McMaster University researchers are involved in exciting science. The Science in the City lecture series begins 2007 by offering a talk which seeks to understand our origins and behaviours by studying our religious differences.

Anders Runesson, an assistant professor of early Christianity and early Judaism in the Department of Religious Studies, will discuss Is Christianity Anti-Semitic? “The Jews” in the New Testament and in the Church on Tuesday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Hamilton Spectator Auditorium.

“The nature of globalization and our multicultural, multireligious societies has focused attention on the fact that we need to study religious differences to foster respect and tolerance,” Runesson explains. “Religious studies have changed significantly over the last 50 years and we try not to isolate religious arguments from the political, economic and social issues of the broader society.”

Runesson's public lecture will trace the historical path of the relationship between Judaism and Christianity from the first century onwards, exploring the course of history that begins with Jesus and his first followers — who were all Jews — and those corrosive elements in Christian rhetoric that have plagued the relationship between the two religions.

The talk will examine the New Testament teachings and that Christians, against the intention of the New Testament texts, have used these texts to support their anti-Jewish theology.

“I am really trying to argue against the idea that the New Testament can be called anti-Jewish, but that Christianity has an anti-Jewish history that needs to be dealt with.”

Runesson's talk will bring the audience to the present day, touching on the Holocaust as an example of one of the worst atrocities committed against a religious group, a culmination in some respects of Christian anti-Judaism.

“While Christianity can be seen to be anti-Jewish, it is not enough to explain what happened in World War II with the Holocaust, but it was certainly an important component,” says Runesson.

His lecture will address if Christianity is inherently an anti-Jewish religion, suggest strategies for change and how best to take the relationship from contempt to mutual understanding and respect between these religions.

This is a free public lecture and all are welcome to attend. The talk takes place in the Hamilton Spectator Auditorium, 44 Frid Street in Hamilton on Tuesday, Jan. 16. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the lecture begins at 7 p.m.

To reserve your seat, please e-mail sciencecity@mcmaster.ca or call 905-525-9140, ext. 24934.