I appreciate Dr. Landes' clarification. When I read "This international
conference will seek to explore the ways in which the three most
apocalyptic and intertwined religious traditions -- Christianity, Judaism,
and Islam -- conceive of the religious "other" eschatologically..." I
understood this to mean that all three religions were regarded as
"apocalyptic" and that it was the view of the main stream, not splinter
apocalyptic groups, that were to be studied.
Caedmon Greene is correct in that the Christian date has become accepted as
a civil reference throughout most of the world. This is a practical
accommodation that reduces the chaos in the world. What he seems to
overlook is that the interest in the millennium is as a spiritual
phenomenon. Jews, Moslems, and Orthodox Christians still maintain their own
calendars to determine religious festivals and other significant dates.
I am not at all surprised that Jews are also interested in the millennium.
My major interest is in Maimonides and other medieval Judaeo-Arabic
philosophers who were strongly influenced by Muslim religious philosophers,
and in turn influenced Christian philosophers like Thomas Aquinas. A
minority group living in a majority culture is always going to come under
the influence of that culture. What surprises me is that Mr. Greene finds
it offensive when a member of the minority objects when it appears that the
majority is assuming that a mystical event in its own theology has
applicability to other groups that reject the underlying premise of that
theology.
Laurence F. "Laurie" Friedman, Ph.D., CHP
New York University
205 Third Avenue, Apt. 16A
New York, NY 10003-2526
(212) 387-7957
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