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The Foundations of Judaism and Christianity (1960) is a book by James Parkes.

Abstract

Intent on undoing much past Christian scholarship of the second temple period which viewed the post-exilic era as a period of decline and degeneration only to be subverted by the innovative Christian movement, Parkes sets up his history to prove the opposite – the period from Zerubbabel to the 1st century CE was a time of advancement and vitality, a period from where both Rabbinic Judaism and Gentile Christianity sprung as parallel developments, as “disparate twins.” The origins of Christianity are not to be found in any peripheral Jewish movement (including any type of apocalyptic movement), but are found squarely within the center of the Judaism of its day. If the tragic events of 70 CE had not occurred, any type of separation would not have been desirable. As it is, the separation would come about through a long, gradual process with both sides searching for a new uniformity in religion which would be the basis for a new national identity and unity. – Jason Zurawski, University of Michigan

Editions

Published in London: Vallentine, Mitchell & Co. Ltd. and Chicago: Quadrangle Books, 1960.

Table of contents

• Book One: The Common Foundation
  • 1. The Community of the Return
  • 2. The Centuries of Common Growth
• Book Two: The Emergence of Christianity
  • 3. Around A.D. 30
  • 4. The Emergence of the Church
• Book Three: The Emergence of Rabbinic Judaism
  • 5. The Victory of the Torah
  • 6. The Religion of Survival
• Epilogue
  • Two Religions: Two Chosen People

External links

• Google Books