Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths... Take 3. (Chapters 8-9)

Aelia Capitolina is a perfect representation of Jerusalem's existence (or rather nonexistence) during the reign of the Romans upon the defeat of the Jews by Titus. The once sacred temple had been reduced to the same composition as the mundane dirt that outlined the mount. Jews and Christians of this era were forced into making the decision to adapt or die, stubbornly clinging to the past. Two particular themes resonated with me throughout the chapter. First, the Jews were gradually able to refocus their attention from the physical holiness of the old temple into their own homes. Their tables were altars and their candlesticks were the menorahs. Secondly, they emphasized the rule that "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself". This makes obvious sense considering the Jews were under the occupation of the Tenth Legion, forcing them to show respect in order to survive. Together, these coping techniques allowed the minority of Jews to continue their legacy near Jerusalem's borders. The fact that both groups were able to modernize in order to fit their circumstances gives me hope for the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

As the Jews were coping with hardships, the Christians were flourishing into the widespread religion that it is today. They began to build churches and foreigners were making pilgrimages to the newfound holy sites surrounding the city. The Romans became lenient and the culture punctured by Christianity as its people started turning away from paganism to this new trendy religious concept. An aspect that probably drew a large portion of pagans and Jews alike is the focus on searching for God on earth rather than in some deep cosmic dimension. The new idea that God is actually present in the community keeps people from feeling lonely. As Christians gained comfort, they became wary not to sacrifice this comfort at the hands of the Jews who were still angry at the way their old city had been humiliated. As follows, the majority will persecute the minority of Jews once again, leaving them to build up unrelieved pressure until one day it will explode upon the world.