Were the Jews ever slaves? (moral, Moses, exodus, bible)

[Autodidact]

Originally Posted by EtuMalku

from the Wiki article . . . Jewish ethnicity
Wow, have I been confused my entire life, being Jewish is a race?
I always thought it was a religion.
So you can be a Christian Jew? or even better a Muslim Jew?
Does this mean you can't be an African American Jew? No Caucasian Jews either now?

At the bottom of this Wiki entry is this link What Makes a Jew "Jewish"? - Jewish Identity

a short excerpt from this article reads . . . "Throughout our 3300-year history, what has defined us as Jews is a relationship and commitment. We are Jews because G-d chose us to be His "cherished treasure from all the nations..." notice the word God in there?

Judaism is essentially a tribal religion. A Jew belongs to the tribe/clan/nation of Jews, and as a result is also born into the Jewish religion. If a Jew should lose belief in that religion, they retain their ethnic identity. I guess a Jew who converts to Christianity would still be an ethnic Jew, but not a religious one. Although I am an atheist, I will always be a Jew. To complicate matters further, one can convert to Judaism, thereby joining the tribe as well as the religion.

The bottom line for me is that when they come to round us up and send us off to be slaughtered, they do not inquire as to our religious beliefs.

[EtuMalku]

In light of all the info by everyone, I stand corrected, I did not know this about Judaism, thanks everyone.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by lilithu

I don't think that 9/10P would. He's referring to an earlier argument in the thread that seemed to have hinged on the definition of "Jew" and was argued by Christians, not by Jews.

If, indeed, there is no intent to distinguish Israelite/Jew from West Semitic, then the assertion equates to ...

from everything I've seen, there was no great body of West Semitic slaves in Egypt

... which strikes me as rather absurd.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Jay

If, indeed, there is no intent to distinguish Israelite/Jew from West Semitic, then the assertion equates to ...

from everything I've seen, there was no great body of West Semitic slaves in Egypt

... which strikes me as rather absurd.

I'm confused. I thought you were arguing in a previous post that the existence of Jewish (and/or West Semitic) slaves in Egypt is a "powerful myth."

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by 9-10ths_Penguin

..., within the larger umbrella of "Semitic" or "Western Semitic", there are a number of distinct cultures with their own traits that can be differentiated.

Then you should have no trouble answering the question.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by lilithu

I'm confused. I thought you were arguing in a previous post that the existence of Jewish (and/or West Semitic) slaves in Egypt is a "powerful myth."

Of course there were West Semitic slaves in Egypt.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Jay

Of course there were West Semitic slaves in Egypt.

I dunno. I've been assuming that the Exodus story is exaggerated and embellished but has some basis in history. Others in this thread are saying that there were never Jewish slaves in Egypt. Perhaps this does hinge on the definition of "Jewish."

As I said in my first post, I don't care. The Exodus story has great meaning to me independent of its historical accuracy. And I see no reason why Jewish identity should change even it if were proven to be made up. It's not like the story of oppression and deliverance hasn't since been repeated in history.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Pharaoh didn't call down to the trade unions when s/he wanted something built.