Market of the Gods

2,000 years ago, Judaism was becoming an attractive product in the market of Mediterraneanreligions. Yet it was Christianity that won the day. Innovation anthropologistDominique Desjeux offers an unexpected solution to this oft-revisited enigma.In the year 70, the Temple of Jerusalem was destroyed. The Jews were in danger ofdisappearing, even though they represented nearly 8% of the empire's population. Tosurvive, the Jews had to make a strategic choice between several controversies: theresurrection of the dead, proselytism, the application of circumcision and dietaryprohibitions.One school of thought proposed refocusing on the purity of rules. This later gave riseto Rabbinical Judaism. Another Jewish current favored globalization. It proposed areligious product that was easier to disseminate. It did away with circumcision andkashrut, included eternal life, which reassured against the uncertainties of the future,and baptism, which simplified the rituals of purification. This current was excludedfrom synagogues. A few centuries later, it gave rise to Christianity. Any resemblanceto today’s innovations and crises is not accidental.