Judaism is only an ethnic religion by circumstance.
????
Christians and Muslims also believe that they were special people ala salvation and grace.
But all people are equally able to come to jesus or bow to allah.
Since the faith was only brought to one race of people, it became by default, both theological and ethnic.
NO. It was EXPLICITLY race based from it's very inception. And like you said, they don't really take converts. Reform branches do now, but that's a pr stunt. OR you can become noahide, which is what many of us do.
And Genesis teaches that all human beings have an immortal soul (i.e. "created in God's image").
they go by the Oral Tradition, or Talmud.
Jesus was against some of the leaders, who just happened to be in His own ethnic community. His mission was to come and save the human race from its sinfulness. No one need have resisted Him for such a mission to have been accomplished. That many did, and some elites persecuted Him, is of little significance, because it is indirectly related to His mission--that is, the elites' persecution provided the springboard for the means by which He would be executed by the Romans.
ANd he was wax explicitly against he Oral Tradition as it was developing in his day, as it reinforced the race based elitist aspects of the religion.
7And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
8And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.
9But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
10For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
11But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
12And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
13And they cried out again, Crucify him.
mark 15 7-13
