The Sacred texts in the Christian tradition most prone to sacrilegious use are those that deal with the suffering (passion) and death of Jesus. These texts, the “passion narratives,” give rise to a narrative that is fundamental to Christian identity; collectively, they give rise to a story as elemental to Christianity as the Exodus is to Judaism. Yet, they have been used in ways that I can only call sacrilegious in their disparagement and vilification of Jews and Judaism. The charge, initially leveled in the New Testament, developed with considerable rhetorical effect in early church writings, and a common staple of church teaching for nearly two millenia, constitutes the theological core of anti-Judaism. In short, the passion narratives seem to be a case study in problem texts precisely because they are both deadly and life-giving. All depends on the telling.
Mary C. Boys, “Redeeming Sacred Texts From Their Sacrilegious Uses,” in May Smith Lecture on Post-Holocaust Christian/Jewish Dialogue: March 10, 2008 (Boca Raton, FL: Florida Atlantic University, 2008), 2.
Maandishi matakatifu katika mapokeo ya Kikristo yanayoelekea zaidi kutumiwa kwa njia ya uovu ni yale yanayohusu mateso (mateso) na kifo cha Yesu. Maandishi haya, "masimulizi ya shauku", yanatokeza hadithi ambayo ni ya msingi kwa utambulisho wa Kikristo; kwa pamoja, yanatokeza hadithi ya msingi kwa Ukristo kama Kutoka kwa Wayahudi. "Lakini, zimetumiwa kwa njia ambazo naweza tu kuziita ""kuchafua,"" katika kudharau na kudharau Wayahudi na Dini ya Kiyahudi." Mashtaka hayo, ambayo yalianza katika Agano Jipya, yalikuja kuonekana katika maandishi ya kanisa la mapema, na kuwa sehemu ya mafundisho ya kanisa kwa karibu milenia mbili, na ndiyo msingi wa kidini wa upinzani wa Kiyahudi. Kwa kifupi, hadithi za shauku zinaonekana kuwa utafiti wa kesi katika maandishi ya tatizo hasa kwa sababu ni za kuua na za kutoa maisha. Yote hutegemea jinsi ya kueleza. "Mary C. Boys, ""Kukomboa Maandishi Matakatifu Kutoka kwa Matumizi Yao ya Uchafu,"" katika Mahojiano ya May Smith juu ya Mazungumzo ya Kikristo na Kiyahudi Baada ya Holocaust: Machi 10, 2008 (Boca Raton, FL: Chuo Kikuu cha Florida Atlantic, 2008)."