[[judaism]]

Judaism

Ever since the Civil Wars, Judaism has been not only an acceptable but a popular religion in the Archipelago of Albion. Between the immigration of families fleeing persecution in more hard-line Christian European countries, and the conversion of many prominent families and individuals to the faith, the religion in Albion has become more common than anywhere else in Europe except, perhaps, Prague.

All Jews in Albion are considered to be members of the highly informal organisation known as the Kabal of Yehudim; for more information on Jewish religious and social practice in Albion, see that page.

Attitudes to Christianity

Within Albion, there is a great deal of mutual tolerance between the Yehudim and the Anglicans, and the clergy of both faiths often work together on particularly technical or difficult legal matters. Of course, the occasional extremist on either side causes tensions to rise, particularly in times of political turmoil.

The Seven Noahide Laws

The laws listed by the Talmud as obligatory for every God-fearing human (and, lately, other sentient beings) are as follows:

  • There is but one God; thou shalt not make for thyself an idol.
  • Thou shalt not shed innocent blood of a human.
  • Thou shalt not steal.
  • Thou shalt not commit bestial, incestuous nor adulterous relationships.
  • Thou shalt revere God, and not blaspheme.
  • Thou shalt not eat the flesh of an animal while it yet lives.
  • Thou shalt establish laws and courts of law to administer these laws.

Naturally, matters of translation and interpretation mean that the application of these laws vary widely; but the above is the most widely-accepted interpretation of the Noahide laws current in Albion at this time. It is the obligation of every righteous Jew to ensure that these laws are followed by the Gentiles in his land, that they might themselves achieve righteousness.

Judaism in Europe

While Jews are generally tolerated in France and some German principalities, nowhere outside Prague do they enjoy anywhere near the same acceptance as they do in the lands of the Archipelago. In Catholic countries, particularly, Jews are frequently a target for persecution when Protestants are considered too contentious or powerful a group to rally against.

judaism.txt · Last modified: 2007/10/02 02:11 by helen