5. What efforts have been made in recent times to overcome these tensions and
To find more common ground among the Biblical faiths? What Christian acts and
Attitudes did the Catholic Church address and try to change in recent Vatican
Declarations and subsequent Papal messages in regard to members of other
Faiths in general and in regard to the Jews in particular?
Many efforts have been made prior to the twentieth century and in the twentieth century to overcome tensions between biblical faiths. Two faiths, Christianity and Judaism have shared a traumatic history, they have consistently objected to each other’s claims and beliefs. The Christian church for centuries rejected Jewish people, as it strongly argued that God rejected the Jews, as they do not accept Jesus as a savior. Nostra Aetate was a document, which emerged as a result of a number of horrific events; most significant event of them all was the Holocaust. Even though the Holocaust was not an act that the church supported, following it there was an awakening in the Christian world. The Christian world to an extent felt responsible for the act as they openly condemned Jews. This moment in history began the ongoing process of reconciliation between the two bodies. Pope John XXIII in 1962 called the Vatican Council II to focus on how church teachings can be adjusted and taught to the modern world. After three years of deliberation on 28 October 1965 a document was created which included an instrumental section called the “Nostra Aetate”. This section focused specifically on church relationships with other religions, it also specifically declared the special history and connection of the Christianity and Jews. The other religions it spoke of were Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam. This declaration itself created hope and began cautious dialogue amongst the two groups and eventually led to a genuine