#63379 - LDS membership numbers

[Katya]

http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/63379/

Do Jewish people get upset because people aren't converting to Judaism in droves?

I've always been under the impression that Jews don't place any special emphasis on conversion at all, because the focus is more on the tribal aspect of ensuring that God's covenant people are keeping their covenant with him. (This doesn't invalidate Jekyll/Hyde's statement, but it does mean that Jews aren't a good example to hold up in comparison to a Christian denomination.)

[Dragon Lady]

http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/63379/

Do Jewish people get upset because people aren't converting to Judaism in droves?

I've always been under the impression that Jews don't place any special emphasis on conversion at all, because the focus is more on the tribal aspect of ensuring that God's covenant people are keeping their covenant with him. (This doesn't invalidate Jekyll/Hyde's statement, but it does mean that Jews aren't a good example to hold up in comparison to a Christian denomination.)

True. Jews never ever focused much on missionary work*. They accept people that come to them, but they don't go out seeking people.

*The exception, of course, being the Jews that were also followers of Christ when he asked them to be fishers of men.

[Katya]

http://theboard.byu.edu/questions/63379/

Do Jewish people get upset because people aren't converting to Judaism in droves?

I've always been under the impression that Jews don't place any special emphasis on conversion at all, because the focus is more on the tribal aspect of ensuring that God's covenant people are keeping their covenant with him. (This doesn't invalidate Jekyll/Hyde's statement, but it does mean that Jews aren't a good example to hold up in comparison to a Christian denomination.)

True. Jews never ever focused much on missionary work*. They accept people that come to them, but they don't go out seeking people.

*The exception, of course, being the Jews that were also followers of Christ when he asked them to be fishers of men.

It's an interesting kind of philosophical transition, from a tribal/birthright focus to a missionary/conversion focus. (And it would be interesting to look at how the missionary emphasis breaks down among different Christian denominations, since Mormons are on the extreme end of that spectrum.)