Q&A: How should we relate to Christian polemics against the Sages and the medieval authorities (Rishonim)?
How should we relate to Christian polemics against the Sages and the medieval authorities (Rishonim)?
Question
Hello Rabbi, and have a good new month,
I apologize in advance for asking about Christianity; it’s never a pleasant topic. An American friend sent me a link to a modern Christian commentary they have online on the “New Testament” — all standard and familiar enough in their style, but what upset him was that even today they keep lying and distorting things, despite quoting sources.
The commentary is at this link https://www.biblestudytools.com/matthew/5-43.html
My question: how should one relate to things like this in the future? Should one ignore them, or give a point-by-point response? I’d appreciate brief guidance on the matter.
(In this particular case, when I presented the full Hebrew source and the full halakhic ruling in Maimonides, along with the real context, he understood on his own the distortion and tendentiousness.)
Thank you very much
Answer
I didn’t check it, but I don’t understand the question. What does it mean, how should you relate to it? If it doesn’t interest you, then don’t relate to it. If it does, then address the claims, not the people making them. If there are distortions, point them out. That’s all. I don’t understand the question.