MadSci Network: Science History
Query:

Re: Was Isaac Newton a jew??

Date: Fri Jul 3 09:31:53 1998
Posted By: Robert Macke, Grad student, Physics, Washington University
Area of science: Science History
ID: 899255273.Sh
Message:

Robert,
Alas, no, Isaac Newton was not a jew.
However, you ask a good question which requires a somewhat more elaborate 
answer than just 'no.'

Isaac Newton was born in Woolsthorpe, England on December 25, 1642, and was 
given the name of his then-deceased father Isaac.  He was baptised into the 
Church of England on January 1, 1643.  However, his early education had 
some very strongly Puritan influences.  As well, his grammar 
school education in Grantham included Biblical studies and he learned to 
read Hebrew.

There is strong evidence that in the early 1670's, Newton became an 
Arian.  (That is, a follower of the ideas of a 4th century Alexandrian 
priest by the name of Arius, who believed that Christ was not equal in 
stature to God the Father.)  This was a heresy that he kept secret, though 
he carried his beliefs with him to the grave.
At the time, he became very well versed in all of the Biblical texts, as 
well as the writings of many of the more prominent theologians, and 
published a number of theological papers of his own.
In the latter part of his life, Newton took an interest in ancient history. 
He wrote a text entitled "Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms," published 
posthumously in 1728, which used as a basic reference the Old Testament, 
and supported Jewish history at the expense of all other accounts, which he 
believed were exaggerated at best.
I believe the following passage best describes Newton's views toward 
Judaism:
"Tracing the history of the Church back to the earliest days of Judaism, 
Newton wrote that all nations were originally of one religion based on the 
moral precepts of Noah's sons.   This religion was passed on to the great 
Hebrew patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Moses later carried it to 
Israel...."  [Christianson, G., In the Presence of the Creator; Isaac 
Newton and His Times, The Free Press, New York, 1984, pp 566-567.]
Newton saw Judaism as the progenitor of the Christian Church, and as such 
early Jews stood apart from all other ancient people.  His writings give 
strong support to the Jews' special place in history.


Well, I hope you find this answer as fascinating as I did.

---Bob Macke
MIT S.B. Physics 1996
 in St. Louis Ph.D. candidate, Physics



Here are some references you may wish to look up for further information:

Christianson, G., In the Presence of the Creator; Isaac Newton and His 
Times, The Free Press, New York, 1984.
[LC Catalog No. QC16.N7C49]

Manuel, F., Isaac Newton; Historian, The Belknap Press, Cambridge, 
MA, 1963.
[LC Catalog No. QC16.N7M3]

Westfall, R., The Life of Isaac Newton, Cambridge University 
Press, Cambridge, 1993.
[LC Catalog No. QC16.N7W34]



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