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Hmmm… I wonder if it’s that complicated. Here’s a simpler explanation:
(from my imagined interview with Abraham himself: outofbabel.substack.com… )
Patrick: So people thought you were crazy…
Abe: Crazy AND a snob. An elitist.
Patrick: Why an elitist?
Abe: They thought I was making a judgment — a negative one— about their lives and their paren…
Hmmm… I wonder if it’s that complicated. Here’s a simpler explanation:
(from my imagined interview with Abraham himself: https://outofbabel.substack.com/p/abraham-our-exclusive-interview-part )
Patrick: So people thought you were crazy…
Abe: Crazy AND a snob. An elitist.
Patrick: Why an elitist?
Abe: They thought I was making a judgment — a negative one— about their lives and their parents’ lives, and about everyone else in our community. By embracing a radically new way of thinking and living, I was effectively saying the old way wasn’t as good — or at least not good enough for me and my family. People found that attitude snotty, haughty, and holier-than-thou. They still do. You might even say this tension is the root cause of anti-Semitism.
P.S. Even well-educated people don’t like to be reminded that there’s a better path available — and they ain’t on it.
I think you’re oversimplifying too much. That’s an aspect of it but there’s much more.