In the shadow of the cross examines the historical and theological relationship between judaism and christianity and puts forward a new theory as to the psychological roots of anti-semitism. Rather than seeing the oedipal complex as the pivotal impulse behind the persecution of the jews professor sheleff proposes that the rustum complex provides a better explanation. He illustrates his theory with an in-depth comparison of the central events of the old and new testaments: the akedah
God s command to abraham to sacrifice his son isaac and the crucifixion
God s decision to sacrifice his own son jesus.
