Roots of Anti-Semitism Essay - 5756 Words

nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;After learning about the Holocaust, I’ve asked myself many times how this could have happened. Why would anyone believe it’s acceptable to massacre an entire people? This is my reasoning for writing my paper on how Christian theology influenced anti-Semitism. Much of the Holocaust appears to have it’s beginning with Christian theology. I will begin my paper with the early writings of Christians and continue chronologically until after World War II. The Apostle Paul was one the first people to criticize the Jewish people. At first, he tried to explain to the Christians not to adopt a superior attitude towards the Jews. IF THE PART OF THE DOUGH OFFERED AS FIRST FRUITS IS HOLY, THEN THE WHOLE BRANCH IS HOLY; AND†¦show more content†¦quot;The Gospel of John contains some of the most hostile anti-Jewish statement in the Christian scriptures. So sharp is the contrast in that gospel between Jesus’ exhortations to his followers to love one another and the hostile references to the Jews†¦John is ‘a gospel of Christian love and Jew hatred.’quot; (Charlesworth) nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Some examples of John’s apparent sentiments towards the Jewish people include the following. †¦THE JEWS REPLIED†¦[JOHN 18:31] †¦MY FOLLOWERS WOULD BE FIGHTING TO KEEP ME FROM BEING HANDED OVER TO THE JEWS†¦ [JOHN 18:36] †¦HE WENT OUT TO THE JEWS AGAIN†¦[JOHN 18:38] †¦THE JEWS ANSWERED HIM, quot;WE HAVE A LAW, AND ACCORDING TO THAT LAW HE OUGHT TO DIE BECAUSE HE HAS CLAIMED TO BE THE SON OF GOD.quot; [JOHN 19:7] †¦THE JEWS CRIED OUT, quot;IF YOU RELEASE THIS MAN, YOU ARE NO FRIEND OF THE EMPEROR†¦quot; [JOHN 19:12] †¦HE SAID TO THE JEWS, quot;HERE IS YOUR KING!quot; THEY CRIED OUT, quot;AWAY WITH HIM! AWAY WITH HIM! CRUCIFY HIM!†¦quot;[JOHN 19:14] nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Many scholars believe the Jews and Christians were still worshipping together around the middle of the first century. They discussed and acknowledged their differences, like a family fight. Yet, towards the end of the first century their relationships deteriorated. After the destruction of the second Temple in 70 CE, the Gentiles appeared to break away from the Jews. Jewish leaders whoShow MoreRelatedLife of a poet Essays1520 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿Summary of Whose canon is it anyway? â€Å"Whose canon is it anyway?† is an article written by Bethan Marshall. In the article, Marshall analyzes a review by Tom Paulin of a book by Anthony Julius about the anti-Semitism and literary works of T. S. Elliot. Despite being a well-known anti-Semite, Elliot and his poetry were studied in schools around the world. 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We must protect our fellow human beings who also have every right we have by abolish the practice of Anti Semitism all around the world by fighting against it with commitmentRead MoreThe end of the 19th century was the beginning of a revolution in reading in Germany. If in 1840700 Words   |  3 Pagespopulation was literate. With this rapid progression of literacy in Germany, authorities hoped to fight anti-Semitism with factual written accounts. But instead it seems that anti-Semitism became even easier to spread beyond German communities. Words became weapons against the Jews. Accusations of Jewish slaughter were now reinforced through newspapers, pamphlets, and books. The written word lent anti-Semitism credibility. It was easy to believe in such accusations precisely because they appeared in supposedlyRead MoreEssay about Supporting Israel: Recent Rise of Anti-Semitism1198 Words   |  5 Pageslisteners then begin rooting for the â€Å"peace† religion of Islam. They begin to spread the hatred of anti-Semitic claims. Israel is left with a bad image and no defense. This paper examines the recent rise of anti-Semitism across the United States and argues the importance of supporting Israel and the validity of Christian Zionism. It is rather important for Christians to become well informed of anti-Semitic claims, whys supporting Israel is necessary, and what Christian Zionism is, because IsraelRead MoreNostra Aetate represents the historical period it was written in because the document would1400 Words   |  6 Pagesin because the document would effectively bind the wounds of centuries of Christian Anti-Semitism and reexamine the churches relationship with the Jewish people (Traditions, p. 436). With the catastrophic genocide of Jews in the Holocaust, followed by the birth of the first Jewish state of Israel, the church would have to reassess its relationship with Judaism. The document connects Christianity to its Jewish roots and indicates that the two faiths share a common origin through Abraham. The declaration