Reeves 1

Allen Reeves Mr. Neuberger Eng Comp 101-101 17 April 2013 Research Paper Anti-Semitism Anti-Semitism has been a part of world history for thousands of years. It is hard to pin point where it began, but it culminated with massive suffering and death during World War Two. Taking a deeper look into the subject of anti-Semitism, one can understand the reasons why there has been so much anti-Semitic feeling, however, a full understanding will not necessarily make it go away either. Even though anti-Semitism is alive and well, it really reached its peak under the reign of the Nazis during World War Two and culminated with the systematic murder of approximately six million Jews. Anti-Semitism has roots in the Old Testament, but is better documented after Christ. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum website states, Early Christian thought held Jews collectively responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus. This religious teaching became embedded in both Catholic and Protestant theology during the first millennium, with terrible consequences for Jews (Anti-Semitism: The Longest Hatred). The Bible states that the Jewish Elders and religious leaders convince the masses of Jews that Jesus should be put to death even though Governor Pilate thinks Jesus is innocent and lobbies for his release. Not wanting to start a
Jesus on the cross
Danrogayan.wordpress.com

Reeves 2

riot with the masses yelling to crucify him, Pilate finally gave in and symbolically washes his hands of innocent blood (Matthew 27 :1-26). Anti-Semitism was rampant during the Middle Ages also. According to the Danish Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies website, Christians were prohibited from working in
Anti-Semitic book by Martin Luther
Lulu.com

money lending businesses because they viewed usury as a sin.

Jews took over the dirty business of lending money. When Christians came to owe Jews money, anti-Semitic sentiment took hold. Due to economic development and internationalism, the monopoly that the Jews had on economic issues eventually diminished. Jews were also blamed on the Black Plague. People thought that they were poisoning wells in the cities and this caused hundreds of Jews to be murdered. It also states that at the end of the thirteenth Century, anti-Semitism increased all around Europe and noted that increases in anti-Semitism during this time were correlated with economic trouble. Following the Reformation period, the Jewish people were expelled completely from England. The reformer Martin Luther also wrote an anti-Semitic book calling for the burning of Jewish homes, and synagogues (Peter Vogelsang and Brian B.M. Larson). People mistake Hitler to have been an atheist, practitioner of the occult, or in some cases, thinking he himself was God. There are a number of articles, books, and websites that support these beliefs. If you look at the writings of Hitler however, it becomes clear that he professes to be a Christian. The No Beliefs website states that in his youth, Hitler wanted to become a priest. Even though he did not always agree with the Catholic Church because of political reasons, he always proclaimed his Christianity. It is also noted that neither the Pope nor any of the bishops

Reeves 3

ever disowned him; in fact, they blessed him (Hitlers Religious Beliefs and Fanaticism). It is also interesting to note what Hitler himself said on the issue. In the speeches of Adolf Hitler, it quotes: My feelings as a Christian point me to my Lord and Savior as a fighter. It points me to the man who once in loneliness, surrounded by a few followers, recognized these Jews for what they were and summoned men to fight against them and who,
Hitler shaking hands with the Pope
History1900s.about.com

God's truth was greatest not as a sufferer but as a fighter. In

boundless love as a Christian and as a man I read through the passage which tells us how the Lord at last rose in His might and seized the scourge to drive out of the Temple the brood of vipers and adders. How terrific was His fight for the world against the Jewish poison. Today, after two thousand years, with deepest emotion I recognize more profoundly than ever before the fact that it was for this that He had to shed His blood upon the Cross. As a Christian I have no duty to allow myself to be cheated, but I have the duty to be a fighter for truth and justice... And if there is anything which could demonstrate that we are acting rightly it is the distress that daily grows. For as a Christian I have also a duty to my own people. (Norman H. Baynes) Hitler also says, Hence today I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: by defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord. (Mein Kampf) Today most Christian theologians state that Jesus himself is Jewish, however, on the religious tolerance website, some Christians do not seem to think so. Several denominations

Reeves 4

believe Aryans are the Hebrews mention in the Bible. These denominations are grouped together in what is known as Israel Identity or Christian Identity (B.A. Robinson). One denomination is known as dual-seed Christian Identity. Their belief is that the word Adam literally means white man when translated from original text. An example is on the Kingdom
Christian Identity Church symbol
Kingidentity.com

Identity website:

We believe in an existing being known as the Devil or Satan and called the Serpent (Gen. 3:1), who has a literal seed or posterity in the earth (Gen. 3:15) commonly called Jews today ( Isa. 65:15). These children of Satan (John 8:44-47; Matt. 13:38; John 8:23) through Cain (I John 2:22, 4:3) who have throughout history always been a curse to true Israel, the Children of God, because of a natural enmity between the two races (Gen. 3:15), because they do the works of their father the Devil (John 8:38-44), and because they please not God, and are contrary to all men (I Thes. 2:14-15), though they often pose as ministers of righteousness (II Cor. 11:13-15). The ultimate end of this evil race whose hands bear the blood of our Savior (Matt. 27:25) and all the righteous slain upon the earth (Matt. 23:35), is Divine judgment (Matt. 13:38-42, 15:13). (Doctrinal Statement) Furthermore, it states, We believe the White, Anglo-Saxon, Germanic and kindred people to be God's true, literal Children of Israel. Only this race fulfills every detail of Biblical Prophecy and World History concerning Israel and continues in these latter days

Reeves 5

to be heirs and possessors of the Covenants, Prophecies, Promises and Blessings YHVH God made to Israel. This chosen seed line making up the Christian Nation (Gen. 35:11; Isa. 62:2; Acts 11:26) of the earth stands far superior to all other peoples in their call as God's servant race (Isa. 41:8, 44:21; Luke 1:54). Only these descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel scattered abroad
Book on improved relations between Christians and Jews
Alibris.com

(James 1:1; Deut. 4:27; Jer. 31:10; John 11:52) have carried God's Word, the Bible, throughout the world (Gen. 28:14; Isa.

43:10-12, 59:21), have used His Laws in the establishment of their civil governments and are the Christians opposed by the Satanic Anti-Christ forces of this world who do not recognize the true and living God (John 5:23, 8:19, 16:2-3). (Doctrinal Statement) Rhetoric like this creates anti-Semitism throughout the world. There has been anti-Semitism in the world for thousands of years and in the last several thousand years; it has been primarily from a Christian perspective. Presently, there are few Christians that are anti-Semitic. The few denominations that do believe in anti-Semitic sentiment are on the fringe. According to the remember website, modern day anti-Semitism is different than classical or Christian anti-Semitism in that it is now based more on racial as opposed to religious considerations. It also says that since the enlightenment period, people feel more nationalistic. They share a bond with others that have the same language, culture, values, history, and race. The Jews therefore are viewed as outsiders who do not share those same traits (Modern Anti-Semitism).

Reeves 6

Works Cited Hitler, Adolf. Mein Kampf Anti-Semitism; The Longest Hatred USHMM Web Robinson, B. A.. Religious Tolerance Web Doctrinal Statement Kingidentity Web Hitlers Religious Beliefs and Fanaticism Nobeliefs Web The Holy Bible. Matthew 27; 1-26 Baynes, Norman H.. Speeches of Adolf Hitler Web Modern Anti-Semitism Remember. Web Vogelsand, Peter and Larson, Brian. The Danish center for Holocaust and Genocide. Web