Inquisition from Jewish stand point

[mikeledes]

I don’t see why we have to constantly explain the sins of the past to Protestants, especially those that belong to the Lutheran and Calvinist Traditions. Calvinists are not free from a past involving religious persecution. Does John Calvin’s burning of Michael Servetus ring a bell? Or how about the atrocity perpetrated by Calvinist Puritans in Salem? Or the persecution of Quakers in Puritan controlled Massachussetts? At least most of the atrocities committed by Catholics were perpetrated by members - not founders - of the Church and most of them occurred when the Church was already over 1000 years old. The same cannot be said about the Lutheran and Calvinist Churches.

God Bless,
Michael

 

[Vaclav]

The OP’s question is fair. The Jewish Encyclopedia is a good place to start. Also, a good history of al-Andalus would be good to understand the context of the Iberian peninsula before, during, and after the Reconquista.

We’re not talking ecumenism here. Anyone reading what Luther said can judge for themselves why he was quoted favorably by Nazis.

Hitler also fondly looked upon the Catholic Church and Christianity in general. It is hardly as if Luther was the only inspiration for Fascism.

 

[Teflon93]

The OP’s question is fair. The Jewish Encyclopedia is a good place to start. Also, a good history of al-Andalus would be good to understand the context of the Iberian peninsula before, during, and after the Reconquista.

Hitler also fondly looked upon the Catholic Church and Christianity in general. It is hardly as if Luther was the only inspiration for Fascism.

Really? Care to provide a reference?

I’ve read quite a bit about Hitler and have cannot recall any such claim being made of Hitler’s respect for Catholicism.

 

[Odell]

thanks so far guys im going to look more into this when I get more time.

The Church it self never taught this to be ok even though we have had members who did these horible crimes in the name of God.

I just have a hard time conveying this that the Church has never condoned such a thing. What is the best way to go about this?

 

[Teflon93]

thanks so far guys im going to look more into this when I get more time.

The Church it self never taught this to be ok even though we have had members who did these horible crimes in the name of God.

I just have a hard time conveying this that the Church has never condoned such a thing. What is the best way to go about this?

It helps to remember that the Church is no abstraction but a collection of people like you and me. Look at David—beloved of God certainly, but a murderer and adulterer as well. Should we revile David or love him? We should love him—he was beloved by God.

There is no people more familiar with the burden of history than the Jewish people. Ancient grudges have had tragic consequences for them.

I would simply stress how much respect you have for the ancient religion of Judaism and her devotion to her faith. She is not Herod, you are not an Inquisitor. There is no need for either of you to apologize to the other for deeds done by neither of you to the other.

 

[rpp]

Hitler also fondly looked upon the Catholic Church and Christianity in general. It is hardly as if Luther was the only inspiration for Fascism.

This is not a correct statement. Nazis persecuted the Catholic Church and most other Christian and pseudo-Christian denominations like Jehovah’s Witnesses. Many priests and nuns were murdered right along side other “undesirables” like Jews, Poles and Slavs. Even the Lutheran Church was not immune.

Have you never heard of St. Maximilian Kolbe?

Nazi authorities seized many churches and Church assets.

No, Hitler and the Nazis were not fond of the Church.

As for the inspiration, bigots like Hitler needed little inspiration. Yes, they referred to the writings of Luther when it suited them but they also relied on what the Philosopher Hegel wrote as well as Bismark. They even used the famous forgery by aides to the Russian Royal Family, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion to justify their pogroms.

But I think that is a bit off-topic.

 

[Teflon93]

This is not a correct statement. Nazis persecuted the Catholic Church and most other Christian and pseudo-Christian denominations like Jehovah’s Witnesses. Many priests and nuns were murdered right along side other “undesirables” like Jews, Poles and Slavs. Even the Lutheran Church was not immune.

Have you never heard of St. Maximilian Kolbe?

Nazi authorities seized many churches and Church assets.

No, Hitler and the Nazis were not fond of the Church.

As for the inspiration, bigots like Hitler needed little inspiration. Yes, they referred to the writings of Luther when it suited them but they also relied on what the Philosopher Hegel wrote as well as Bismark. They even used the famous forgery by aides to the Russian Royal Family, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion to justify their pogroms.

But I think that is a bit off-topic.

You make excellent points, of course. Hitler and his Nazis would reference evil writings when they existed, create evil writings when they did not, and twist writings toward evil when too lazy to do the first two.

 

[Teflon93]

Here’s a link which may help with your aunt:

holycross.edu/departments/history/vlapomar/hiatt/martyrs.htm