Why is their so much anti semitism?

[freesoulhope]

I see alot of anti semitism in history. I dont quite understand fully the relationship between the Jewish people and the Catholic church at the time of the inquistions, but i thought that the first Christians were Jews?

Can somebody please explain this contradictory anomaly?

I Would like to think it is a lack of knowledge on my part, rather then think that their is antisemitism in my favorite church.

Looking forward to a reply. Peace

 

[quasimodo]

I have heard two or three reasons but there can really be no excuse …

1. They tended to keep to themselves. (In most areas they would be out numbered and cease to exist if they married into the population.) This caused hurt feelings.
2. Christians were forbidden to lend money at interest but the economy developed in such a way as to require banks. Since Christians were forbidden to lend money, the Jews filled the gap. Everyone hates bankers and Oil Companies … oh and WalMart.
3. The theology of the Jews is based on temporal retribution: Good things happen to good people. (and visa versa, of course.) This led them to push their children and themselves to suceed - to prove they were good people. Also as a culture they have historically prized good intellegent leadership … look at the stories of Isaac, Jacob and Jacob’s sons. These are stories of the leadership of the tribe going to the most capable, not to the oldest. People love to hate a successful group - jealousy is an ugly master.

 

[Reepicheep]

Question:Why is there so much anti-semitism?

Answer: Whom God loves, Satan hates…and the Jews are God’s Chosen People. Christ Himself is a Jew.

 

[josephlilac]

I think we need to be fair and realize that just because something was done “in the name of the Church,” so to speak, that doesn’t mean that the Church (her teachings, people, the Bride of Christ) was the primary motivator.

The inquisitions had more to do with politics than they did with religion.

A modern day example of this would be suicide terrorism. The primary motivation of what we are experiencing in suicide terrorism is political. Religion can aid such movements by supplying secondary motivations.

To say that violence is an aspect of the Church is not consistent with the Church’s teachings.