COMMENTS:
Voted : Jews are traditionally blamed for Christ’s death
A good question. This is one of the main reasons, I think. But the idea that Jews killed their own God was a Roman invention created to foster hatred for Jews after the Romans adopted the monotheism of the Jews. The Romans themselves were so hated by their former abuse of Christians that they wanted to turn the eye of guilt away from themselves. Since Jews believed in God before the Romans did, and the Romans had a long standing hatred of the Jews whom they had vainly tried to obliterate, they did not want Jews being positively associated with God once Rome was converted, so they made sure Jews were blamed for God's death. It was Jewish influence that caused Rome to become Christian, and they were ashamed of that fact because they had tried to obliterate Jews and their monotheism and had failed. Yes, the idea of the Jews killing Jesus was a Roman invention. The Romans were very clever. What worse epithet against a religion than it’s adherents murdered their own God? There is a good book I saw in a store but did not buy. It's called "Why the Jews?"
Voted : Stupididty
Wish I could expound on it better, but some things can't be better simplified, IMO. Not to slight whoever posted the option, for example, but "hatred of Jewish thought and liberal ideas"- HA! Most of the Jews I know are deeply conservative.
Voted : Ignorance and fear
The same reasons for all bigotry.
by mojo on Fri Sep 07, 07 6:55am
[+]
Most of the reasons people will list are common guesses but they don't really pinpoint the reason.
1. Blame for Christ's death. No, anti-semitism existed long before this. In fact, for several hundred years post death there was no blame ascribed to the Jews.
2. Economic success. No, not really. Anti-semitism didn't end when Jews were in the Warsaw ghetto or concentration camps. Polish Jews were traditionally poor, yet anti-semitism was rife.
3. Influence and power? See above.
4. "Chosen people" No. Lots of people, countries or ethnic groups have considered themselves unique or special - Japanese, Chinese "Aryan" Germans, etc. But long lasting hatred of these groups has not existed.
5. Being outsiders or different. It doesn't matter how assimilated Jews are in another country, anti-semitism still exists. In fact, they were more assimilated in Germany pre-Nazi era than in most any other country. We all know how that worked out.
Anti-semitism exists nearly everywhere. Most reasons people give for this hatred contradict the others. So what are the real reasons? Perhaps these quotes may help:
"Who knows - it might even be our religion from which the world and all peoples learn good, and for that reason and that reason alone do we now suffer."
Anne Frank
"Conscience is a Jewish invention; it is a blemish, like circumcision."
"Even had there never existed a synagogue or a Jewish school or the Old Testament, the Jewish spirit would still exist and would exert its influence. It has been there from the beginning, and there is no Jew – not a single one – who does not personify it."
Hitler
"Jews are hated not so much because they killed Jesus, but because they produced him."
Freud
Jews were the first people to believe in monotheism. Basic human rights, morality, helping the poor, sick, elderly and a focus on family and education. When Judaism first came about, these things did not exist. While today they are much more common in large part because of the world's two largest religions - both of which have their roots in Judaism and its teachings.
Voted : Ignorance and fear
... and old tribal instincts. Different tribes of monkeys cooperate within the group, and compete for resources and wage monkey wars between rival tribes. Humans are different in that we can rationalize excuses for acting that way.
"hatred of Jewish thought and liberal ideas"- HA! Most of the Jews I know are deeply conservative."
Historically people of Jewish faith have been much more liberal leaning in thought than their Christian counterparts. While Christians were making sure that they did not go to hell by obeying their Church Jewish pioneers were discussing the rules of materialism and the boundaries of good and evil. Think about how many political and social philosophers have been Jewish in the last four centuries and you might come towards a different conclusion truthseeker.
winston, I'm aware of that. It's just that most of the Jews I've known *personally* were conservative. Just, as Kev would say, tangenting on the issue.
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