Kinder, Gentler Contempt of Jews

American Christians today have rejected the overt, bigoted anti-Semitism that characterized Christianity of the past. They no longer conspire to keep Jews out of housing, jobs, universities, and other places in society. This bigotry has not been entirely replaced by acceptance, though - it has been replaced in many ways by a quieter contempt.

Mark Stover writes about what he found when he studied the depiction of Jews in contemporary Christian children’s literature:

Evangelicals see the Holocaust as a horrible event, perpetrated by non-Christians, which might have been ameliorated for many Jews (both during and after the Holocaust) by conversion to Christianity. Evangelical Christians feel badly about the pain and suffering experienced by Jewish victims of Hitler, but they do not consider these experiences a compelling reason for Jews to reject the Christian message. ...

On one level many evangelical Christians are fascinated with and respectful of Jewish traditions, including holidays, Sabbath observance, and dietary laws. Many evangelicals also believe that Jews will play a major role in the events of the “last days,” which gives the Jewish community a certain amount of “spiritual capital” and goodwill among Christians. However, on another level Jewish rituals and traditions (apart from a “messianic” interpretation) are viewed with a subtle contempt by evangelical Christians because these practices are part of the entire system of Judaism, which is ultimately seen as defective in that it is unable to provide spiritual guidance or eternal salvation. This ambivalence toward Judaism among evangelicals has been noted by a variety of scholars (Rausch 1991; Ammerman; Ariel 2000). ...

While these books may, from a Christian perspective, succeed at teaching a superficial tolerance for Jews, they also convey the not-so-subtle message that Judaism as a religious and spiritual system is bankrupt and defective.

Christian contempt for Judaism is a natural and almost inevitable outgrowth of an exclusivist religious ideology. If they think that only those who believe their religious doctrines can be saved, and therefore that everyone else is going to hell, it’s implausible that they will experience positive feelings towards those whom they must regard as consciously rejecting or ignoring The Truth.

The Jews were God’s chosen people, but now they are rejecting God’s son. What worse betrayal could there be? Anti-Semitism of at least a mild sort is inherent to Christianity and Christians have had to work hard to reduce its scope. They may never entirely succeed in getting rid of it while still retaining basic, orthodox doctrines.

 

Quick Poll: Is Christianity inherently, necessarily anti-Semitic?

1. No, anti-Semitism is common, but necessary
2. Perhaps at one time it was, but not now - Christianity has progressed
3. Christianity that is orthodox is also anti-Semitic, at least mildly so
4. Yes, Christianity is inherently anti-Semitic
5. I don't know
6. I don't care

Click an option to vote, or View Current Poll Results

 

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