DescentBB

Historians have classified six explanations as to why people hate the Jews:

Economic -- "We hate Jews because they possess too much wealth and power."
Chosen People -- "We hate Jews because they arrogantly claim that they are the chosen people."
Scapegoat -- "Jews are a convenient group to single out and blame for our troubles."
Deicide -- "We hate Jews because they killed Jesus."
Outsiders, -- "We hate Jews because they are different than us." (The dislike of the unlike.)
Racial Theory -- "We hate Jews because they are an inferior race."


As we examine the explanations, we must ask -- Are they the causes for anti-Semitism or excuses for Anti-Semitism? The difference? If one takes away the cause, then anti-Semitism should no longer exist. If one can show a contradiction to the explanation, it demonstrates that the "cause" is not a reason, it is just an excuse. Let's look at some contradictions:

Economic -- The Jews of 17th- 20th century Poland and Russia were dirt poor, had no influence and yet they were hated.

Chosen People -- a) In the late 19th century, the Jews of Germany denied "Choseness." And then they worked on assimilation. Yet, the holocaust started there. b) Christians and Moslems profess to being the "Chosen people," yet, the world and the anti-Semites tolerate them.

Scapegoat -- Any group must already be hated to be an effective scapegoat. The Scapegoat Theory does not then cause anti-Semitism. Rather, anti-Semitism is what makes the Jews a convenient scapegoat target. Hitler's ranting and ravings would not be taken seriously if he said, "It's the bicycle riders and the midgets who are destroying our society."

Deicide -- a) the Christian Bible says the Romans killed Jesus, though Jews are mentioned as accomplices (claims that Jews killed Jesus came several hundred years later). How come the accomplices are persecuted and there isn't an anti-Roman movement through history? b) Jesus himself said, "Forgive them [i.e., the Jews], for they know not what they do." The Second Vatican Council in 1963 officially exonerated the Jews as the killers of Jesus. Neither statement of Christian belief lessened anti-Semitism.

Outsiders -- With the Enlightenment in the late 18th century, many Jews rushed to assimilate. Anti-Semitism should have stopped. Instead, for example, with the Nazis came the cry, in essence: "We hate you, not because you're different, but because you're trying to become like us! We cannot allow you to infect the Aryan race with your inferior genes."

Racial Theory -- The overriding problem with this theory is that it is self-contradictory: Jews are not a race. Anyone can become a Jew - and members of every race, creed and color in the world have done so at one time or another.

callmeslick wrote:gee, couldn't you say the same about black people......etc, etc, etc.?

Ferno wrote:Aaaaand there it is.

Nightshade wrote:

Ferno wrote:Aaaaand there it is.

Yep. There it is...and both of you deny it. Probably just like the Holocaust.

Nightshade wrote:

Ferno wrote:Aaaaand there it is.

Yep. There it is...and both of you deny it. Probably just like the Holocaust.

Spidey wrote:And likely lose, short of being able to prove actual damages.

I would say with all of the crap that TB gets...he would have a better chance...but still pretty poor.

callmeslick wrote:a few quick Koran questions for you, NS:

1. One female is mentioned by name in the Koran. Whose is it?
2. Who is mentioned more often in the Koran, Mohammed or Moses?
3. How many times is Jesus mentioned?

Nightshade wrote:

callmeslick wrote:a few quick Koran questions for you, NS:

1. One female is mentioned by name in the Koran. Whose is it?
2. Who is mentioned more often in the Koran, Mohammed or Moses?
3. How many times is Jesus mentioned?

Don't know what the point is, but ok-

1- Mary

2- Moses

3- A crapload of times (as "Isa")