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Post by hannahhundeby on Jan 21, 2011 16:29:46 GMT -5
So I understand that anti-semitism was a key elemend for Hitler as he blamed the Jews for all of Germany's misfortunes from 1918-1945. I also get that he wanted the master race and all that but what I don't quite understand fully is why. WHy did Hitler possess this much hatred and anger towards the Jews? They were equal members and citizens of Germany. They did and could help defend Germany's honour in war and helped defend their country. How did he get so many other people to join in this hatred for them? It also interested me how this dislike for Jews also was in Canada. I didn't realize this before but it said in our readings that Jews were forbidden to buy property, there were hiring quotas for them in the civil service and the professions. Why did people all over share this prejudice against them??
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Post by Mr. Delainey on Jan 24, 2011 12:06:21 GMT -5
Anti-Semitism (or hatred of Jewish people) originated when the Christians were expelled from worshipping alongside Jews in the First Century (around 90 AD).
Jews were focusing on maintaining a sort of "purity" of belief, practice, tradition, etc. by expelling the "Nazarenes" or "Christians". The expelled Christians were naturally upset and that resentment over time turned into an almost institutional hatred of Jews within the early Christian church. You might say that anti-Semitism was built right into Christianity. I'm not sure if you're aware of this but Martin Luther was massively anti-Semitic..
The funny thing about Christians is they have forgotten that Jesus was not a Christian but a Jew (probably a fairly orthodox Jew at that). Instead, Jesus' Jewish (and by extension Christianity's) roots have been forgotten and downplayed.
And so how does that get us to Hitler's version of anti-Semitism or that which was found in Canada in the 1930s (or even 21st Century)? Germany was a Lutheran and Catholic country by and large; it's citizens were religious and their religion as a matter of policy taught that the Jews were "children of Satan" or "Christ killers" or "outsiders", etc. etc. Hitler didn't invent hatred of Jews. He's simply a continuation of an ancient hatred that in principle is a contradiction of Christian teaching (yet many a Christian has been anti-Semitic).
Anti-Semitism, like all forms of intolerance, was based in irrationality or "un-reason". It's pure emotion.
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