Melech 9,900 Posted March 22, 2015 Author Share Posted March 22, 2015 Why are Jews so historically hated in Europe? What have they done to deserve such hatred? My mother always says : "They hate us because they hate people who are different" Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Didymus 34,380 Posted March 22, 2015 Share Posted March 22, 2015 Why are Jews so historically hated in Europe? What have they done to deserve such hatred? It's a very interesting but complex question. Generally it's concluded by sociologists that because Jews, throughout history, have intensely persisted on maintaining their deliberate alterity in society (from clothing to holidays to eating restrictions and very distinct social conduct laws), they were a constant easy target for a large variety of groups at different times. History clearly shows us that the group of people that deliberately separates itself from a main stream will always be blamed for things going wrong in society. A very large factor also, however, is our (shameful) Christian cultural heritage. The word "Jew" actually is of Christian origin and let's just say it wasn't a neutral identification at all. Certain readings of the Bible, officially popularized, blamed them for murdering the messiah. Many secularized people living today will claim that we have removed all traces of our Christian past, but the opposite is the fact. Our ways of thinking are entirely dominated by Christian frameworks, and that includes a suspicion and maybe even an intuitive dislike for Jews, caused by a large variety of prejudice that is just part of our immediate understanding of society. This intuitive cultural heritage is one of the reasons the Nazi regime could persuade people so easily that the Jews (an extreme minority in Germany) were to blame for all of Germany's troubles. Very interesting. But sad when it ends in violence. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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