From Roman to Third Reich: anti-Semitism has long history

www.nrc.nl ^ | Monday, December 21, 2009 | Dirk Vlasbom

[SunkenCiv]

In 388 AD a Christian mob led by a local bishop destroyed the synagogue of Callinicum, a Greco-Roman city in northern Syria. The attack angered emperor Theodosius I, who had declared Christianity the religion of the Roman state just eight years earlier. As the Jewish community enjoyed a protected status under Roman laws, he ordered the synagogue be rebuilt be rebuilt at bishop's expense. This triggered Ambrose, the bishop of Milan, to write the emperor a letter defending the obliteration of the Jewish temple. What could possibly be wrong with destroying a "house of betrayal and godlessness" where Christ's name was sullied on a daily basis, Ambrose asked.

Since the second century, Christian leaders had been publishing texts denouncing "the synagogue", a metaphor for all the followers of Judaism in the Roman empire. While American historians have dismissed these attacks as 'ideological constructions,' Leonard Rutgers, a professor of Late Antiquity at the University of Utrecht specialised in religion, recently published a book disputing this rosy perspective. His book, Making Myths -- Jews in early Christian identity formation, describes how the verbal violence directed at the Jewish population by the church leaders became physical in the fourth century.

[SunkenCiv]

A tombstone marks a Christian grave from the fourth century in the catacombs below Rome. Photo Leonard Rutgers

[SunkenCiv]

· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic · subscribe ·
	Gods Graves Glyphs	To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
·Dogpile · Archaeologica · ArchaeoBlog · Archaeology · Biblical Archaeology Society · · Discover · Nat Geographic · Texas AM Anthro News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · Google · · The Archaeology Channel · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists ·

[Alex Murphy]

Since the second century, Christian leaders had been publishing texts denouncing "the synagogue", a metaphor for all the followers of Judaism in the Roman empire. While American historians have dismissed these attacks as 'ideological constructions,' Leonard Rutgers, a professor of Late Antiquity at the University of Utrecht specialised in religion, recently published a book disputing this rosy perspective. His book, Making Myths -- Jews in early Christian identity formation, describes how the verbal violence directed at the Jewish population by the church leaders became physical in the fourth century.

Ping for later

[Fiddlstix]

Ping

[rmlew]

While the facts are there, is it really the best time of year for this? It is almost Saturnalia, after all.

[Condor51]

Gee what a coincidence. I'm working on an article too..

From Moses to Marx in 12 Easy Steps

and I don't mean Groucho, Chico, Harpo or Gummo.

[Alkhin]

Theodosius absolutely correct in making the bishop use his own money to rebuild the synagogue....

[colorado tanker]

Ah, ‘tis the season - for the media to get their Christmas Christian-bashing articles out.

[Little Bill]

If I remember correctly, the Jews in the Papal States were under the Protection of the Pope.

[colorado tanker]

My recollection is that the record of the Early Modern Popes was very uneven, with some granting great tolerance to Jews and others persecuting them. Overall, I don't recall Italy after the Spanish established their influence being very hospitable.

[Little Bill]

I would recommend reading "The Origins of the Inquisition" by B Netanyahu, the present Israeli PM's Father. An eye opening read and very well documented, if you can find it.

He was a historian of the Shepardic Jews.

[colorado tanker]

Thanks for the tip, I wasn't aware of that title.

My impression is the Inquisition didn't affect nearly the numbers most people think. But it sure provided a plot for B movies to portray dirty old men doing twisted things to sexy babes.

[Little Bill]

If you can’t find it and are interested FReep mail me and I will send it to you but I want the damned thing back. It is a good read and very enlightening.

[TheThirdRuffian]

I’m not Jewish (and had never heard of the Papal States until about three days ago), but if this is “protection,” then I’m the Pope:

Special badges or dress for Jews
Special taxes for Jews
Forcing Jews to remit debt of Christians
Banning, confiscating or burning Jewish law books and other writings.
Encouraging or forcing conversion of Jews
Expelling Jews from Papal territories or forcing Jews to live in ghettos.
Inquisition for backsliding converted Jews.

http://www.zionism-israel.com/hdoc/Papal_Bulls_Jews.htm