Martin Luther’s treatment of the Jews is interesting. In his early ministry, he had great hopes for their conversion. I believe he was surprised when they didn’t respond to the Reformation’s attempt at total faithfulness to scripture. I also believe in his later life he became morose about them, and began viewing them from the standpoint of Christ’s pronouncement: “you will not see me again until you say ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
His LATER anti-semitism is on record. Personally, I think it needs to be balanced with his earlier pro-semitism. Combining the 2, one sees it as DOCTRINAL and not as racial bigotry.
Luther was well aware that Jesus and the early church were Jewish.
I might add that I’ve visited many of the cathedrals throughout Germany and Austria, and that the paintings of biblical scenes about the life of Christ depict Jews as a sub-human species.
Combining the 2, xzins sees it as DOCTRINAL and not as racial bigotry.
“I might add that I’ve visited many of the cathedrals throughout Germany and Austria, and that the paintings of biblical scenes about the life of Christ depict Jews as a sub-human species.”
Of course. And when were the scenes painted? Lots of them were after the Reformation.
To blame Hitler on the Catholics is just bad history. Europe was anti-Semitic and parts still are and THAT isn’t because of the Catholics either.