Is Religion Coming Back as a Source for Antisemitic Views?

The most violent American and European antisemites in the 21st century, including not only Jihadists but also white (and black) supremacist terrorist, made some reference to religion in their hatred of Jews. This is surprising. Religious antisemitism is often seen as a relic of the past. It is more...

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Main Author: Gunther Jikeli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-05-01
Series:Religions
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/11/5/255
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author Gunther Jikeli
author_facet Gunther Jikeli
author_sort Gunther Jikeli
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description The most violent American and European antisemites in the 21st century, including not only Jihadists but also white (and black) supremacist terrorist, made some reference to religion in their hatred of Jews. This is surprising. Religious antisemitism is often seen as a relic of the past. It is more associated with pre-modern societies where the role of religion was central to the social and political order. However, at the end of the 19th century, animosity against Judaism gave way to nationalistic and racist motives. People such as Wilhelm Marr called themselves antisemites to distinguish themselves from those who despised Jews for religious reasons. Since then, antisemitism has gone through many mutations. However, today, it is not only the actions of extremely violent antisemites who might be an indication that religious antisemitism has come back in new forms. Some churches have been accused of disseminating antisemitic arguments related to ideas of replacement theology in modernized forms and applied to the Jewish State. Others, from the populist nationalist right, seem to use Christianity as an identity marker and thus exclude Jews (and Muslims) from the nation. Do religious motifs play a significant role in the resurgence of antisemitism in the 21st century?
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spelling doaj.art-5d030313e1b8411bb23f1b70096bf1bf2023-11-20T01:02:42ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442020-05-0111525510.3390/rel11050255Is Religion Coming Back as a Source for Antisemitic Views?Gunther Jikeli0College of Arts and Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USAThe most violent American and European antisemites in the 21st century, including not only Jihadists but also white (and black) supremacist terrorist, made some reference to religion in their hatred of Jews. This is surprising. Religious antisemitism is often seen as a relic of the past. It is more associated with pre-modern societies where the role of religion was central to the social and political order. However, at the end of the 19th century, animosity against Judaism gave way to nationalistic and racist motives. People such as Wilhelm Marr called themselves antisemites to distinguish themselves from those who despised Jews for religious reasons. Since then, antisemitism has gone through many mutations. However, today, it is not only the actions of extremely violent antisemites who might be an indication that religious antisemitism has come back in new forms. Some churches have been accused of disseminating antisemitic arguments related to ideas of replacement theology in modernized forms and applied to the Jewish State. Others, from the populist nationalist right, seem to use Christianity as an identity marker and thus exclude Jews (and Muslims) from the nation. Do religious motifs play a significant role in the resurgence of antisemitism in the 21st century?https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/11/5/255religious antisemitismsupersessionismreplacement theoryBowersPowayPittsburgh
spellingShingle Gunther Jikeli
Is Religion Coming Back as a Source for Antisemitic Views?
Religions
religious antisemitism
supersessionism
replacement theory
Bowers
Poway
Pittsburgh
title Is Religion Coming Back as a Source for Antisemitic Views?
title_full Is Religion Coming Back as a Source for Antisemitic Views?
title_fullStr Is Religion Coming Back as a Source for Antisemitic Views?
title_full_unstemmed Is Religion Coming Back as a Source for Antisemitic Views?
title_short Is Religion Coming Back as a Source for Antisemitic Views?
title_sort is religion coming back as a source for antisemitic views
topic religious antisemitism
supersessionism
replacement theory
Bowers
Poway
Pittsburgh
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/11/5/255
work_keys_str_mv AT guntherjikeli isreligioncomingbackasasourceforantisemiticviews