Did Martin Luther's lies and hate against the Jews shape today's anti-semitism?

Question

i am not talking about mlk jr the great civilrights leader but the monk from the 1300"s

Answer 1

No they did not. That Luther held anti-semitic beliefs is a sad but well-known commentary on the period when he was living. He no doubt fell prey to the same prejudices as others during the Middle Ages:

Anti-Judaism and demonization

Tolerated as survival was seen as confirmation of OT background of Christian faith and allowed for fulfillment of prophesy of Jews conversion prior to second coming.

Jews were non-Citizens in Christendom and lived at the mercy of Christian majority and authority. Jews resided in mainly commercial areas of Roman Empire, France, and England.

Conspiracy Theories of Jewish Ritual Murder

Accused Jews of crucifying Christian children. A Monk, Thomas of Monmouth, claimed that Jews could not return to their fatherland or obtain freedom without the shedding of blood.

13th century allegations of desecrating Eucharistic hosts by stabbing them and they would bleed. Allegations emerged after 4th Lateran Council's approval of transubstantiation doctrine.

Papacy sought to keep anti-Semitic violence under control. Pope Gregory X condemned Christian parents who pretended their children were abducted so as to extort money from local Jews. Also denounced belief that Jews drank blood of Christian youths.

Alleged conspiracy of lepers and Jews 1321- confronted by worsening financial straits, Philip V of France targeted leper house residents, as involved in a conspiracy to destroy his kingdom. Claimed lepers put powders in wells to spread their disease and take over France. Lepers would claim Jews had bribed them.

Onset of plague in 1348 led to spontaneous murdering of Jews

In 1449 Pope Nicolas V condemned preaching and actions against converted Jews but his efforts failed

1478 Queen Isabella, King Ferdinand established permanent office of inquisition against Judaizers in form of "pureblood law". Jewish blood contained demonic and biological factors preventing true Christian baptism and conversion. Corrupt Jewish blood at 1/32nd levels could reach back three generations.

First decades of the inquisitions, thousands of convicted Jews who had converted to Christianity were burned. Auto de fe, acts of faith, executions of dozens of Jews, brought considerable notoriety to Spain.

Jews and Witches- meetings of witches and sorcerers were called synagogues, and later sabbats. Both accused of same crimes.

Answer 2

Martin Luther was used for great things in Christendom, but he was definitely just a man. He had weaknesses and shortcomings too. Even though he had God-inspired things to say about the Bible, he had some awful things to say about Jews. As for whether it shaped today's anti-semitism, I doubt it. Anti-semitism has been around pretty much all of human history. And what someone said 500 years ago has probably had much less impact than say, the actions of the last hundred.

Answer 3

I would think so, and personally, I can't imagine why anyone would want to be Lutheran in the first place, especially women. Here are just a few quotes.

Even though they grow weary and wear themselves out with child-bearing, it does not matter; let them go on bearing children till they die, that is what they are there for.

Men have broad and large chests, and small narrow hips, and more understanding than women, who have but small and narrow breasts, and broad hips, to the end they should remain at home, sit still, keep house, and bear and bring up children.

No gown worse becomes a woman than the desire to be wise

Answer 4

Martin Luther was a great follower of the teachings of Jesus. Nothing Martin Luther taught was contrary with the teaching or Jesus Christ. If anything Martin Luther was just fighting against those who would not follow Jesus and paving the way for Jesus's return when Jesus will extract his final revenge.

You either stand with Jesus or against him. Martin Luther stood with him.

Answer 5

Anti-semitism has been around for a very long time. I doubt any one person has caused the existence of prejudice. Judgemental behaviour (of those who are different in some way) leading to blame and hatred has always been symptomatic of basic fear and misunderstanding. Let's do our bit to change that, starting from now.

Answer 6

If the premise is true, the only logical conclusion is that it did. Wow, I didn't know that about Martin Luther. I never heard that in over 20 years of school.

Answer 7

No, that was the common attitude of Europe in his time. It had been like that for a long time and It certinly was up until the second world war. It is still likely more common than admitted.

Answer 8

These are quotes of the founder of Protestant Christianity Martin Luther:

"First set fire to their synagogues or schools and to bury and cover with dirt whatever will not burn, so that no man will ever again see a stone or cinder of them. This is to be done in honor of our Lord and of Christendom, so that God might see that we are Christians"

"Second, I advise that their houses also be razed and destroyed."

"Third, I advise that all their prayer books and Talmudic writings, in which such idolatry, lies, cursing and blasphemy are taught, be taken from them. "

"Fourth, I advise that their rabbis be forbidden to teach henceforth on pain of loss of life and limb."

"First, that their synagogues be burned down, and that all who are able toss in sulphur and pitch; it would be good if someone could also throw in some hellfire. That would demonstrate to God our serious resolve and be evidence to all the world that it was in ignorance that we tolerated such houses, in which the Jews have reviled God, our dear Creator and Father, and his Son most shamefully up till now but that we have now given them their due reward."

"My essay, I hope, will furnish a Christian (who in any case has no desire to become a Jew) with enough material not only to defend himself against the blind, venomous Jews, but also to become the foe of the Jews' malice, lying, and cursing, and to understand not only that their belief is false but that they are surely possessed by all devils. May Christ, our dear Lord, convert them mercifully and preserve us steadfastly and immovably in the knowledge of him, which is eternal life. Amen."

Some other Martin Luther quotes:

Idiots, the lame, the blind, the dumb, are men in whom the devils have established themselves: and all the physicians who heal these infirmities, as though they proceeded from natural causes, are ignorant blockheads....

God does not work salvation for fictitious sinners. Be a sinner and sin vigorously.... Do not for a moment imagine that this life is the abiding place of justice; sin must be committed.

Sin cannot tear you away from him [Christ], even though you commit adultery a hundred times a day and commit as many murders.

"I should have no compassion on these witches; I should burn them all." Martin Luther

"Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has: it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but--more frequently than not --struggles against the Divine Word...." Martin Luther

"This fool [Copernicus] wishes to reverse the entire science of astronomy; but sacred scripture tells us that Joshua commanded the sun to stand still, and not the earth." -- Martin Luther

"To be a Christian, you must pluck out the eye of reason." Martin Luther

"Whoever wants to be a Christian should tear the eyes out of his reason." Martin Luther

"We know, on the authority of Moses, that longer than six thousand years the world did not exist." Martin Luther

"So tenaciously should we cling to the world revealed by the Gospel, that were I to see all the Angels of Heaven coming down to me to tell me something different, not only would I not be tempted to doubt a single syllable, but I would shut my eyes and stop my ears, for they would not deserve to be either seen or heard." -- Martin Luther

Answer 9

Could you elaborate with quotes and notes? You've assumed the "lies and hate" is true. We don't have any references to say one way or the other.

Kev

Answer 10

Nonsense