Why does (has) the world found it so easy to hate Judaism?

Question

The Jewish people are historically the most oppressed and persecuted nation/religion in the world. What could possibly have caused this? (and don't say because they crucified jesus because he was known as rabbi jesus i.e. a jewish priest and if they hadn't then nobody would have 'died for your sins' and there would be no christian religion...)

Answer 1

Well for one, they are a people who keep their culture. Hatred for Judaism can be traced just as far back as the Jewish people themselves. When the Jews moved into an area they didn't assimilate into the culture that was there, they remained themselves. Thus, they are a people who are eternally "foreign." They weren't Hittite, they weren't Egyptian, they weren't Babylonian, they weren't Persian, they weren't Greek, they weren't Roman, they weren't Christian, they weren't Muslim, they weren't Arab, they weren't European, they weren't German, they weren't American, they are Jewish.

Humans inherently dislike that which is foreign, and Judaism is inherently foreign (unless you're Jewish). Think about it, not even the Chinese have preserved their culture so well over so long.

But it isn't just that Jews are foreign. In some ways, their refusal to integrate can be seen (not that it is, but that it could be) as an insult. "Oh our culture is so great but these people are refusing to be a part of it! What, are they too good for us?! Rrraaaarrr, Xerxes SMASH!"

Not only are they disliked for being foreign and for rejecting the culture that surrounds them, they also make a convenient scapegoat (which is, ironically, a term derived from Jewish culture). By being foreign they make the perfect "other" for any demagogue that comes along. "Germany lost the Great War because THEY were working against us." "American culture is declining because THEY are working against it." "Our overly-oppressed women are rebelling against us because THEY are selling our girls marijuana laced with aphrodisiacs, making them sexually promiscuous." (yeah... all of those are the bare bones of real world "arguments" made against the Jewish people)

Answer 2

Part of the problem, before Jesus came along, was that the Jewish people had been scattered and lived as minorities in foreign lands. It's easy for people to hate and/or fear people and customs they don't understand, so that was part of what brought about their persecution. Also, Jewish people, as a group, tend to refuse to participate in other religions, so they wouldn't fall in with the local deity, even if the authorities in the area demanded it. Some of their persecution came about when they lost a war and still refused to submit to the conqueror's religion. So that's the gist of their before Jesus persecution. After Jesus, well, the Catholic Church needed to demonize someone for the Crucifixtion, so they focused on the Jews. Also, in the 17th or 18th century, someone wrote a horribly anti-semetic book that detailed this worldwide "Jewish conspiracy" to take over absolutely everything. It was completely untrue and had no basis in fact, but people believed it and it was used to justify the Jewish Holocost, among othe atrocities. I don't know the name of the book, or if it's even in print. Hope that answers your question!

Answer 3

Christians have often been oppressed and persecuted too. That's not to minimize the oppression and persecution that Jewish people have suffered through the centuries -- but it is to say that in a sense, we have something in common there.

In places where Jews have been a minority, and in places where Christians have been a minority, there has been oppression and persecution.

Sadly, sometimes whenever someone believes differently, they are seen as a threat that must be kept down, if not removed entirely.

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Answer 4

Hatred of the Jews and Judaism long preceded Jesus and Christianity. What is it about Judaism that has spurred this hatred? The answer is complex, but I believe it boils down to a simple truth.....Judaism introduced the concept of objective morality to the world....and that is something that many, especially those with great power, just cannot abide.

See:

www.aish.com/seminars/whythejews/

Answer 5

This is a great question.

The best explanation that I have found discredits ALL of the classic "reasons" as excuses by logically proving them as such and offers an explanation for the underlying hatred (and it is correct to call it hatred.)

The seminar I've referenced is lengthy, but really explains the basis for anti-semitism in a way that a Y!A post can not.

Answer 6

I think it is due to the fact that they have the truth and we live in a dark world in which it seems as though evil has an upper hand.

Answer 7

I think the world wants a scapegoat and Christian dominated religions jump to the conclusion that JC was killed b/c of them, purely on jumping to conclusions. They obviously don't think much before they act.

Answer 8

I know, how hard is it to say, "F#^king Jew..."

Lol, just kidding. Jewish people are my friends.

Answer 9

Two words... "Gefilte Fish."

Ewwww!

Just kidding, btw... I have nothing against jews.

Answer 10

Uff that is what they say...right now the most opressed and persecuted are muslims...