The mystery of pathological anti-Semitism
In this discussion from July 2007, I agree in part with Michael Medved’s explanation for anti-Semitism, namely “the age-old Jewish refusal to abandon our separate identity, our irreducible distinctiveness through the millennia.” In my view the reason for anti-Semitism is not just the Jews’ distinctiveness, but rather the dangerous combination of their distinctiveness with their talents, achievements, and disproportionate cultural influence. However, I continue, while this explanation accounts for dislike and even hatred of the Jews, it fails to account for the all-consuming, pathological type of anti-Semitism that has been common throughout much of history and seems even more widespread today. Several commenters in the thread offer theories, but I find each of them inadequate. The mystery remains.
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Richard S. writes:
I am Jewish. It has been my observation that Jews are indeed, pushy.
It’s unfortunate that if a gentile were to make that comment he would immediately be exiled by all right thinking people. And maybe I shouldn’t say it either. But it is a generalization about Jews that is generally true. Jews genuinely like verbal combat. And gentiles generally don’t. So there is this huge problem that what for Jews feels like play is disconcerting to gentiles. A personal note: about twenty years ago I left NYC and went to live in Vermont. It soon became apparent to me that if I wanted to “get along” with my neighbors and even those I had begun to befriend I would have to “tamp down.” Let me say quickly that this had nothing to do with intelligence. Gentiles just don’t like verbal combat, verbal bossiness. Jews are boisterously competitive; gentiles determinedly but quietly so. Maybe the difference is deeper than culture, maybe it’s in the genes. I don’t know. But it’s there and it’s ineradicable. Does what I’ve just said explain antisemitism? Silly question. But it is a factor. And not an insignificant one.
LA replies:
As I said in response to the various theories offered by commenters in the earlier thread from last July, what you say is true, and can explain dislike, even strong dislike of Jews. But it cannot explain the cosmic demonization of the Jews as the source of all evil in the world. The mystery remains.
Mr. Jones writes:
I think it’s the other way round. The pathology exists independently as a variant of paranoia and Jews are just convenient as the protagonist.
If Jews didn’t exist I think the people you’re referring to would obsess about Freemasons or Moonmen instead.
LA replies:
That’s really interesting. What you’re suggesting is that there is this widespread pathological need in many humans to believe in a demonic, monstrous Other who is controlling humanity and is the source of all evil. And Jews, because of their particular historical characteristics (distinct, smart, aggressive), fit the bill.
Mark P. writes:
I don’t know about historical anti-Semitism, but wouldn’t present anti-Semitism simply be an extension of anti-white hatred? It starts out as simply hating these particular white people and then it ends with something like “BTW, even their own people dislike them for being Jewish.”
Randy writes:
I want, first, to thank you for your tireless efforts in providing us a medium to share and learn, and for your invaluable commentary and insight. The answer to anti-Semitism comes from God’s Word. The quote below is from Chapter 5 of a pamphlet by R.B. Thieme, Jr., entitled “Anti-Semitism”:
“The annals of history prove conclusively that anti-Semitism is a masterstroke of evil genius. The author and sponsor is that phenomenal prehistoric supercreature, Lucifer, who was named Satan in his fallen state. Anti-Semitism is one of the primary weapons used in his attempt to usurp the plan of God. As the absolute commander of all fallen angels (Matt. 9:34; 12:26), comprising one-third of the heavenly host (Rev. 12:4), he has thrown his entire organization into the (angelic) conflict (explained in other chapters) (Eph. 6:10-12). His rulership over this planet (Luke 4:5-7), Eph 2:2) gives him the distinct advantage of being able to manipulate the nations of this world (Rev. 12:9; 20:3, (8). One of his foremost strategies is to annihilate the people who figure so prominently in God’s design (also explained as related to the conflict)—the Jews.”
Italics were added by me. Please give this a hearing. You may order a copy from the ministry free of charge. Thieme’s biblically based teachings have given me (and others) our traditionalist, Christian view.
LA replies:
Thank you.
In a general way, Thieme’s idea is similar to my previous thoughts on the subject. I’ve said before that I think there is something supernatural about anti-Semitism.
However, ironically, Thieme’s idea can be seen as a mirror image of anti-Semitism itself. The anti-Semites believe that the Jews are the Devil, who control the world. Thieme says that anti-Semitism is the work of the Devil, who controls this world.
Todd writes:
If you get a chance please research the writings of theologian Norman Geisler on the subject. He has some interesting ideas regarding the cosmic demonization of the Jews. In fact, he asserts that the historical treatment of the Jews is evidence of the existence of Satan.
Jim V. writes:
Deus Envy
LA replies:
Cute!
LOL.
Chris L. writes:
I believe that you and Randy are on the right track with regards to why anti-Semitism is so virulent. However, I wonder if part of the reason for this ongoing persecution is that God is still punishing the Jews for their continued rejection of Him? I am not talking about their rejection of Christ as there are serious theological disagreements about whether the old covenant still applies to the Jews or it has been replaced by the coming of Christ. The matter is more about their secularism. As pointed out in the original post, Jews tend to be extremely secular. Today, Israel is a very secular nation. The recurring theme throughout the Old Testament is of Israel falling away from God, God punishing Israel, and Israel repenting. It seems possible that this has continued even after Israel ceased to be a nation.
Steven Warshawsky writes:
I have not scrolled through the lengthy discussion from July 2007, so perhaps this idea has been addressed already.
My understanding is that anti-Semitism is a phenomenon largely rooted in the Christian and Muslim worlds, not the Hindu or Buddhist worlds. Frankly, I have no sense of Indians or Asians being anti-Semitic. For example, I cannot recall ever hearing or reading stories of Indian or Asian atrocities against Jews, as Jews. (As someone raised in the “victim culture” of contemporary, secular Judaism, I am confident I would have heard about such stories. So even if such atrocities occurred, they must have been exceedingly rare.)
It seems plain to me that the roots of anti-Semitism lie in Judaism’s historical and theological relationship with—and opposition to—Christianity and Islam. Very broadly speaking, Christians hate Jews because they represent the competing religious tradition out of which Christianity arose—and which, by continuing to exist, challenges the ultimate truth claims of Christianity. On this score, I do not think it is coincidental that Christian-Jewish relations in the West have greatly improved at the same time that Jews (and many Christians) have become increasingly secular and assimilated. Muslims hate Jews, and also Christians, for a similar reason.
In contrast, the lack of Jewish people living among Hindus and Buddhists, and the non-monotheistic nature of those religions—which creates much more “ideological space” for competing points of view—resulted in a lack of anti-Semitism among those peoples. However, I am not sufficiently knowledgeable to expound on this thesis.
What is so troubling today is the fervor (reminiscent of the “Middle Ages”) with which so many Muslims hate the West (i.e., Christians and Jews) and how prepared they are to commit (and condone) violence that is aimed at expanding their civilization at the expense of ours. Not too many Westerners, frankly, are prepared to defend their way of life with equal fervor. At least not yet. It remains to be seen if they ever will be.
Robert C. writes:
In Teaching Company lectures on the Middle Ages, Philip Daileader discusses several causes of anti-Semitism during the Middle Ages.
(1) They were town people and engaged in banking and trade which were religiously discouraged for Christians. When Christians got into those fields they compensated for their feelings of guilt by persecuting those others who were doing the same. (Not too convincing to me.)
(2) When Christians went on the Crusades to conquer the unbelieving Muslims, it seemed natural to start with unbelievers at home who, if they converted, would not be persecuted.
(3) During the Black Death all kinds of people were accused of offending God and were persecuted. Jews were prominent among them; presumably Jews offended the Christian God.
I find these lectures to be excellent; I recommend them. There are three parts: Early, High, and Late Middle ages.
LA replies:
“When Christians went on the Crusades to conquer the unbelieving Muslims, it seemed natural to start with unbelievers at home who, if they converted, would not be persecuted.”
But this is very bad. This would give support to pro-open borders Jews who say America can’t exclude Muslims, because if it does so, the gentile majority will then start excluding Jews as well.
Philip M. writes:
Look at it this way: all cultures are exclusive, they all exclude. Being a foreigner in another land gives you a different perspective on that culture, sometimes this can result in fine comedy (who was it who said American sitcoms were written by ‘20 Jews in a room’?) but it can also make the outsider resentful at not being accepted as one of the group. It is surely not a coincidence that Karl Marx was of Jewish origin, as were many of the Communist revolutionaries from the early 20th century from Rosa Luxemburg to Bela Kun, This was an attempt by a persecuted, outsider group to deconstruct the culture around them and to try and recreate a utopia in which all were equal. Of course, equality for the excluded represents a step-up for them; for the host culture, it means seeing the culture changed in ways it may not wish. Fear of the Communist tendency of many Jews in the early 20th century is something I guess we are not allowed to mention now, but it was real. There was a famous article written by Winston Churchill written in the 20’s called ‘the battle for the soul of the Jewish people’, or something similar, that dealt with this phenomenon.
I am not saying that all Jews were Communist, or that all Communists were Jews, of course.
LA replies:
Yes, but anti-Semitism pre-dates and post-dates Communism. This explanation does not explain, e.g., why the entire population of Europe now believes that all Muslim terrorism is due to Israeli occupation and would stop if only those gratuitously mean and oppressive Israelis handed the West Bank to the Arabs.
Posted by Lawrence Auster at April 16, 2008 07:27 PM | Send