Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Latest book review

"Anti-Semitism in America." I had that book around for a while and after finishing the "Swords of Riverside," finally picked this book up to read it. So far, it is a particularly disturbing book. Anti-Semitism has been around since the founding days of Christianity. And the rationale for it is found in the New Testament. I do have a number of questions regarding that rationale for Anti-Semitism and they are thus: did someone forget to remind these "Christians" that Christ was a Jew? Are the alleged "anti-Semitism" in the New Testament actually a direct quotation of Christ or words put in his mouth long after the fact? Especially as to the latter, the final compilation of the New Testament was hundreds of years after the birth and death of Christ. In that time, the vast majority of converts to Christianity weren't Jewish, but rather Pagan. If that tells you anything. And you can be sure that pagan influence would be the underpinnings of any final compilations of the New Testament. And it is because "Christians" felt that they were so superior to any other belief, that they felt quite safe in denigrating those who hadn't "converted" to their beliefs. How long after the fact could you possibly make the claim that the Jews did agree to the torture and final execution of Christ and make it official in the bible? 100 years? 2oo years? The religious council that finally put together what would become the modern version of the New Testament? In that time, considerable enmity could and would spring up between pagan Christians and Jews unconvinced that Christ was the Messiah. Because of that enmity, it would always be easy to make biblical claims long after the fact that Christ had it in for his fellow Jews and that the Jews would simply prefer to sell him out to the Romans. Which makes the argument that the bible carries a degree of "Christian" mythology and a rationality for their hatred of those who do not believe as they do.

The next question would certainly be: when Christ instructed his followers to "love their neighbors as themselves," and even to "love their enemies," why is it then that "Christians" would prefer to engage in religious bigotry? Sorry, but one is hardly supportive of a "superior religion" if one does not live up to the teachings of Christ. And the hatred of Judaism, the violence against them, the mockery of them; does not square with biblical morals. But, "Christians" went through 2,000 years plus justifying it.

When reading this book, as the author Dinnerstein began to discuss the increased hatred of Judaism in general and Jews in particular at the turn of the 20th century and the "Progressive era," seems that the "liberalism" of that time didn't extend to those not of the Jewish faith. And when Bolshevism overturned the last Tsar of Russia, it was a taint that Jews in America could also carry along with earlier questions about their loyalty.

Today, a Glen Beck can on Fox News equate "progressive" with Marx or Hitler. But, he used exactly the same language against "progressives" that were used against the Jewish faith from the early 1900s. Wonder if the guy has any kind of historical understanding of the fact? Today, Obama is attacked for his "socialist" views if he employs government to aid those left out or left behind. It is exactly the same language that was used against the Jews in an earlier era. Today, Democrats are complained about if they push for too much government or the gvt take over of _________. A parallel argument of what was complained that those "shyster" Jews who would use their "influence" to take over gvt and ultimately bring an end to a "Christian" nation. Literally, the same or comparable language of those who "fear" gvt because of whom might ultimately control it.

Not so long ago, "Christians" claimed a Judeo/Christian set of values. That is, until a Rabbi sought to put up a Menorah at Sea-Tac airport and rather than put up the Menorah, Sea-Tac officials took down the trees. The resulting uproar that led to across the board attacks on the Rabbi and demands by "Christians" that their pagan trees be put back up in the airport. The trees were put back up and the Menorah was never installed. Yeah, Judeo/Christian values up and until a Rabbi wants to put a Menorah honoring his holiday in an airport that only wants to honor a pagan/Christian holiday. That should tell you a lot right there. Or when a battle erupted in Florida, such as Jews putting up Menorahs to honor their holiday in a public setting and "Christians" who decided that Nativity sets could be placed in the near vicinity. In a land of diverse religion, why would "Christians" feel the need to compete for attention with the Jews? Given the particular history of "Christian" refusal to respect beliefs outside of their own, that exploiting the Nativity as a competition with the Jewish holiday comes as no surprise. Hanuka is recognized on the calenders. But we don't take a week off for the festival of lights as we do for "Christmas." How about that.

And it is "Christianity" after centuries of abusing those of other beliefs, then turns around and tries to claim that they are "victims." War on "Christmas" anyone?

I'd have to say in closing however, that much of what "Christians" had to say about Jews in particular, sounded exactly like the worst demons of their own beliefs. Merely a case of projection.

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