Language:
English
Year of publication:
2001
Titel der Quelle:
Renaissance Quarterly
Angaben zur Quelle:
54,1 (2001) 86-120
Keywords:
Foxe, John,
;
Christianity and other religions Judaism 1500-1800
;
History
;
Jews
;
Judaism Relations
;
Christianity
;
Christianity and other religions Judaism
Abstract:
Discusses the view of Judaism of John Foxe (1516-1587), whose "Book of Martyrs" (1563) was, after the Bible, the book that most shaped English Protestantism. His theological opposition to Judaism reflected medieval stereotypes. Foxe's stories about Jews included prejudices about their alleged smell and their connection with excrement, which signalled that they needed to be purged from Christian society. Foxe saw Jews as a threat to English national institutions and identity. He also believed Jews were guilty of using Christian blood for ritual purposes. He compared Jews to Catholics in their denial of the truths of Protestantism. He hoped for the conversion of the Jews although, unlike Luther, he did not recommend violence against them. Later editions of the "Book of Martyrs" placed greater stress on the danger posed by Jews to Christian society. Foreign policy concerns (e.g. the threat of Catholic Spain) also may have increased hostility toward the Jews as "Other." Aiming to re-Christianize the world, Foxe's Protestant theology denied the Jews a place in the Christian commonwealth he hoped would be created.
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