Language:
German
Year of publication:
2000
Titel der Quelle:
Aschkenas; Zeitschrift für Geschichte und Kultur der Juden
Angaben zur Quelle:
10,1 (2000) 117-155
Keywords:
Christianity and antisemitism History To 1500
;
Christianity and antisemitism History 1500-1800
;
Antisemitism History Middle Ages, 500-1500
;
Antisemitism History 1500-1800
Abstract:
Allegations that Jews were guilty of blasphemy against Christ, the Virgin, and the Christian faith began to be heard in the 12th century with Peter the Venerable; they came to a head with Nicholas Donin's attacks on the Talmud, which led to its burning in Paris in 1240. Subsequently the accusation of blasphemy was one of the main motives, along with the more dangerous ones of well-poisoning, host desecration, and ritual murder, for hatred of the Jews. Host desecration and ritual murder contained an element of blasphemy: in these (supposedly) the Jews mocked Christ just as in the New Testament they did at his crucifixion. During the Reformation, blasphemy accusations multiplied, partly inspired by Luther, and were often among the reasons given for expulsion of Jews. As blood libels and other allegations were discredited, that of blasphemy, which had some basis in reality, increased in importance. Stresses that this accusation existed in the context of widespread swearing and blasphemy among Christians, which the Church attempted vainly to combat, but which was never punished as it was when committed by Jews.
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