Language:
English
Year of publication:
1996
Titel der Quelle:
Cristianesimo nella Storia
Angaben zur Quelle:
17,1 (1996) 13-46
Keywords:
Christianity and antisemitism History To 1500
;
Jews History
Abstract:
Traces the roots of the demonic image of the Jew to early Christianity, pointing out that the ancient world knew no racial prejudice against Jews, but resented their religious separatism. Analyzes the two main historiographical approaches to anti-Judaism in early Christian times: one views anti-Judaism as the result of competition between Christianity and Judaism within the imperial urban environment, the other as the result of Christianity's need of self-definition and affirmation. Stresses the importance of the religious revolution of the 4th century: while in the "supermarket" of religions of the Empire the individual's identity was expressed in ethnic or cultural terms, it now came to be expressed in fundamentally religious (i.e. Christian) terms, to the exclusion of Judaism. Argues that with this shift, some of the anti-Jewish theological argumentation in the patristic rhetoric evolved into pure antisemitic prejudice.
Note:
In English: "Contra Iudaeos" (1996).
URL:
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