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Journeyman
A Journal for the Inquiring Christian
Vol. 2, No. 1, January 2003
History of Islam and Christian Anti-Semitism
| Overview: With the events of September 11th, much light has been placed onto this world. One of the things that has become apparent is that this world is the main hotbed of anti-Semitism. The Christian world has a longer and more virulent history with the Jewish people, even excluding the Holocaust. This article examines the backgrounds and histories of anti-Semitism in both Christendom and in the Muslim world. |
History of Islamic Anti-Semitism
Relations between Jews and the world of Islam have historically been better than Jewish relations with Christendom, even when we don't consider non-Christian Nazi Germany. Today, however, the Muslim world is the main hotbed of anti-Semitism. Given the increased interest in Islam recently, this article will cover the historical backgrounds of Islamic and Christian anti-Semitism.
Relations between Jews and Muhammad were good during most of Muhammad's ministry. The Jews of Medina were Muhammad's allies. As Muhammad expanded his mission, it became increasingly difficult for Jew's to accept his ministry. Those Jews could not reconcile his claims to be a messenger of God with their religious traditions. Muhammad held out high hopes of converting all those Jews. Many Jews derided him and Muhammad's interpretation of Judaism. These Jews were then accused of perverting revelation given to them in the Old Testament, since it foretold Muhammad. The prophet started to ridicule Judaism and headed a military campaign against Jewish people. Some Jewish clans were expelled from Medina and others were killed. After this breach, Muslims began to pray facing Mecca rather than Jerusalem. It was then emphasized that Abraham was a Muslim, not a Christian or Jew.
Here is a quote of a particular incident to give a feeling for the worsening of Jewish-Muslim relations. They are all taken from Islamic historical sources can be found on http://answering-islam.org/Silas/terrorism.htm.
"The apostle said, "Kill any Jew that falls into your power." Thereupon Muhayyisa b. Masud leapt upon Ibn Sunayna, a Jewish merchant with whom they had social and business relations, and killed him. Huwayyisa was not a Muslim at the time though he was the elder brother. When Muhayyisa killed him Huwayyisa began to beat him, saying, 'You enemy of God, why did you kill him when much of the fat on your belly comes from his wealth?' Muhayyisa answered, 'Had the one who ordered me to kill him ordered me to kill you I would have cut your head off.'"
Before Muhammad died he sought to suppress both Judaism and Christianity. Muhammad's successor, Omar, expelled all Jews and Christians from Arabia. But when he expanded his rule beyond Arabia, he accepted those groups again.
As populations turned from majority non-Muslim to majority Muslim, the situations for non-Muslims worsened. More and more Muslims didn't have to interact with non-Muslims. Non-Muslims, including Jews, were treated reasonably -- within limits. They were given permanent disadvantages, which were enshrined in a system named dhimma. Dhimmitude, as Bat Y'eor calls it, involves the following:
- A poll tax
- Signs of their difference (they had to show there difference in their dress). This practice was later adopted for Jews by the 4th Lateran Council by the Roman Catholic Church in 1215.
- They had to avoid certain colors (like green).
- Non-Muslims could not build new places of worship.
- They could not repair places of worship without permission.
- Places of worship could not “overshadow Muslims.”
- Non-Muslims could not inherit from Muslims.
- Non-Muslim men could not marry Muslim women.
- Anyone who converted to a non-Muslim religion faced death.
Jews under the crescent were generally happier than those under the cross, but they were constantly reminded of their inferior status.
Today, the Muslim world is where anti-Semitism is most overtly and vehemently expressed. Muslins had great sympathy for the Nazi cause, Hitler was greatly honored, and many Nazis enjoyed asylum in Arab countries. Anti-Semitic works like the Protocols of the Elders of Zion gained wide reading in the Arab world. Recently, the relatively moderate Arab state of Egypt played a mini-series based off of that work for Ramadan. The infamous Jewish blood libel, the accusation that Jews use Gentile victims during their Passover meals, was recently mentioned in a Saudi Arabian paper. In many mosques around the world, Jews are called apes and swine, recalling Nazi-era imagery.
Much of the current hostility can be traced to the Israeli-conflict, but much hostility towards Jews predates the founding of Israel in 1948. There have been outbreaks of violence against Jews prior to the establishment of modern Israel. Many of those roots can be found in Islamic practice and belief. Edward Flannery writes:
There are many who attribute Arab anti-Semitism exclusively to the present Arab-Israeli conflict. Actually, its roots run much deeper, going back through Arab and Islamic history to the Koran itself from which a twofold principle can be distilled: that the dhimmis (non-Muslim monotheists) are not to dominate Muslims but be dominated by them, and that they are to be kept in a degraded state. Throughout the centuries a multitude of humiliating customs and practices were enacted against Jews in Muslim lands, all designed to remind them of their inferior position. These customs and practices need not be viewed merely as indulgence in hate or prejudice, a principle that became embedded in Islamic culture and politics. The intensity of Arab resentment of Israel today cannot be fully understood except in light of this traditional principle and practice that has been turned upside down in our time by the Israeli presence and successes in the Middle East.
Flannery has touched upon something that should be noted. The establishment of Israel is not the only source of anti-Semitism in the Muslim world. Islam is by its very nature aggressive and expansive. This can be seen by Muhammad and the early Muslim rulers, who spread the kingdom of God by conquering lands. They may have not slaughtered everyone, but the sword was definitely involved.
Islam contains the belief that a true Muslim state will prosper and dominate. True Muslim armies will conquer non-Muslim armies. All Muslim majority areas should be ruled by Muslim governments. And all areas, which have at one point in time been ruled by Muslim governments, should always be ruled by governments. So while the establishment of Israel is not a sufficient cause for Arab anti-Semitism, the mere presence of Israel, and its continual victory of Muslim armies, are irritants to Muslim pride and perpetuate and accentuate anti-Semitism.
Christian Anti-Semitism
Christian history with the Jewish people and anti-Semitism is much more detailed and involved. I have read many attempts to analyze Christian anti-Semitism. Often, I find they are either too naïve or too simplistic in their analysis. Much history and simple background (like Christianity being Jewish in origin) is simply overlooked or not understood.
Anti-Semitism predates Christianity. Haman tried to exterminate the Jewish population in his kingdom, and we all know the story of the Pharaohs and the Exodus. There was also widespread anti-Semitism in the Greek and Roman worlds. Pagan anti-Semitism was not theological, but ethnic, in origin, and did not become economic, like later forms of anti-Semitism. It was due to national xenophobia, because Jews by their very existence as a people following Mosaic Law are different. Indeed, God meant them to be different and set apart from the Gentiles. Pagans resented the implication of their own inferiority. While there is a general consensus that the foundations for future anti-Semitisms were laid during this period, it is unclear to how much of this period infected later Christians.
Later anti-Semitism cannot be viewed in perspective without understanding early Christian history. The Church was primarily Jewish from the beginning and obviously Jesus is Jewish. Christianity is a Jewish faith, but sees the Church as a fulfillment of Israel and the fulfillment of the Law in Jesus.
It also became clear during the earliest church period that the majority of Jews would not convert. This was disconcerting to Gentile converts to Christianity. If this is the true faith, why aren't God's covenant people following Him? This very topic can be seen in the book of Romans.
Also, some non-Christian Jews were antagonistic to the new faith. Hellenist Jewish converts were driven from Jerusalem. James, the head of the Jerusalem church, was killed. Baranabas' death is largely attributed to be at the hand of Jews as well. The Acts of the Apostles is replete with Jewish antagonism to the faith as well. As Father Edward Flannery writes, this hostility was not universal in the Jewish world. It wasn't even the norm in the early period, but hostility was real and strong.
The destruction of the Temple in 70 AD was a watershed event in Jewish-Christian relations. As the war began, Christians followed Jesus' instructions to flee the coming destruction of Jerusalem. Jews saw this as disloyalty and disassociation from the Jewish people. Christians viewed the destruction as a fulfillment of prophecy (Eusebius 3:7:1-2) and a confirmation of the faith. This obviously increased tensions.
After this time, Jewish prayers added a curse against heretics -- directed against Christians, especially Jewish Christians. Faithful Jewish Christians could not participate in such prayers, which served to further sever the Christian and Jewish communities. Jews, as recounted by several ante-Nicean church fathers, related that Jews would hurl insults towards Christ Himself. One rabbi referred to Jesus as “a revelation of sin.” It is debated in academic circles if the charges in the ante-Nicean fathers represent the actual situation. According to Flannery, they may be exaggerating (maybe due to their emotions of hearing and reading the Lord be insulted), but there is no doubt such events occurred.
When the Roman Empire became Christian, Judaism became restricted. Jews were not allowed to evangelize. In order to survive as a faith, Judaism became devoted to Talmudic studies. While allowing the faith to survive, this inward nature of the faith is believed by many to have negative impacts later in the history of anti-Semitism.
Early church fathers at time seem hostile to Jews and Judaism in particular. Since I am not by any measure an expert on the fathers, I want to be cautious in critiquing them. There is a difference between anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism. Judaism began to define itself as being against Christ and the Christian faith. From that perspective, how could the Fathers not be anti-Jewish? However, there are strains of hostility which are unacceptable. There are numerous references to Jews as obstinate, being full of lies and deceit, etc. The image of Jews as Christ-killers is present as well.
This went too far. While it is one thing to be against being against Christianity, it is quite another to have the attitude which seems present in some fathers (and in later Christians like Martin Luther). Absent from the fathers is the concern and love for the Jewish people that Paul relates in Romans. Paul wishes he were cut off from Christ for the sake of the Jewish people. He also warns Gentiles to not boast against the Jews, because they can be cut off from the Messiah as well. He urges Gentiles to lead such godly lives they would provoke Jews to jealousy. Needless to say the history of pogroms, ghettos, killings, etc. did not provoke Jews to jealousy. I need not go over this history in depth. (for that I highly recommend Flannery's classic work the Anguish of the Jews)
While the Holocaust was not committed or the result of Christians, the seeds of anti-Semitism in the Christian world can be traced back to unchristian anti-Semitic attitudes allowed to fester in the Church. This sinful yeast leavened the whole lump of dough.
Here is where I shall heed my advice to not over-analyze. Many have attempted to say that the New Testament is anti-Semitic, even though it was written by Jews. If it is anti-Semitic to believe in the necessity of Christ, should Judaism be considered anti-Christian given its rejection of Christ? Even given Jewish persecution of early Christians? Let us remember that very virulent anti-Semites were many times atheists from the Enlightenment. In no way, can the Nazis be considered Christians? The anti-Semitism is the kind that is actually meant by the term “anti-Semitism”. It was a racial, not theological, anti-Semitism.
To bring this article full circle, let us examine the hostility towards Jews in the Arab world. It is hostile, theological, and often racial. It is not based on Christian sources in any way. Academic analysis breaks down because it does not employ a simple category: sin. Viewing anti-Semitism as a disease or as sin (think of the yeast metaphor) is much more useful than viewing it as a problem of a particular religion (Islam, Christianity) or education. Pagans, Muslims, Christians, atheists all have and had virulent anti-Semites. This often defies a consistent explanation.
While more can be said of this issue, I would assure the Christian reader that there is not an anti-Semitic bone in the New Testament body. In other words, there is nothing inherent in the faith which is hostile to the Jewish people, unless you mistakenly define Jewishness in terms of not believing in the Jewish Messiah. Anti-Semites have successfully used the Old Testament, even the Torah, as a basis for their hatred. The numerous warning of the prophets, the words of Moses, and the histories of Israel can be bent towards an anti-Semitic end. So too has the New Testament.
I would also give a warning. Many Christians have failed to evangelize and have withheld the gospel from Jewish people because of remorse over the Christian history of anti-Semitism. While the remorse is healthy and understandable, withholding the gospel is not. The Council of Jerusalem cleared the way for Gentiles to become members of Christ's body. God used Jews to give us our blessings in Christ. Far be it from me, to withhold those blessings. It is ingratitude of the highest order. We should heed the words of Paul: “I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh.” With our history in mind, let us not compound grief upon grief.
As for Muslim anti-Semitism, I lack the knowledge to fully explain it. This topic is considered largely in the context of the Middle East Peace Process. For the Christian, the evangelism of the Muslim world should be a top concern and pray for it daily. We lack the ability to change the Islamic world from within. But we do have the ability to call Muslims to become a part of our house.
For the Christian, we bear a special responsibility to guard against anti-Semitism in our lives, in the life of the church, and in the world. Christians must turn especially to Paul in Romans. We must be remindful of his concern for his people and the hope he held out for them. God is not done with the Jewish people. Can you believe in the Church as a fulfillment of Israel and still believe this? Yes. The Church is a Jewish tree in which we Gentiles reside. What God has cut off, He can graft in. For, with God, all things are possible.
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