Is Religion Coming Back as a Source for Antisemitic Views?

Gunther Jikeli

doi:10.3390/rel11050255

Abstract

The most violent American and European antisemites in the 21st century, including not only Jihadists but also white (and black) supremacist terrorist, made some reference to religion in their hatred of Jews. This is surprising. Religious antisemitism is often seen as a relic of the past. It is more associated with pre-modern societies where the role of religion was central to the social and political order. However, at the end of the 19th century, animosity against Judaism gave way to nationalistic and racist motives. People such as Wilhelm Marr called themselves antisemites to distinguish themselves from those who despised Jews for religious reasons. Since then, antisemitism has gone through many mutations. However, today, it is not only the actions of extremely violent antisemites who might be an indication that religious antisemitism has come back in new forms. Some churches have been accused of disseminating antisemitic arguments related to ideas of replacement theology in modernized forms and applied to the Jewish State. Others, from the populist nationalist right, seem to use Christianity as an identity marker and thus exclude Jews (and Muslims) from the nation. Do religious motifs play a significant role in the resurgence of antisemitism in the 21st century?

Highlights

The most violent American and European antisemites in the 21st century, including Jihadists and white supremacist terrorist, made some reference to religion in their hatred of Jews
Do religious motifs play a significant role in the resurgence of antisemitism in the 21st century?
Religious antisemitism is often seen as a relic of the past

Summary

Introduction

The most violent American and European antisemites in the 21st century, including Jihadists and white (and black) supremacist terrorist, made some reference to religion in their hatred of Jews. Religious justifications had been pushed to the margins in most nation states by the beginning of the 20th century even if they still played an indirect role, providing a cultural code of anti-Jewish sentiments (Volkov 1978). The most violent American and European antisemites in the 21st century, at least all of those who murdered Jews for being Jewish, made some reference to religion in their hatred of Jews.

Results

Conclusion