HISTORY 178 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Matzo, Host Desecration, First Crusade
Document Summary
Medieval antisemitism - christianity and judaism in the middle ages. Neg assessment of jews in new testament determined attitude of christians. Symbolic practical important rituals in judaism - circumsion and kosher. Jewish christians and pagans who become christians this split dies out. If jesus is divine (son of god) his murder is deicide - murder of a god. Responsibility is placed on those who rejected him - jews - said in new testament, crime. Jews now fallen from state of grace (punishment) Crime, punishment, rejection of jews by god and in thier place, new people are chosen people that christian - perfect cocktail of jew hate. Jews as criminal people influenced by christianitys relationship with rome. Christianity persecuted by rome until 311 but then made common enemy. In 4th century theologians emergence known as church fathers - took hostile attitude toward jews and judaism to solidify image of christianity.
