Netfriend (T):

There has been a 2000 year history of persecution of the Jews by Christians. It hasn’t stopped yet.

Rowland:

Sorry, Theo, my poor phrasing: I was addressing the last part of your statement about *contemporary* persecution of Jews by Christians. If we exclude racist anti-Semitism in places like Eastern Europe (which is certainly not condoned by any of the major churches) where else?

T:

Oh, I see. If it is not specifically condoned by a major church it is not Christians persecuting Jews.

R:

The question is: Are there examples of *systemic* persecution of Jews by Christian states/churches anywhere in the world? There may be but I can’t think of any. If Islamic countries are doing it, it’s in small doses, as there are hardly any Jews in the most conservative Islamic countries

OTOH there are about 40 countries in the world where there *is* systemic persecution of Christians – hundreds are persecuted, tortured, killed each day for the simple reason they’re Christians…

I’d be interested to know, Theo, if you as a compassionate person *feel* anything in response to that? Or is your compassion confined to Jews?

See http://www.opendoors.org.au/pgs/lrn2c.htm for just one website highlighting such stories…

Of course, the Catholic Church in the past, and the German church (not the Confessing church, eg. Bonhoeffer) stood by while Jews were persecuted and exterminated – a blight on their histories…

But yes, there are far-right kooks in Eastern Europe, (and even in WA – Van Whatsisname?) who vilify Jews. And attacks on Jewish synagogues are increasing in France…

T:

When was the last time you, or any of your colleages,

R:

If that word is ‘colleges’ most mainline seminaries are quite pro-justice on issues like this…

T:

preached a sermon on how your listeners should react when confronted by anti-semitism? You never hear anyone speaking against Jews?

R:

No, I don’t. Must mix in the wrong circles:-)

T:

No Jewish jokes?

R:

Jews are probably the world’s best at telling jokes sending up themselves…

T:

You don’t know of any societies that wont admit Jews?

R:

Actually, I don’t, not in Australia. Do you? The Freemasons accept Jews these days.

Do I preach against anti-semitism? Of course, I preach against any category of injustice, vilification, persecution, bullying. I even post here against the adversarial mindset that tries to score points off others, (including, would you believe, atheists trying to score victories over Christians and vice versa :-)…

T:

Get real Rowland.

R:

What’s the motivation behind the insinuation here Theo?

T:

Stand up in your pulpit next week and tell the people that the Romans killed Christ.

R:

They did. But elements of a corrupt Jewish system were implicated too. So do we, every time we hurt another person. So Christians in the best traditions have prayed ‘Lord, help me to relate to everyone I meet today as if they were Jesus; and may I act like Jesus to everyone I meet today.’ That doesn’t mean that we have to be ‘meek and mild’ in the face of injustice. Jesus was sometimes silent in the face of injustice perpetrated against himself, but a virulent opponent of injustice committed against others – particularly the innocent or defenseless…

T:

Ask any Christian and they’ll tell you that the Jews did it, and their church told them so.

R:

More informed/enlightened Christians don’t necessarily believe everything their particular church tells ’em 🙂 The sad history of the German church in the 1930s and through WW2 is enough of a terrible precedent for that…

T…, I sense a bit of ‘spunk’ in your response to this issue. Any reason for that?