Because the Jews were regarded as the deicidal race, they were then classed as a special kind of heretic, deserving of punishment and servitude and degradation, but yet afforded some protection as the “witness people” to the truths in the scripture. Church codes and edicts provided for certain safeguards for the Jews, but restrictions were also placed on them,such as the prohibition of land ownership and confinement within the ghettoes.
These conditions, built on church doctrines and rules allowed many writers free rein to heap abuse upon the Jews as a despised people.The Jew was said to be synonymous with the unjust usurer, the oppressor ot the poor, the ritual murderer of Christian children, the blasphemer, the poison of wells, the conspirator, the incorrigible unbeliever, the sorcerer, a companion of devils, an agent of Satan, an enemy of God and Christians, a fearful image bearing an eternal curse incurred upon the whole race as the offspring of Judas, and the betrayer of Jesus, their Messiah, the Christ of the church.
No comments:
Post a Comment