This is the 20th part of a series on Christianity and the history of antisemitism.

While we are often reminded to “Never forget,” many of us were never taught this history.

As European society became more secular, Christian antisemitism did not disappear—it evolved. Instead of religious arguments, antisemitic rhetoric shifted to racial, economic, and nationalist justifications.

1. The French Revolution and Emancipation
   • Jews were granted equal rights, but antisemitic attitudes adapted, now portraying Jews as a foreign, corrupting force in European society.
2. The Birth of Racial Antisemitism
   • Pseudoscientific theories classified Jews as an inferior race rather than a religious group.
   • This laid the groundwork for Nazi racial laws centuries later.
3. Karl Marx and the Persistence of Antisemitic Thought
   • In On the Jewish Question, Karl Marx reinforced stereotypes about Jews and capitalism.
   • He drew from Christian antisemitic ideas but framed them in secular, economic terms.
4. The Dreyfus Affair (1894-1906)
   • Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish French officer, was falsely accused of treason.
   • The case exposed deep-rooted antisemitic biases in secular institutions influenced by centuries of Christian rhetoric.

Christian Antisemitism in Culture and Society

Christian antisemitism shaped literature, visual arts, theater, and public perceptions of Jews, reinforcing negative stereotypes that influenced societal attitudes.

A. Christian Antisemitic Tropes in Literature and Art

• Medieval and Renaissance Christian art often depicted Jews as demonic figures or Christ-killers in paintings and sculptures.
• Depictions of the “Wandering Jew” (a cursed figure doomed to roam the earth for rejecting Christ) spread antisemitic ideas.
• Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice: The character of Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, reinforced stereotypes of Jews as greedy and ruthless.

B. Passion Plays and Christian-Themed Theater

• Passion Plays (medieval to modern times) dramatized Christ’s crucifixion and often portrayed Jews as villains, fueling antisemitic violence.
• The Oberammergau Passion Play (Germany, 1634-present) historically included scenes blaming Jews for Jesus’ death.
• After the Holocaust, some Passion Plays were revised to remove explicit antisemitic elements, though the legacy remains.

C. Christian Antisemitism in Music and Hymns

• Church hymns and classical compositions, including Johann Sebastian Bach’s St. John Passion, contained anti-Jewish themes.
• Richard Wagner’s operas often reflected Christian nationalist antisemitism, influencing Nazi cultural ideology.

Christian Antisemitism in Economics

Christian doctrine shaped economic restrictions on Jews, which in turn created financial stereotypes fueling antisemitic resentment.

A. Christian Teaching on Usury and Jewish Moneylending

• The Catholic Church banned Christians from charging interest on loans (usury) but allowed Jews to lend money.
• Jews became moneylenders by necessity, excluded from other professions, reinforcing stereotypes of Jews as greedy financiers.

B. Antisemitic Economic Conspiracy Theories

• The idea that Jews control banks and global finance originated from Christian prohibitions against Jewish participation in other professions.
• Figures like Jesuit priest Augustin Barruel spread conspiracy theories about Jewish control.
• The Protocols of the Elders of Zion (1903)—a fabricated antisemitic document—was promoted by Christian groups, blaming Jews for economic crises.

C. Christian Economic Nationalism and Jewish Exclusion

• In many Christian-majority countries, Jews were barred from land ownership or subjected to special taxes.
• During Nazi Germany, churches promoted boycotts of Jewish businesses, reinforcing stereotypes of Jewish economic danger.

Christian Antisemitism in Media and Propaganda

Antisemitic themes rooted in Christian theology influenced journalism, political propaganda, and modern media.

A. The Church’s Role in Antisemitic Media

• Catholic newspapers in 19th-century Europe frequently published antisemitic editorials blaming Jews for political unrest.
• Christian radio broadcasts in the early 20th century, like Father Charles Coughlin’s show, spread conspiracy theories about Jewish domination.

B. Antisemitic Films with Christian Themes

• Early 20th-century films depicted Jews as scheming villains, influenced by Christian stereotypes.
• Nazi propaganda films, such as Jud Süß (1940), utilized Christian antisemitic imagery, portraying Jews as Christ-killers and manipulators.
• Modern Christian fundamentalist films sometimes continue to reinforce negative stereotypes of Jews rejecting Jesus.

Conclusion: The Enduring Legacy of Christian Antisemitism in Society

Christian antisemitism has profoundly influenced legal systems, political movements, cultural productions, economic policies, and media narratives, resulting in broad societal impacts beyond religious institutions.

Key Takeaways:

• Politics and Law: Christian-inspired restrictions, ghettoization, and expulsions laid groundwork for modern antisemitic nationalism.
• Culture and Society: Christian imagery in art, theater, and music reinforced negative stereotypes.
• Economics: Medieval Christian restrictions on Jewish professions led to modern antisemitic conspiracy theories about Jewish financial control.
• Media and Propaganda: Christian newspapers, radio, and films helped perpetuate antisemitic narratives into the modern era.

Final Thought: Even in secular modern societies, antisemitic ideas rooted in Christian history continue to shape political rhetoric, economic stereotypes, and media portrayals. Recognizing Christian antisemitism’s broader societal influence is essential to effectively dismantling its lingering effects today.