Luther and The Jews

[Jason]

A while back I had an atheist to throw up Luther's "The Jews And Their Lies" as "proof" that Hitler was motivated by Protestant Christianity.
Having just read the book (which sadly seems to be only published by white supremacists), I have not found any reason behind those charges.
We know Luther spoke plainly against every error that he saw. So he did with the Jews. Anti-Semitism was far from him, however. At least in this book.
With all of that in mind, I would still love to get a historic perspective on the issue. Where would you point me to find something that would speak of the Jews in Germany during Luther's day?

[xulon]

As I understand - and I'm no expert - once Luther rediscovered the Gospel, he keyed positively on the Jews because he expected widespread conversions from among the Jews because of the Gospel's clarity and it's contrast with the antisemitism that was so prevalent in Christendom. When that did not materialized but the Jews continued their rejection of their Messiah, he grew bitter towards them.

[Jason]

Yes, there is a bitterness there. He both calls for harsh governmental measures against them (with his reasons for that) and calls for the citizens themselves to be merciful, but to leave them alone and to disregard their teachings.


xulon said:

As I understand - and I'm no expert - once Luther rediscovered the Gospel, he keyed positively on the Jews because he expected widespread conversions from among the Jews because of the Gospel's clarity and it's contrast with the antisemitism that was so prevalent in Christendom. When that did not materialized but the Jews continued their rejection of their Messiah, he grew bitter towards them.

[Raquel]

I read (a while back so I don't remember where) that he thought their houses ought to be set on fire and that they shouldn't be allowed any legal protections... bitter? I'd say it was more like BITTER-a-nem-some.

[james h robeson]

my understanding is that he is credited with the statement"concerning the treatment of the jews, there is no act that is too extreme". do you know which of his books, this was in? i know of no statement by luther where he disavowed the multiple inquisitions of the past, the genecidal slaughter on the rhine, or the vatican internment of the jews in the 1500's. and all this with existence of romans 10 and 11. how was christendom interpreting these chapters during this time?

[Jack]

I've understood that Hitler's treatment of the Jews was based upon Darwin's "survival of the fittest", and he believed that only the Arian race was fit to survive, so he was speeding up the process of wiping out the un-fit, which included more than the Jews.

[Jason]

Ummmm.....OK, so I've been taken off topic by a bunch of "I understands".

Can anyone answer my question in the OP?

[Michael Ballai]

Try this Jason:
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=0430680

I never read it fully through, but Luther wasn't alone in all this. The Jews were blamed for the Plague too. Anti-semitism is a real favorite with the enemy for obvious reasons.

[Chad Gibbons]

I'm not sure about any anti-semitic comments, but I know that he had plenty anti-Catholic and anti-Islamic comments, so it wouldn't surprise me.

To say that a few comments of Martin Luther were the direct cause of a 20th century pagan's actions 400 years later seems pretty stupid though.

[Jason]

Chad,
The argument is brought up in an attempt to counter claims that Hitler was motivated by a naturalistic worldview that promoted survival of the fittest.
Kind of a tit for tat sort of argument.

[Jason]

Chad,
The argument is brought up in an attempt to counter claims that Hitler was motivated by a naturalistic worldview that promoted survival of the fittest.
Kind of a tit for tat sort of argument.

[Gina]

Agreed, Hitler was interested in the cultic aspects of various religions but his anti-Semitism was part of the scientific fashion of the day. Small wonder that an atheist would not want to admit this, particularly the kind of atheist that puts mystical stock in science.

Jason said:

Chad,
The argument is brought up in an attempt to counter claims that Hitler was motivated by a naturalistic worldview that promoted survival of the fittest.
Kind of a tit for tat sort of argument.

[xulon]

Jason said:

Kind of a tit for tat sort of argument.

It seems then that you are looking for a rational explanation to counter irrational belligerence. In my experience, atheists love to pretend Hitler was a Christian, bring up the Crusades and the persecution of Galileo but my observation is that all these examples do not affect my conversation partner in the least. It is a way for them to depersonalize the conversation so that they do not have to consider the One they personally have to do with. "I refuse to consider Christianity because the Nazis all had 'God with us' on their belt buckles"? Puhlease.

This is not about Luther (though I guess you could ask what evidence he has that Hitler was influenced by/following Luther and not the more obvious influence of Nietzsche), but his own commitment to love himself more than loving God and his neighbor.