“The Origins of Anti-Semitism” was an interesting read and will be useful towards my paper, which focuses on the topic of the origins of anti-Semitism and blood libels. One of the first things I noticed is John Gager relies on many others’ observations rather than his own, however, that did not stop me from enjoying his book. Gager’s main thesis, evident throughout the whole book, is primarily on the legacy and the ideas behind both pagan and Christian ideals behind anti-Semitism. This includes the relationship between pagan and Christian attitudes toward Judaism in the Greco-Roman world, how Judaism was a “cultural force in Roman society” (pg. 13) during early Christian development, and the extent of pagan and Christian anti-Semitism in the ancient world. In the beginning, Gager supports his ideas by explaining that Christian anti-Semitism is hostility towards Jews in general, whereas anti-Jewish polemic is “legitimate” claims against Judaism sought by Christian ideology (pg.16). He then goes on to describe the modern debate currently going on about
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It begins with the Jew asking the Christian how can Jews take claim about Christ seriously, and the Christian retorting that Jews are “rebellious and stiff-necked people” (pg. 3). To which the Greek joins in, and then the Roman takes a different view, then suddenly. . . a fifth man comes to light! And he is both Christian and Jewish and provides his two cents on the whole hypothetical matter. I feel if this was placed later in the book after understanding Gager’s argument better, the conversation would have been appropriate. Since the conversation was placed in the introduction, I did not take Gager seriously at first; it was just a mess. He executed the conversation well, though there were too many characters, but his placement and timing were not
It begins with the Jew asking the Christian how can Jews take claim about Christ seriously, and the Christian retorting that Jews are “rebellious and stiff-necked people” (pg. 3). To which the Greek joins in, and then the Roman takes a different view, then suddenly. . . a fifth man comes to light! And he is both Christian and Jewish and provides his two cents on the whole hypothetical matter. I feel if this was placed later in the book after understanding Gager’s argument better, the conversation would have been appropriate. Since the conversation was placed in the introduction, I did not take Gager seriously at first; it was just a mess. He executed the conversation well, though there were too many characters, but his placement and timing were not