To better understand how an irrational fear of Judaism lead to anti-semantic beliefs and later the persecution and exile of Jews throughout Western Europe, it is important to first examine the origin of this angst. Christianity and Islam are “faith-based religions.” The core of Christianity is faith in Jesus Christ while Islam follows the teachings of Muhammad. Despite this difference, many similarities exist between these three religions including “God, scripture, Holy Land, Messiah, etc.” (PPT #18, Slide 8). However, Judaism does not endorse the core beliefs of either Christianity or Islam. Thus, both Muslims and Christians challenged the beliefs of the foreigners who followed Judaism. This questioning of beliefs escalated into condemnation and fear as exemplified when “Nahmanides defends Judaism in a disputation against Christian Pablo Christiani. Despite defending Judaism without insulting Christianity, he is still forced to flee for his life” (SHJP, p.115). The exile of Nahmanides demonstrated how Christians had begun to fear the Jews prior to the black plague and Christian
To better understand how an irrational fear of Judaism lead to anti-semantic beliefs and later the persecution and exile of Jews throughout Western Europe, it is important to first examine the origin of this angst. Christianity and Islam are “faith-based religions.” The core of Christianity is faith in Jesus Christ while Islam follows the teachings of Muhammad. Despite this difference, many similarities exist between these three religions including “God, scripture, Holy Land, Messiah, etc.” (PPT #18, Slide 8). However, Judaism does not endorse the core beliefs of either Christianity or Islam. Thus, both Muslims and Christians challenged the beliefs of the foreigners who followed Judaism. This questioning of beliefs escalated into condemnation and fear as exemplified when “Nahmanides defends Judaism in a disputation against Christian Pablo Christiani. Despite defending Judaism without insulting Christianity, he is still forced to flee for his life” (SHJP, p.115). The exile of Nahmanides demonstrated how Christians had begun to fear the Jews prior to the black plague and Christian