Theological Background of Antisemitism and Zionism

Theological Background of Antisemitism

Antisemitism has its root in Augustine's (354-430) thought on Jews: Jews "must be allowed to survive, but never to thrive" so that their public misery would broadcast their "proper punishments for their refusal to recognize the truth of the Church's claims." His thought may sound benign but sarcastic and even cursing. As one of the most influential Christian figures, his opinion has carried a significant weight to the minds of the church leaders and lay believers of Europe throughout the centuries. His view was at times aggrevated by other renowned theologians. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), known as Doctor of the Church, was notoriously one of the worst. Even most Reformers shared a dismissive or even hostile view toward the Jews. Their theological underpinning is that the Old Testament prophecies concerning future Israel has been realized and replaced by the church. God has done with Israel and is no longer bound by his old covenantal promises. They recognized that "a person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly...but who is one inwardly" (Rom. 2:28). In terms of the covenants, they considered the old ones as obsolete and "what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear" (Heb. 8:13).

For more than a thousand years, European Christians heard what their priests and ministers preaching about the Jews along that notion. One is brainwashed by repeated hearing of a same message. How much more for those people when the repetition was made throughout their lifetime over many generations. Numerous persecutions followed throughout the European history. Some of the well-known cases were the persecutions during the Crusade Movement, the Black Death, in Russian Empire, Eastern Europe, and other regions. Detailed accounts on the persecutions are documented and can be found. But the most horrible one occurred under the Nazi regime - the Holocaust. Estimated six million Jews perished, their valued properties were stolen, and the pains and memories still remain.

While the memory of the suffering of the Jews is ebbing from people's minds, a new wave of antisemitic movements is rising in Europe today. Many Jews in Europe are alarmed but few non-Jewish people share the same sentiment. Sporadically some anti-semitic incidents are reported in the media and a few politicians showcase them to show their pseudo-commitment to the cause against the movement. Angry voices and protests are reported every once in a while some serious incidents occur but they quickly disappear from public attention when they subside. But the antisemitism deeply reside in the minds of many Europeans.

Theological Background of Zionism

From the perspective of Jews, the opposite movement of antisemitism is Zionism. But for some non-Jewish people, the Zionism is viewed as racism, equally damning as the antisemitism. The original purpose of the Zionist movement is to establish a state of Jews to put an end to the continued discriminations and persecutions. This movement found its supports from dispensationalists and some non-dispensational evangelical Christians. From these Christian supporters' perspective, Jews are still a chosen people and the promise given to Abraham by God around B.C. 2000, that "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you will I curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you" (Gen. 12:3), is still effective today. Particularly, the classical dispensationalists espoused the idea that the old prophecies concerning Israel have not been fulfilled but are still pending, waiting for their fulfillment. They dismiss the idea that the prophecies for the Israel's restoration have been fulfilled by the foundation of the church by Jesus. They believe it will be realized in the future.

This thought is based on their literally interpretation of the Old Testament covenants and prophecies. As it is prophecied in the Old Testament, particularly in the Book of Daniel, they believe that a political kingdom, called Davidic Kingdom will be established on the earth when Jesus comes again. This will be the millennial kingdom which will last for literally one thousand years. But for those dispensationalists, this kingdom will be only for the Jews, not for the Gentiles. 

The political ramification of this theology can be that Christians should make the political leaders aware of this prophetic message and take a favorable stance for Israel. However, a radical view of this can lead them to opinionate that it does not matter what consequences would fall to the neighboring countries around Israel, particularly Palestine, for the prophecy also states that the land from the river bordering Egypt to the Euprates river will be the land of Israel given to the descendants of Abraham. 

This is an extreme view shared by many Zionists and some Christian supporters, and it goes against the teaching of Jesus - love thy neighbor. But, fortunately, a new thought has been developed by contemporary dispensationalists. They contend that the millennial kingdom will indeed be established on the earth, but the citizens of the kingdom will consist with both saved Jews and Gentiles. This theological position may dispel the idea of priviledged right for Jews, and encourages a harmoneous and peaceful coexistence of both Jews and Arabs, particularly the Palestinians.