For weeks, I've been reading Constantine's Sword. I believe the author is Carroll. He traces antisemitism from the 1st century, the first generation of Christians. He examines in great detail the limited Christian view that the Old Testament never stood on its own. Its only purpose was to prophesy the coming of Jesus. I've noticed the same strand of thought on here sometimes. The Old Testament books are considered valid only if they are expressly mentioned in the New Testament. Of course, the formation of a NT canon is not considered. It appeared by magic.
I had no idea how intertwined Christian hatred of Jews was through the centuries. The Jews were convenient scapegoats. In the past, I thought that the Catholic Church erred by not resisting Nazis. Not a single Nazi, including Hitler, was ever excommunicated from the church. The Church felt threatened by modernity and saw Bolshevism as the great evil. Hitler was a convenient ally. Sometimes Popes would protect Jews in the Roman ghetto when other bishops were arranging mass slaughters.
He did not trace the Protestant response which left me feeling shortchanged. Efforts still go on to give the WWII Pope sainthood.
I simply had no idea how persistent the Jew hatred was. Not a single public word from the Vatican when Jews were rounded up in Rome itself. So one would think this upstart religion that views itself as perfect would be the model for not Jew hating. Rather than stay on message and write how wonderful fascist JWs would be to fascist government, Rutherford allowed himself to veer off message sharply. The Witnesses are wonderful citizens of the Third Reich. All of a sudden. I wonder if property rights were in contest all of a sudden. Previously, the WTBTS did many things to inflame Hitler. The consequences would not be paid in Brooklyn, but in Germany. Commercial Jews provide the contrast with the Witnesses.
I grew up in the post WWII period. My mom told me what it was like b/c my gm made the family practice giving Witness to the SS every day. U-2 boats were frequently in the NY Harbor. Unlike today, they had no hind sight that the Allieds would win. We frequently discussed the European Witnesses. In my young mind, triggered by school, I saw Jews and Witnesses as the same. Heroic fighters. A resistance. Now I realize we never heard of Jews in the camps. Only Witnesses.
I find it strange that someone with my education and interests would no so little about this period. Years ago I made a special trip where the historic Good Friday hymn that stirred up Jew hatred would be sung. The text did not appear to be that bad. I suppose it was a link to everything else in a history going back thousands of years. Some of my favorite Church fathers were antisEmitic. The book has me sobered. It is not an easy read. I learned a lot, though.