Was Martin Luther anti-Semitic?

[mikesw]

Just confident because the arguments here are super easy. I am sure there is a playbook you all use or maybe some crash course in apologetics that's popular. I haven't seen any new arguments in a long time.

You overestimated how easy the arguments would be.
My apologetics come from reading the text and understanding some of the background of events. You have only shown a secular dismissal of Martin Luther -- sort of the common, modern, anachronistic, ill-informed critique of Luther. But that is not surprising anymore.

 

[Runningman]

wow. you really feel excited about smearing Christians. So you only follow the crowd if it smears Christians.

No idea what you're talking about. Luther and his calls to violence do not protect him from condemnation. It is everyone's job to speak out against evil and shut it down regardless of where it comes from.

 

[mikesw]

No idea what you're talking about. Luther and his calls to violence do not protect him from condemnation. It is everyone's job to speak out against evil and shut it down regardless of where it comes from.

Exactly. That is what Luther was seeking to do. But you do not read the context. But your interest is in anachronistic smearing of Luther.

 

[Runningman]

You overestimated how easy the arguments would be.
My apologetics come from reading the text and understanding some of the background of events. You have only shown a secular dismissal of Martin Luther -- sort of the common, modern, anachronistic, ill-informed critique of Luther. But that is not surprising anymore.

So all of the people who condemned Luther for hating Jewish people are wrong?

 

[Runningman]

Exactly. That is what Luther was seeking to do. But you do not read the context. But your interest is in anachronistic smearing of Luther.

Read the context. I can name dozens of sources. I think you're the minority opinion here. Dude, his book is titled On the Jews and their Lies. It's a hit piece on the Jewish people.

 

[Dizerner]

Not really

Everyone wants to trace their lineage back to the earliest church to look good.

But if you have no evidence of any Anabaptists believing in Calvinism, and a lot of evidence they did not, you cannot legitimately trace your lineage to them, because they did not believe what you believe.

The fact is, there is no widespread recorded belief of Calvinistic doctrine before the Reformation, it's just a historical fact.

 

[mikesw]

Read the context. I can name dozens of sources. I think you're the minority opinion here. Dude, his book is titled On the Jews and their Lies. It's a hit piece on the Jewish people.

I'm sure you do. In seeking slander, you can find many companions of your same ilk.

 

[mikesw]

Read the context. I can name dozens of sources. I think you're the minority opinion here. Dude, his book is titled On the Jews and their Lies. It's a hit piece on the Jewish people.

I do not remember you sharing any historical context of the 1500s here. I do not see any addressing of the context even of his writing in your posts. Everything you have shared has been superficial.

 

[Runningman]

I'm sure you do. In seeking slander, you can find many companions of your same ilk.

Many Christian and Jewish sources condemn Luther as an anti-Semite. His book plainly calls for violence against them. They are all of my ilk? Please keep talking.

 

[mikesw]

Many Christian and Jewish sources condemn Luther as an anti-Semite. His book plainly calls for violence against them. They are all of my ilk? Please keep talking.

Yes. Many Christians doubt that God exists. What is your point?

 

[Runningman]

I do not remember you sharing any historical context of the 1500s here. I do not see any addressing of the context even of his writing in your posts. Everything you have shared has been superficial.

Historical context justifies violence against Jews? How is that?

 

[Runningman]

Yes. Many Christians doubt that God exists. What is your point?

Followers of Jesus doubt God exists? Wow.

 

[civic]

There are pagan religions that have a trinity in them.

Nope Muslims are Unitarians

 

[mikesw]

Historical context justifies violence against Jews? How is that?

I assume, contrary to your earlier claims, you did not read On the Jews and their Lies. If you do not recognize the sense of Luther writing in accord with evidence he saw and what he heard from a Jew who came to Christ, then certainly you have no context for interpreting any of the writing. You just rush headlong into assumptions and slander.

To some degree, Christians today should get as angry as Luther when others tell lies about scripture and deny Jesus as the Son of God sent to die for our sins. That often should be tempered with the recognition that many people may still come to know Christ if we are patient with them.

 

[Runningman]

I assume, contrary to your earlier claims, you did not read On the Jews and their Lies. If you do not recognize the sense of Luther writing in accord with evidence he saw and what he heard from a Jew who came to Christ, then certainly you have no context for interpreting any of the writing. You just rush headlong into assumptions and slander.

To some degree, Christians today should get as angry as Luther when others tell lies about scripture and deny Jesus as the Son of God sent to die for our sins. That often should be tempered with the recognition that many people may still come to know Christ if we are patient with them.

Seems you want to whitewash what Luther said. On the Jews and their Lies is an instruction manual or playbook about how to treat Jews. There is no other context. You're imagining Luther as some kind of misunderstood man. Do you agree with him?

 

[Runningman]

Nope Muslims are Unitarians

Muslims are monotheists like Jews and Christians, but Unitarianism is a theology that explains who Jews and Christians believe God is. Muslims don't believe in the Father.

 

[mikesw]

Seems you want to whitewash what Luther said. On the Jews and their Lies is an instruction manual or playbook about how to treat Jews. There is no other context. You're imagining Luther as some kind of misunderstood man. Do you agree with him?

Do I agree with your slander? Indeed not.

 

[Runningman]

Do I agree with your slander? Indeed not.

Martin Luther hated Jewish people. This is what he said about them in his book. This isn't slander.

Some of the things he said about Jews like Jesus Christ are:

“an idle and lazy people, such a useless, evil, pernicious people, such blasphemous enemies of God.”​

​

“we let them get rich on our sweat and blood, while we remain poor and they suck the marrow from our bones.”​

Martin did not stop with verbal attacks against Jews, but he also made many calls to violence as well:

"set fire to their synagogues or schools and to bury and cover with dirt whatever will not burn."​

​

“their houses also be razed and destroyed.”​

​

“all their prayer books and Talmudic writings, in which such idolatry, lies, cursing, and blasphemy are taught, be taken from them.”​

​

“rabbis be forbidden to teach henceforth on pain of loss of life and limb.”​

​

“safe-conduct on the highways be abolished completely for the Jews.”​

​

“usury should be prohibited to them, and that all cash and treasure of silver and gold be taken from them and put aside for safekeeping.”​

​

“putting a flail, an ax, a hoe, a spade, a distaff, or a spindle into the hands…letting them earn their bread in the sweat of their brow.”​

​

“if we wish to wash our hands of the Jews’ blasphemy and not share in their guilt, we have to part company with them. They must be driven from our country…like mad dogs.”​

 

[mikesw]

Martin Luther hated Jewish people. This is what he said about them in his book. This isn't slander.

Some of the things he said about Jews like Jesus Christ are:

“an idle and lazy people, such a useless, evil, pernicious people, such blasphemous enemies of God.”​

​

“we let them get rich on our sweat and blood, while we remain poor and they suck the marrow from our bones.”​

Martin did not stop with verbal attacks against Jews, but he also made many calls to violence as well:

"set fire to their synagogues or schools and to bury and cover with dirt whatever will not burn."​

​

“their houses also be razed and destroyed.”​

​

“all their prayer books and Talmudic writings, in which such idolatry, lies, cursing, and blasphemy are taught, be taken from them.”​

​

“rabbis be forbidden to teach henceforth on pain of loss of life and limb.”​

​

“safe-conduct on the highways be abolished completely for the Jews.”​

​

“usury should be prohibited to them, and that all cash and treasure of silver and gold be taken from them and put aside for safekeeping.”​

​

“putting a flail, an ax, a hoe, a spade, a distaff, or a spindle into the hands…letting them earn their bread in the sweat of their brow.”​

​

“if we wish to wash our hands of the Jews’ blasphemy and not share in their guilt, we have to part company with them. They must be driven from our country…like mad dogs.”​

wow. you can parrot things, even your earlier posts, without presenting the context within his writing nor any context except of those who want to simply slander Luther. They say people start believing lies when they are repeated enough. Is that the approach you want to convey? Also, you keep on sharing your disregard of context. This explains your theology too.

 

[Pancho Frijoles]

I asked Copilot the following question
Mention the Lutheran writers, leaders or theologians who have acknowledged the anti-Semitism of Martin Luther

And this is the response I got:

1. Dietrich Bonhoeffer: A prominent Lutheran theologian and anti-Nazi dissident, Bonhoeffer recognized and criticized Luther's anti-Semitic writings.​

2. Karl Barth: Although not strictly Lutheran, Barth was a Reformed theologian who had significant influence on Lutheran thought. He acknowledged Luther's anti-Semitism and called for a re-evaluation of his writings.​

3. Jaroslav Pelikan: A renowned church historian and Lutheran theologian, Pelikan addressed Luther's anti-Semitism in his scholarly work.​

4. Franklin Sherman: A Lutheran scholar who has written extensively on the topic, Sherman has highlighted Luther's anti-Semitic views and their impact on subsequent generations.​

5. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA): The ELCA has officially repudiated Luther's anti-Semitic writings and acknowledged their harmful effects.​

​

These individuals and institutions have played a crucial role in addressing and condemning the anti-Semitic aspects of Luther's legacy.​