The Causes of Anti-Semitism: A Critique of the Bible [Paperback]

Arthur Blech (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2006

Using the Bible as primary evidence, with the finest modern scholarship as supporting evidence, Arthur Blech lucidly demonstrates that anti-Semitism is no accident of history, no tragic consequence of ignorance, or the influence of a few contemporary figures of unique evil. Blech argues that both Christianity and Judaism are responsible for anti-Semitism in claiming divine revelation as the source of their scriptures. By assuming divine authority, members of both religions felt justified in persecuting non-believers. In the case of Judaism, non-Jews were rejected as inferior to the 'chosen people'; and, in the case of Christianity, Jews in particular became the object of contempt because Christians believed that Jews had spurned divine revelation in the form of God's son. Blech carefully explores the foundations of both major faiths, surgically dismantling their claims to divinity. Since more than a century of scientific research shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Bible was not divinely inspired, but composed by all-too-human authors, Blech makes clear that the hatred and contempt these human authors preached have irreparably misled Christians and Jews alike. "The Causes of Anti-Semitism" shows that the curse of anti-Semitism has been kept alive by inventions and myths - artificial props to support the evil agenda of corrupt individuals throughout history. This paperback edition contains substantial new additions to the original hardcover edition of the book.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...shows quite conclusively that the anti-Jewish animus of [the Christian Scripture] led directly to a systematic vilification of Jews and Judaism." -- Post & Opinion, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Chicago, April 30, 2008

From the Publisher

"This book possesses a disturbing fascination. Its author is guided by the maxim that without responsibility to the past, the present and future will remain dishonest. With a cool distance from the object of his study and yet a simultaneous passion for its treatment, Arthur Blech leads the reader through the history of Judaism and Christianity and their presentation in the `Book of Books,' focusing on the phenomenon of anti-Semitism. The author's intellectual independence and freedom preclude any type of one-sided and unfounded fixing of blame. The author has taken up his pen with the intention not to bluntly refute (the Bible's) `revelation,' but rather to raise awareness of its problems for blind believers of either of the two religions as well as ardent opponents of monotheistic belief systems. This book ought to attract attention not only in Jewish and Christian theology departments because of its break with every single taboo, but should also draw a wide readership and lead to an extended discussion. With ruthless candor in its search for the truth it spares nothing and no one within the Judeo-Christian cultural orbit. This book will move the reader to a radical rethinking of his `many comfortable attitudes toward religious phenomena' as well as subsequent developments based on them."

--Dr. Johannes Mehlig emeritus professor of Indian philology and ancient studies at Martin Luther University in Halle-Wittenberg, Germany.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 462 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books; Revised edition (September 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591024463
• ISBN-13: 978-1591024460
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,260,755 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Blame the Messenger, July 25, 2005

By 

RT Stone "Messenger" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Causes of Anti-Semitism: A Critique of the Bible (Hardcover)

I've read Arthur Blech's Causes of Anti-Semitism and found it shed much needed light on a topic few want to discuss seriously. Another review on this site suggested that Blech offers no solutions to the causes of anti-semitism. Actually, he offers this important insight--unless the major religions (Christianity and Judaism) and their leaders change the hatred and bigotry in the Bible there can be no end to anti-semitism. The very use of the Bible with its inflammatory words against Jews in the Old & New Testaments, will ensure that people continue to be filled with animosity against the Jews.

Blech offers an answer--rid the Bible of its inherent ant-Semitism and start a real dialogue among Christians and Jews. One may not like Blech's views (seeing the truth is hard for many) but that doesn't mean they aren't accurate. And we certainly shoudn't shoot the messenger.

Arthur Blech has written a courageous book. Required reading for those seeking truth.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and Thought Provoking, May 3, 2005

By 

Hairball (Champaign, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Causes of Anti-Semitism: A Critique of the Bible (Hardcover)

After reading this book one can only wonder how no one has ever brought many of these points to light. This book will cause many to re-think their concepts of both Christianity and Judaism and how they became what they are today. This is only one of but a few things this book has done for me. Through well thought out arguments and evidence, Arthur Blech shows, using the Bible as his main references, how anti-Semitism has been propagated by the upper echelons of both the Christian and Jewish hierarchies and even by some of the most important names in Biblical history. The contradictions Mr. Blech points out are many, yet the flaws in his logic are almost non-existent.

This book will make a whole lotta people mad and I'm okay with that. It's about time someone had the guts to tell the truth in such a clear, unbiased way.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A new approach, August 13, 2005

By 

Bernard Arkules (Paradise Valley, Az., USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Causes of Anti-Semitism: A Critique of the Bible (Hardcover)

Finding the roots of Anti-Semitism in The New Testament is not novel, but Blech in a well reasoned polemic digs deeper and finds the ultimate cause to be the exclusivity fostered by the Jewish religious establishment, first the priests and then their successors, the rabbis, the compilers of the Tanach, the Hebrew Bible canon. The latter, also, because out of the writings then current that they could have been deemed scripture they chose to include in the Hebrew Bible many that provided fertile ground for charging Jews with being an accursed nation. Undoubtably the book is offensive to many readers, Jews and Christians, but I found the thesis to be well reasoned and supported by the evidence. The author is a secular Jew ; I find no sign that he is a self- hating Jew. My only criticism is that the book could use better editing , and , if polemical it is justifiably so, considering that millions have died because of greed and superstition if the author is correct.