What Price Prejudice?: Christian Antisemitism in America (Stimulus Books) [Paperback]

Frank E. Eakin Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1998 | Series: Studies in Judaism and Christianity

An historical analysis of anti-Semitism as manifested in New Testament texts, the medieval church, and its continuation in early and modern U.S. history.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Eakin (Jewish and Christian studies, Univ. of Richmond) has written an introductory text that treats some of the main issues in Jewish-Christian relations in a superficial manner. Part of the publisher's "Studies in Judaism and Christianity," series it is both historical and topical in its methodology. Eakin traces the development of anti-Semitism from its biblical roots in the New Testament, through the seemingly institutionalized anti-Semitism of the medieval church, to moments in the American experience from Colonial times to today. He also examines the theological basis of Jewish-Christian relations as found in recent official statements by several major American Christian denominations. Study questions at the end of each chapter and a practical six-point program describing how to establish and maintain Jewish-Christian dialog today are the main contribution of this work. Practical but insubstantial; not recommended.?Pius Murray, Holy Apostles Coll. & Seminary, Weston, MA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

This book should be required reading in college religion classes and congregational study groups. -- Religious Studies Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Pr (November 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809138220
• ISBN-13: 978-0809138227
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,070,793 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Discrimination & Racism
  • #72 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > World > Jewish > General

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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Worthless book, October 12, 2011

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J. Michael (Now Born) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Price Prejudice?: Christian Antisemitism in America (Stimulus Books) (Paperback)

Frank Eakin, the Weinstein-Rosenthal Professor of Jewish and Christian Studies at Richmond University, is a man who takes money from the hands or organized Jewry (note the name of his professorship's sponsors) in exchange for slandering Christianity and undermining the faith of Christians. Eakin is an obsequious slave who begins this book trumpeting his abject servitude, by stating that he will use the the secularist abbreviations B.C.E. and C.E. (instead of B.C. and A.D.) in order to show sensitivity to Jews, despite his acknowledgement that few Jews will ever read this book. I imagine that this craven creature probably keeps kosher in the privacy of his own home, so as not to offend the Chosen people.

Anyway, Eakin's ostensible purpose in this book was to document "Christian antisemitism in America". Naturally, he begins such a story in the ancient world by noting that anti-semitism predates Christianity, but declares that Christianity "redefined" and "intensified" anti-semitism. He states that the relational problem between Jews and Christians is more often on the Christian than the Jewish side. To those who would point out that the "relational problem" began with Jewish persecution of Christians, as recounted in the New Testament (not to mention other first and second century histories) he dismisses such documents by saying that we should question the authenticity of New Testament accounts. This is the heart of Eakin's mission: the de-sacralization, expurgation and ultimate disposal of Christian Scripture.

His tool is the Historical-Critical Method. He declares the New Testament untrustworthy, specifically in its treatment of Jews. Any hint of anti-semitism must have been a spurious interpolation by post-Apostolic writers, resentful of Judaism's refusal to accept Christ. Any idea that Christ Himself intended Judaism to be superceded is outrageous. In fact, the suggestion that Christ was anything other than a radical, but deluded, Jewish rabbi is offensive to the author. Eakin is a a man who has rejected Christ; now his goal is to convince the rest of Christianity to do the same. To that end, he surveys a group of his favorite theologians, and analyzes the ways in which they have argued that the New Testament passages dealing with Judaism don't really mean what they clearly say. Such arguments amount to nothing more than wishful thinking and baseless assertions.

These Judaizing Marranos can't square a circle and they can't make Christianity into a mere extension of Judaism. The Biblical authors, whom Christians believe were directly inspired by God, were quite explicit in the message that the Christian revelation was meant to supercede Judaism. Accepting that demonstrable fact, one can either accede to such evidence or reject their supernatural provenance altogether. Eakin has chosen to do the latter. What is disgraceful is that the Paulist Press chose to publish such a blatant attack on the Faith.