Martin Luther- On The Jews and Their Lies

Summary by Google Gemini:

On the Jews and Their Lies is a 1543 treatise by Martin Luther that condemns Jewish people and Judaism with extreme, venomous antisemitism. The writing contains theological arguments against Judaism, along with vitriolic accusations and calls for the persecution of Jews. This text is a pivotal and highly controversial part of Luther's legacy and a stark contrast to his earlier, more lenient stance towards Jews.

Background and evolution of Luther's views
Early in his career, Luther expressed a degree of sympathy for Jewish people, believing they had been poorly treated by Catholics and might convert to Christianity if treated kindly. However, this attitude changed drastically over the decades, as his efforts to convert Jews to his new Protestant faith proved unsuccessful. The failure to win converts, coupled with his frustration over biblical interpretations that differed from his own, turned his initial hope into bitter fury.

In On the Jews and Their Lies, Luther describes Jewish people in vulgar and hateful terms, portraying them as a "base, whoring people" and stating that the synagogue is a "den of devils". The core of the text is his list of seven "remedial actions" that he advised German authorities to take against Jews. These included:

- Burning synagogues and schools: He advocated for the destruction of Jewish places of worship.
- Razing homes: He suggested that Jewish houses should be "razed and destroyed".
- Confiscating religious texts: He proposed seizing and destroying their prayer books and Talmudic writings.
- Forbidding rabbis to teach: He demanded that rabbis be prohibited from preaching under the penalty of death.
- Abolishing safe-conduct: He called for the removal of legal protections for Jews traveling on highways.
- Confiscating wealth: He recommended that all their gold and silver be taken away.
- Forced labor: He proposed that young, strong Jewish people be put to work in forced manual labor.

Historical impact and modern condemnation:
The virulent antisemitism of On the Jews and Their Lies has had a lasting and destructive influence, particularly in Germany.
- Nazi justification: The Nazis republished excerpts from the book and used Luther's hateful rhetoric to justify their persecution of Jews.
- Influence on German antisemitism: Historians widely agree that the treatise was a significant factor in shaping German antisemitic thought in the centuries after the Reformation.
- Denunciation by Lutherans: Many modern Lutheran church bodies have formally denounced and disassociated themselves from Luther's antisemitic writings and rhetoric. For example, in 1998, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria acknowledged its debt to Luther while distancing itself from his anti-Jewish utterances.