Love us or hate us ? (part 3)

But there is some good news, they haven't all wanted to kill us. Some people have always resisted the spirit of the age and most people these days accept Jews as fellow brothers in the fellowship of man.

History is dotted with men and women of courage who, usually through religious conviction, have defended the Jewish position, even to the point of risking (or giving) their lives. Believe it or not, true Christianity, though not always State Christianity, has always advocated the rights of all to live in harmony and without fear of death and there have always been some who have followed these teachings.

It seems that there are three possible motivations for these individuals in their dealings with the Jews.

The first is a common humanity, idealised at the time of the Enlightenment, when the 'strange' idea went around that all men were created equal and should be treated as such. These people would accept Jews for the people they are as individuals, rather than tainted by any negative images. Although this is a Biblical and a Christian (as well as Jewish) ideal, you don't need to be religious to follow it. These people would say all Jews are my friends and actually mean it, rather than saying, my best friends are Jewish and not mean it for one minute!

The second motivation is a humanitarian response to the various injustices handed out to the Jews, a sort of a 'protective' impulse to compensate for the normal 'destructive' impulses held by society as a whole. Again this is a Biblical thing and again you don't need to be religious to hold it. These people would say you may hate them but I am proud to have them as friends. A common view of some people, such as Winston Churchill, in this category is undisguised admiration for the achievements of the Jewish people.

The third motivation is strictly a Biblical, Christian one. This one identifies Jews as the eternal 'people of God', still chosen after all these years, despite what the 'Established Church' may say. These people see Jews as central to God's plan for mankind and their destiny a key issue. These people are sometimes known as Christian Zionists, particularly when they speak positively of the Jewish return to their homeland. These people would say, We must be friendly to the Jews, they are special people.