Dirac_Delta

I think that the following anecdote is ilustrative. In my hometown there are great processions druing Passover, where the scenes of the Passion are played by people dressed as romans, jesus, etc. (as in many other places).

The interesting thing about it is thatl, at least during the last century, people used to adress the roman legionaires (that were imprisioning christ) by the name of "Jews".

I think it shows a lot the influence of christianity in the forging of anti-semitism because my hometown is traditionally strongly dominated by the catholic church. Of course there's also a long history of persecution of the jews in my country incited by the catholic church, as the massacre of 5000 in 1506 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History...ws_in_Portugal).

Then came the inquisition which caused the jewish community to disappear. But that story you already know...

mountainman

Whether or not christianity was invented in the fourth century
or whether it was "rediscovered" in the fourth century, its major
historical boost was under the regime of Constantine.

Constantine was anti-semetic and this rubbed off on his minister
for imperial propaganda, one Eusebius, the church "ecclesiastical
historian".