Deicide

By Deane Barker

Definition: the killing of a divine being

More specifically, this is a term often used for the killing of Jesus Christ. It can be used as a antisemitic pejorative.

From an article entitled “The origins of anti-Semitism”:

Some important thinkers in early Christianity offered a dangerous allegation: that Judean Jews had handed Christ over to Pontius Pilate and supported his crucifixion, so were responsible for his death.

In medieval Europe, which was dominated by Christianity, accusations of deicide ('God murder’) had a profound impact on the perception and treatment of Jews. These prejudices were inflamed by notable Christian theologians who voiced anti-Semitic ideas in their teachings.

Why I Looked It Up

From a news article (I didn’t save the reference):

One of the victors in French elections this week…one worked a mention of Jewish deicide into an ordinary TV interview.

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