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| '''Semitism''' is a term describing political, social, and cultural attitudes that are in harmony with the majority of Jewish opinion. As all societies are not homogenous, |
'''Semitism''' is a ] term describing political, social, and cultural attitudes that are in harmony with the majority of Jewish opinion. As all societies are not homogenous, Semitism, more than anything else represents an attitude that defends a unity within Jewish society as to the nature of its identity, and purpose. The attitudes of Semitism, largely reflect similar attitudes of ethnic unity within all cultures, particularly "endangered" ones. | ||
| Where distinct ethnic divisions exist, ] forces are seen to have the effect of scattering a population, and destructively weakening its culture. Further, cultures threatened by this phenomenon see this as highly destructive, and refer to it as "assimilation". Semitism has, historically, been largely successful in keeping a certain cohesion among Jews. In the modern global context of hyper-transport, hypercommunication, and limited land and resources, the threat of "hyper-assimilation" is only another burden to Semisists, who continue to try to patch, within their own communities, cracks in their percieved cohesion. | |||
| A problem semitists and other ethnic cultures face is the new concept of their own traditions as being outside of newer, perhaps more developed values - such as those that reflect unitarianist and multi-ethnic points of view. The struggle of Jews in history has largely been the attempt to simply hold onto their culture. The reason is that within larger, more dominant cultures, Jews have felt that it is they who must compromise their culture. | |||
| Semitism simply is the Jewish term for cultural unity, to counter the natural assimilation that follows life within larger culture-societies. The long traditional attitudes of ''non-assimilation'' has been not always favorable fo Jews, as the xenophobic attitudes of the larger culture are not satisfied by the assimilation of smaller cultures, and during cyclical periods of economic hardship, these xenophobic attitudes often become inflamed and hostile. | |||
| In marriage, for example, the woman has historially compromised to her husbands' culture. While in a person to person context of a human relationship; these issues seem, from a developed-world point of view, as being quite normal. But to the Semitist, this still represents an erosion of his culture, considering that the tendency of the majority culture to migrate to the ''minority'' culture is slight, by comparison. This is also compounded, in Judaism, with the nature of Jewish culture being decided by inheritance, alone. Though today, the issue of universalism; inclusiveness of converted Jews, is a contentious issue. | |||
| As divisions are often hidden from an outside point of view, Semitism holds that such divisions not be excasserbated, either by outside forces or internal ones. The consequence of this attitude is the homogenaity of the world Jewish culture, with respect to its core traditions, and beliefs, but very little in the way of consensus or open debate. To Semitists, Judiasm and its related cultural traditions and values, are not open to scrutiny from outsiders. | |||
| Within Judaism today, there are emerging attitudes that reflect an anti-Semitist view, that Judaism can be a universalist culture, while still maintining its culture. | |||
| ], has long been used as a term describing a specific type of anti-Jewish attitude. However, it is now often used as an ] attack, quite indiscriminately; even against Jews themselves. | ], has long been used as a term describing a specific type of anti-Jewish attitude. However, it is now often used as an ] attack, quite indiscriminately; even against Jews themselves. | ||
Revision as of 22:49, 5 February 2003
Semitism is a neologic term describing political, social, and cultural attitudes that are in harmony with the majority of Jewish opinion. As all societies are not homogenous, Semitism, more than anything else represents an attitude that defends a unity within Jewish society as to the nature of its identity, and purpose. The attitudes of Semitism, largely reflect similar attitudes of ethnic unity within all cultures, particularly "endangered" ones.
Where distinct ethnic divisions exist, enthoconvergent forces are seen to have the effect of scattering a population, and destructively weakening its culture. Further, cultures threatened by this phenomenon see this as highly destructive, and refer to it as "assimilation". Semitism has, historically, been largely successful in keeping a certain cohesion among Jews. In the modern global context of hyper-transport, hypercommunication, and limited land and resources, the threat of "hyper-assimilation" is only another burden to Semisists, who continue to try to patch, within their own communities, cracks in their percieved cohesion.
A problem semitists and other ethnic cultures face is the new concept of their own traditions as being outside of newer, perhaps more developed values - such as those that reflect unitarianist and multi-ethnic points of view. The struggle of Jews in history has largely been the attempt to simply hold onto their culture. The reason is that within larger, more dominant cultures, Jews have felt that it is they who must compromise their culture.
In marriage, for example, the woman has historially compromised to her husbands' culture. While in a person to person context of a human relationship; these issues seem, from a developed-world point of view, as being quite normal. But to the Semitist, this still represents an erosion of his culture, considering that the tendency of the majority culture to migrate to the minority culture is slight, by comparison. This is also compounded, in Judaism, with the nature of Jewish culture being decided by inheritance, alone. Though today, the issue of universalism; inclusiveness of converted Jews, is a contentious issue.
Within Judaism today, there are emerging attitudes that reflect an anti-Semitist view, that Judaism can be a universalist culture, while still maintining its culture.
Anti-Semitism, has long been used as a term describing a specific type of anti-Jewish attitude. However, it is now often used as an ad hominem attack, quite indiscriminately; even against Jews themselves.