Antisemitismus, Paganismus, Völkische Religion / Anti-Semitism, Paganism, Voelkish Religion

Anti-Semitism and Anti-Judaism have been a part of European social reality since the classical period. Political, economic and social changes during the last third of the 19th century paved the way for the ideologies which, to a great extent, defined concepts of 'enemy'. In the 'voelkish' movement, anti-Semitic and non-Christian religious currents combined at the turn of the 20th century. As a result, communities and movements developed in Germany and Austria, using anti-Semitism to legitimise perceived 'racist characteristics' of these religions. Part of the syncretistic neo-heathen paganism is the recourse to antique religion, whilst the 'voelkish' religion scheme incorporated 'Germanic' models. The collective volume Anti-Semitism, Paganism, Voelkish Religion presents anti-Semitism as social myth, as a system of stereotypes and as a system of beliefs within the framework of religious studies and the history of religion and of science. The contributions provide insight into the social, cultural and religious context in which this 'neo-paganism' existed, and into the ideological and organizational connections with anti-Semitism.