So... Arnold

[Ubercat]

Kind of back on topic. 

All humans from all tribes and groups have at one point or another hated someone or some group.  But history is full of examples, even today right now, of anti-Semitism being the kind of hate that goes beyond irrational and all explanation.  It not only borderlines 100% pure evil, it exceeds it by leaps and bounds.

So if you think about why this group of people in the whole world receive such hatred that is beyond explanation what does that say to you?  Israel was attacked on day 1 of it's creation, in fact within hours of it's creation.  And this happened not very long after the Holocaust.  You would think the world would have been accommodating but no.  Instead out right violence and war. 

I used to think that persecution of the Jews was somehow unique in it's extremity. In fact, this posed the most difficulty for my atheism. As it turns out Jews are not alone in being targeted with violence. I recently learned the concept of the middleman minority, a status that breeds distrust and hostility. Often the majority population gains indispensable benefits from dealing with the MM but resents them anyway.

There are many examples of other middleman minorities receiving the same hate: the Chinese in SE Asia, Igbos in Nigeria, Indians and Lebanese in different parts of Africa, Koreans in American ghettos, etc. I think that the difference in visibility and scale can be attributed to the fact that the Jews were the middlemen for Europe. We're all probably much more familiar with European history then, say, Nigerian. Who better than a powerful industrialized nation to take hate to such a level as the holocaust. It happened in Germany, but with different circumstances it could have happened anywhere.

[Tripoli]

The Irish might come closest to a historical parallel, although they owe part of their cultural survival to a wholesale acceptance of Jewish influence and principles in modifying their culture (even though not always accepting Jewish people).

Sheer stubbornness either way, definitely helps! 

...

I agree, the Irish are possibly the closest analogy to the Jews regarding cultural survival, but even they run a far distant second.  Consider that despite being persecuted, the Irish always had Ireland, the actual piece of ground, and that their colonization under England occurred mostly in the last 500 years  The Jews were effectively destroyed by the Romans in 70-130 AD (although a remanent continued to reside in the Holy Land), so for 1900 years they had no homeland to tie their culture to.  Yet, they endured.  I don't think there is a historical parallel to this.

[W8taminute]

I used to think that persecution of the Jews was somehow unique in it's extremity. In fact, this posed the most difficulty for my atheism. As it turns out Jews are not alone in being targeted with violence.

Yes I can totally see how thinking the persecution of the Jews as being unique in it's extremity could pose difficulty for atheism.  Let me postulate:

If there really is a G and His chosen people are the Jews then hatred for Jews in a lot of cases borders demonic inspired if not actually demonic.  Why?  Because the enemy does not want G's plan to succeed. 

For atheism to work the hatred for Jews must be reduced to a common denominator in which all men hate each other and it happens all over the place.  The Jews are no different.  Then G and the enemy can completely be removed from the equation.

Killing and hate crimes are inspired by the enemy because the enemy hates mankind period.  But with the chosen people he really hates them for the reasons I mentioned before. 

Who better than a powerful industrialized nation to take hate to such a level as the holocaust. It happened in Germany, but with different circumstances it could have happened anywhere.

Pol Pot committed a holocaust on his own people, so did Josef Stalin, so did many others past and present.

The difference is with the Not See Holocaust of the Jews the target didn't have to be a resident of the fatherland.  They just had to be Jews and exist which means worldwide.  Now that's sickeningly evil that goes beyond killing dissidents and intelligentsia. 

[Sir Slash]

The closest modern-day equivalent I can think of right off hand is Rwanda in the 90's with the Serbs in Kosovo a close second. Maybe I've missed some though.

[Pete Dero]

For atheism to work the hatred for Jews must be reduced to a common denominator in which all men hate each other and it happens all over the place.  The Jews are no different.  Then G and the enemy can completely be removed from the equation.

I am an atheist and I don't hate any group of people, and as far as I know that is the case with most atheists. 
It is my impression that most hate against religious groups is by other religious groups.

[W8taminute]

I am an atheist and I don't hate any group of people, and as far as I know that is the case with most atheists. 
It is my impression that most hate against religious groups is by other religious groups.

Hate, like love, is a universal language.  Unfortunately some people would rather hate than love. 

I'm glad you are not hateful, neither am I.  But I will admit, sometimes I make mistakes and feel bad but in general I do not hate. 

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

I'm an atheist and I hate just...all kinds of people.

Right now, my ire is mainly directed towards the dipshit cyclists who infest the road I take to work.  They wear matching jerseys and they always ride 4 abreast and take up the whole road and refuse to give way. 

[Gusington]

^

[Pete Dero]

I'm an atheist and I hate just...all kinds of people.

Individuals : yes (and a lot) - an entire group : no