Wayward Shepherds: Prejudice and the Protestant ClergyFollowing a 1966 study of ca. 5,000 church members in the San Francisco Bay area, published under the title "Christian Beliefs and Anti-Semitism", a similar survey of Protestant clergymen was conducted in California in 1968. In the spring of that year, questionnaires were sent by mail to 80% of the parish clergymen of the nine largest Protestant denominations in California, and 1,580 (63%) of them returned complete and usable questionnaires. The responses show that there is a positive correlation between Christian orthodoxy (unwavering belief in the main Christian articles of faith) and particularism (a disposition to see Christian truth as the only religious truth) and the belief that the Jews are guilty for the crucifixion. More than one-third of the respondents believed that the guilt was that of the Jews, rather than universal, and ca. one-fifth of them actively advocated the view that contemporary Jews bore responsibility for the crucifixion. Although the clergy were less likely than the laity to be antisemitic, their antisemitism, both doctrinal and secular, was more strongly related to their religious convictions. However, the clergy was remarkably free of antisemitism that was not rooted in religious hostility. Reflects on the ability of Californian Protestant ministers to fulfill their role as shepherds, and to foster brotherhood and a more humane society. |
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Contents
Theological Convictions | 15 |
Ministers Belief in God | 17 |
Ministers Belief in Jesus Christ | 19 |
Copyright | |
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accept agreed Amer analysis answer anti-Semitism assess authors beliefs cent chapter Christ Christian Church Church of Christ claim clergy clergymen coefficients commitment conceptions concern conservative considerable contemporary correlation critics Crucifixion death denominations differences disagree Doctrinal Index earlier effect evidence examined existence expect extent fact factors faith feelings findings five guilt High historic hold important included indicate issues Jesus Jewish Jews laity laymen lead least less liberal Literally Luth Lutheran mainly majority means measure Medium Methodists ministers Missouri necessary Number original Orthodoxy Index particularism path persons points political position possible preached prejudice probably problems produced proportion Protestant pulpit question racial reject relationship religious hostility remain reported response salvation sample scored zero secular anti-Semitism seems seen sermon shown shows simply social Southern Baptists statement strongly Table theological topics traditional true Type United Church variables views virtually