Is it correct to refer to the Jews as a 'race'?

[birdie1971]

It is a question that has intrigued me for a while since the phrase 'Jewish race' (and its variants) crop up regularly in the media.

Should it be rightly referred to as a 'race' or is it simply a religious belief? Is it both?

[naomi24]

Since many Jews like to think of themselves as belonging to one race of people, most would probably disagree with me, but Judaisim is a religion - nothing more.

[mibn2cweus]

FAO Naomi ~ http://www.theanswerb...2.html#answer-6944747

[naomi24]

Thanks Mibs. :o)

[Johnysid]

The labelling of people as "races" used to be about passive characteristics, especially colour etc.

The modern labelling by race is deliberately designed to amplify the separateness of groups. The extension of the concept of race to any group means that the state can assist them to can develop their separate values and become alienated. How on earth are we going to polarise society enough to precipitate the revolution if we rely on such weak differences as class? Postmarxism demands racism.

[venator]

There are plenty of non-practicing Jews who still regard themselves as Jewish.

Again, isn't it a culture rather than a race?

[Johnysid]

Race is being stretched for political reasons. The CPS regard a racist crime as: "... any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person."

The big question is why political lobbies want to stretch the classification "race", which was always a passive characteristic, to extend to all identifiable groups whether based on race, nationality, creed or even political belief. The reason is simple, the postmodern philosophers of the late twentieth century realised that the label "racist" was a powerful tool for polarising society. If you can twist an opinion into being racist you turn those who hold the opinion into oppressors of a whole social grouping and you evoke fear and hence solidarity in the group that you claim is under attack.

This approach uses the propaganda of warfare as a tool of everyday politics so that those who hold opinions that differ from your own can just be labelled "racist" and dismissed as the evil enemy.

The whole technique of postmodern sociological analysis is racist of course.

All individuals are racist - if you favour your own wealth, your home, your family, your town or your country you are racist under the new definition of the term. It is only by accepting allegiance to an amorphous, globalising, governing class that you can escape the label. The amorphous governing classes are only too happy for this to happen, they always have been.

[birdie1971]

Johnysid -

I salute you for your outstanding answer.