Pauline Hanson calls Australia ‘Judeo-Christian’. But the term is a meaningless modern invention
There is no such thing as ‘Judeo-Christian values’. The term hides essential differences between Judaism and Christianity.
Pauline Hanson, leader of the One Nation party in Australia, has stated that Australia is predominantly a Judeo-Christian society. The term "Judeo-Christian" is often used to describe a set of values that prioritize Western culture, typically excluding other world religions like Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. However, this term is a relatively modern invention that glosses over the historical persecution of Jewish people by Christians, who often viewed themselves as "the chosen people."
The term itself is a relatively recent invention that emerged in the United States in the late 1930s and 1940s as a way to combat antisemitism, particularly following the Holocaust. It gained wider acceptance in the post-WWII era as a way to bring Jews more securely within the Western cultural framework. The term "Judeo-Christian" has been used to describe a set of values that separate Western culture from other cultures.
However, given the historical tensions and differing interpretations between Judaism and Christianity, it may be more appropriate to abandon this term altogether.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
