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How did racial antisemitism differ from earlier religious antisemitism?

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Antisemitism demonstration in Paris — antisemitism Demonstrators protesting antisemitism during a silent march in Paris. The march commemorated Mireille Knoll, a Jewish woman who had survived the Holocaust and was murdered in her home on March 23, 2018, in what authorities called a hate crime.

The distinction between religious and racial antisemitism marks a fundamental shift in the nature of anti-Jewish prejudice.

Religious Antisemitism

Historically, religious antisemitism—often termed anti-Judaism—was rooted in theological rivalry and the "teaching of contempt" within Christian tradition. Jews were targeted for their refusal to accept Christianity and their perceived role in the crucifixion of Jesus. Because this prejudice was based on faith, it was theoretically conditional: the hostility could be resolved through religious conversion.1234

Racial Antisemitism

In contrast, racial antisemitism emerged in the 19th century alongside the rise of nationalism and scientific racism. This ideology redefined Jews not as a religious group, but as a distinct, inferior "race" with inherent, immutable biological characteristics.564

The critical differences include:
* Immutability: Unlike religious prejudice, racial antisemitism could not be resolved by conversion; it targeted individuals regardless of their faith or assimilation.64
* Ideology: It utilized pseudoscientific theories to categorize Jews as Untermenschen (subhumans), framing them as an existential threat to the "Aryan" race.54
* Outcome: While religious antisemitism often sought segregation or expulsion, the logic of racial antisemitism culminated in the Holocaust—the systematic, state-sponsored genocide of the Jewish people.4