Protean prejudice

By Bernard Glassman

Book Description

In an era celebrated for reason and scientific progress, prejudice found new ways to persist and evolve. Bernard Glassman's scholarly investigation reveals how antisemitism and religious hostility continued to flourish beneath the surface of England's Age of Reason, challenging our assumptions about enlightenment and human progress.

Drawing from overlooked historical documents and original source materials, Glassman demonstrates that scientific advancement did not automatically translate to social or spiritual evolution. The religious prejudices of earlier centuries adapted rather than disappeared, taking on new forms while maintaining their destructive power. Even among the intellectual elite who championed reason and progress, deep-seated biases against Jews and Judaism remained surprisingly intact.

This examination offers profound insights for anyone seeking to understand the complex nature of prejudice in diverse societies. Glassman's work illuminates how bias can transform and disguise itself, persisting even when we believe we have moved beyond it. For readers interested in personal growth and social awareness, this book provides valuable perspective on recognizing and confronting the subtle ways prejudice operates.

The findings presented here invite reflection on our own assumptions about progress and tolerance. By understanding how prejudice adapted during a supposedly enlightened period, we gain tools for identifying and addressing similar patterns in our contemporary world, making this historical study remarkably relevant for modern spiritual and social development.