August Rohling
Encyclopedia
August Rohling was a German Catholic theologian, student of anti-Semitic texts, and polemical author.
He studied at Münster
and Paris, and became professor successively at Westphalian William's University (Münster), Milwaukee, and Charles University in Prague
, retiring in 1901.
He distinguished himself by polemics against Protestantism
and Judaism
. Of his anti-Jewish works Der Talmudjude (Münster, 1871) became a standard work for anti-Semitic authors and journalists. It is a faulty abstract of the Entdecktes Judenthum of Johann Andreas Eisenmenger
.
The book first appeared when Bismarck
inaugurated his anti-Catholic legislation, as a retort to the attacks made by liberal journals on the dogma of papal infallibility
and on Jesuitic textbooks. The book was extensively quoted by the Catholic press, but it did not become a political force until the appearance of anti-Semitism, and the Tisza-Eszlár trial in 1883. Franz Delitzsch
defended Judaism against the attacks of Rohling. At the same time Josef Samuel Bloch
wrote articles in which he accused Rohling of ignorance and of forgery of the texts. Rohling sued Bloch for libel, but withdrew the suit at the last moment. Later on he greeted the appearance of Zionism
as the solution of the Jewish question
and wrote a pamphlet against Güdemann's "Das Judenthum in Seinen Grundzügen," etc.
Those of Rohling's works which concern the Jews are, in addition to "Der Talmudjude":
Of the polemical literature against Rohling the oldest work is Kroner's "Entstelltes, Unwahres und Erfundenes in dem Talmudjuden Professor Dr. August Rohling's," Münster, 1871. Distinguished by scholarship are the two pamphlets of Delitzsch, "Rohling's Talmudjude Beleuchtet" (Leipzig, 1881) and "Schachmatt den Blutlügnern Rohling und Justus" (2d ed., Erlangen, 1883).
He studied at Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
and Paris, and became professor successively at Westphalian William's University (Münster), Milwaukee, and Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
, retiring in 1901.
He distinguished himself by polemics against Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
and Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
. Of his anti-Jewish works Der Talmudjude (Münster, 1871) became a standard work for anti-Semitic authors and journalists. It is a faulty abstract of the Entdecktes Judenthum of Johann Andreas Eisenmenger
Johann Andreas Eisenmenger
Johann Andreas Eisenmenger was a German Orientalist, now best known as the author of the anti-Semitic polemic, Entdecktes Judenthum .-Studies rabbinical literature:...
.
The book first appeared when Bismarck
Otto von Bismarck
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...
inaugurated his anti-Catholic legislation, as a retort to the attacks made by liberal journals on the dogma of papal infallibility
Papal infallibility
Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Catholic Church which states that, by action of the Holy Spirit, the Pope is preserved from even the possibility of error when in his official capacity he solemnly declares or promulgates to the universal Church a dogmatic teaching on faith or morals...
and on Jesuitic textbooks. The book was extensively quoted by the Catholic press, but it did not become a political force until the appearance of anti-Semitism, and the Tisza-Eszlár trial in 1883. Franz Delitzsch
Franz Delitzsch
Franz Delitzsch was a German Lutheran theologian and Hebraist. Born in Leipzig, he held the professorship of theology at the University of Rostock from 1846 to 1850, at the University of Erlangen until 1867, and after that at the University of Leipzig until his death...
defended Judaism against the attacks of Rohling. At the same time Josef Samuel Bloch
Josef Samuel Bloch
Joseph Samuel Bloch, Josef Samuel Bloch was an Austrian rabbi and deputy.-Biography:Bloch's parents, who were poor, destined him for the rabbinical career, and he devoted himself to the exclusive study of the Talmud...
wrote articles in which he accused Rohling of ignorance and of forgery of the texts. Rohling sued Bloch for libel, but withdrew the suit at the last moment. Later on he greeted the appearance of Zionism
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
as the solution of the Jewish question
Jewish Question
The Jewish question encompasses the issues and resolutions surrounding the historically unequal civil, legal and national statuses between minority Ashkenazi Jews and non-Jews, particularly in Europe. The first issues discussed and debated by societies, politicians and writers in western and...
and wrote a pamphlet against Güdemann's "Das Judenthum in Seinen Grundzügen," etc.
Those of Rohling's works which concern the Jews are, in addition to "Der Talmudjude":
- "Katechismus des 19. Jahrhunderts für Juden und Protestanten," Mayence, 1878
- "Franz Delitzsch und die Judenfrage," Prague, 1881
- "Fünf Briefe über den Talmudismus und das Blutritual der Juden," ib. 1881
- "Die Polemik und das Menschenopfer des Rabbinismus," Paderborn, 1883;
- "Die Ehre Israels: Neue Briefe an die Juden," Prague, 1889
- "Auf nach Zion," ib. 1901
- "Das Judenthum nach Neurabbinischer Darstellung der Hochfinanz Israels," Munich, 1903.
Of the polemical literature against Rohling the oldest work is Kroner's "Entstelltes, Unwahres und Erfundenes in dem Talmudjuden Professor Dr. August Rohling's," Münster, 1871. Distinguished by scholarship are the two pamphlets of Delitzsch, "Rohling's Talmudjude Beleuchtet" (Leipzig, 1881) and "Schachmatt den Blutlügnern Rohling und Justus" (2d ed., Erlangen, 1883).