WAGNERS THOUGHTS ON CHRISTIANITY AND ANTI-SEMITISM

WAGNERS THOUGHTS ON CHRISTIANITY AND ANTI-SEMITISM II. POLITICAL AND SOCIAL INFLUENCES 4-5 V. SPIRITUAL The thoughts and ideas of Richard Wagner, in relation to anti-Semitism and Christianity, are linked not only to the social atmosphere he grew up in, but also to the writers and dramatists of that era whose works influenced and inspired many of his own. Although there are some conflicting statements written by him on these two subjects, the overall messages are of similar content. These statements are found in his racial and religious essays, scattered throughout many of his other writings and are present in some of his musical works as well. Wagner was apparently familiar with the old and new testaments of the Bible, could quote the Talmud, and was able to discuss religions such as Buddhism and Confucianism. This lent credibility to his outspoken opinions on the importance of language, Volk, and Kultur in German society. However, it is thought that the only person to have believed all of these theories was Wagner himself. Most of the people who supported him were not aware! of every idea that made up Wagnerian thinking, in particular, his views on anti-Christianity and anti-Semitism. Most people only agreed with one or two of Wagners ideas, but what made his opinions so interesting was that everyone could find at least one thing that they could agreed with, no matter how misplaced the sentiment was. For example, many Protestants willingly accepted his views on anti-Catholicism, without recognizing the anti-Christian values he also had; and the state of the people in Germany at the time could not help but avidly support his patriotic fervour, although it was closely connected with racial and cultural biasness in his anti-Semitic beliefs. During the 19th and 20th centuries Germany was seen by many as being one of the most cultu...