The National–Catholic Impact on Anti-Semitism in Poland: Report of the Significant Results of Empirical Research

The following article presents the main results of the study which was carried out in Poland (The National Science Centre grant, Project No. 2011/01/B/HS6/01957) under the title "Anti-Semitism, xenophobia and national stereotypes for the third time"”. It was done in 2012 as third research, using similar questionnaires’ (1992 and 2002). Article focuses on the correlations between anti-Semitic attitudes and religiosity. The basic premise of the study was two types of anti-Semitic attitudes: traditional and modern anti-Semitism. First based on traditional, religious, anti-Semitic stereotypes (the Jews are responsible for the death of Jesus Christ). Second one based on the modern anti-Semitic ideology, developed in Europe after French Revolution (Hannah Arendt). Modern anti-Semitism was the main interest, because was strongly connected with the modernistic type of Polish nationalism, created at the beginning of 20 century. Especially interesting was that religiosity of both types stronger correlate with antisemitism, when researched persons are supporters of the main slogans of the Polish nationalism. The conclusion of the research is thesis than in Poland national pride, religious faith and anti-Semitism form an amalgamation of ideological attitudes. In other words: anti-Semitic attitudes could be treated as the part of the manifestation national-catholic ideology or national-catholic world view.