Rivalry between Christians and Jews

[Seir]

Martin Luther, Father of the Protestant Reformation, was known to be quite anti-Semitic.

Well after all, he was raised Catholic...

And his worst anti-Semitism came after he left the Catholic Church.

[Arres]

OK, so they're same person. But why do so many people use "Jesus" much more often than "God"?

Because the idea of an all powerful all knowing God scares the ever loving SHIT out of people.
God knew this, and in His all encompassing empathy begat his Son Jesus on Mary. In doing so, He was able to live as Man lives, with fear, love, hate, anger, and compassion. This makes Jesus an approachable figure. "Jesus, you GET me. I know I've done wrong, and can't approach your holiness, but you at least can understand a little of what I was feeling, and WHY I did it. Because you're NOT perfect. Please forgive me."

It's very similar to why Catholics "pray to" saints. Catholics don't believe St Schmuckatelli can genuinely grant them wishes, but they DO know he was human and beloved of God. Perhaps, if St. Yahoo hears their prayers and HE tells God, that will help a little more. It's like an appeal to authority. "See God? Even this SAINT thinks that my prayer should be answered..."

[FireAza]

Ah, so it comes down to human foibles end the end, makes sense.

[Makh]

The rivalry, as you call it, of Jews and Christians, and especially anti semitism, is not a catholic thing. It depends of various factors and circumstances. Almost all of Western Europe was catholic for a time, perhaps it is easier to make a parallel that anti semitism is typicaly catholic but I rather see it as a matter of conjoncture. You blame the one who is not like you for the problem you have in different time and countries. Jews never had a very harsh life in medieval Italy, no more than the average peasant, especially in the south. Italians were skilled traders, Jews were skilled traders, they had good relations together. The persecution in Spain was due to some Spanish kings, not just because of the Church. Isabella for example. Before the reconquista, they had many privileges. Same for France, who tolerated them and let them do what they wanted, something that was not granted by most serfdom. Poland, that is still even today one of the most fervent catholic country, sheltered most of the jews of Europe. They fled the persecution of Orthodox Russia...