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[quote=takoma][quote=Anonymous]I have also heard about this not allowed to own land in the middle ages. 
What country specifically are you talking about? and what year?
I ask because I really am curious about it.
Who are the 'Christians' in this context who were not supposed to charge interest?

Would you agree that the word 'goy' and 'shiksa' are derogatory?[/quote]
I did not have any specific knowledge, but this paragraph from the Wikipedia article on Usury expresses the general impression I had:
"The term may be used in a moral sense — condemning taking advantage of others' misfortunes — or in a legal sense where interest rates may be regulated by law. Historically, some cultures (e.g. Christianity in much of Medieval Europe, Islam in many parts of the world today) have regarded charging any interest for loans as sinful and most still do today."

Since we're talking medieval, I guess "Christianity" means the Catholic Church.

As a kid (many decades ago) I heard my parents use "goy" and "shiksa", and my impression is that it usually just meant non-Jew. But sometimes it had a hostile tinge to it, if that non-Jew was doing something negative.  DW still sometimes refers to some foods as "goyish"; no value judgments, just stuff she she remembers from non-Jewish friends' houses rather than her own -- sometimes stuff she really likes.  For me, the terms do not come naturally, and I would feel it was an affectation for me to use them.[/quote]

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