would Hitler - who said he was doing God's will and invoked the antisemtic language of the Catholic church to gain support - have been able to come to power?
Remember, Hitler rose up in a democratic nation and without popular support would have never been anything more than a failed artist.
2006-12-29 01:54:33 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Palomnk: but of those you mention, only Hitler rose to power instead of seizing it.
2006-12-29 01:59:56 · update #1
PEOPLE! Study some history, Hitler was raised a Catholic, professed to be a Catholic and there is not one piece of evidence to suggest he was an atheist!
2006-12-29 02:01:43 · update #2
I don't know, but probably yes. His antisemitism certainly had its roots in that of Christianity, but the main idea of the Nazi antisemitic ideology was to say that Jews were racially inferior, a danger for Germany, doing evil conspiracies, "backstabbing" Germans, no "true" Germans etc. etc., so the whole thing was based on racism and extreme nationalism. There is no reason why atheists could not believe in such an ideology. The main thing was to find some scapegoat and to make Germans feel they were superior by saying others were inferior. There is nothing in atheism that protects people from scapegoating, racist feelings, believing in conspiracy theories etc. etc.
2006-12-29 03:14:43 · answer #1 · answered by Elly 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think there are a few obvious problems with the way you phrased this question. Nazism was based on some completely off-the-wall revisionist notions of history intertwined with legend - much like Christianity - but it was hardly a "Christian" movement. The German people got behind Hitler for a lot of reasons, but mostly because he deftly exploited their hopes and fears and - most importantly - gave them something to hate. I don't think it had much to do with their "Christianity." At any rate Nazism became practically a fully-fledged religion in its own right, with its own symbols, rituals, even its own "holy book." You can't really get rid of the religious impulse in human beings - your best option is to exploit it. A nation of atheists might've been more rational, but it would never have happened.
2006-12-29 10:03:01 · answer #2 · answered by jonjon418 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the days of Hitler...what where the religion believes of the German population was not important...Remember before Hiltler rised in power Germany was defeated allready in a major war...Germany and majoprity of the population where facing unbelievable financial dificulties..every body was looking forward to a Major political changes...Hiltler ...was there at the right time , at the right place...took advantage of the situation...and his propaganda...and speach theatrics...made him capable...to brainwash.... The lower classes...whom where the Majority and follow him blindly to the disasters that follow. But also the other Nations share a blame...... took them long time to figure out what Hitler was doing or planning...they gave him a free hand to operate...because simply they under-estimate him...EXAMPLE: UK and USA, were two of these nations that under-estimate him, and Help HITLER to rise to power.
2006-12-29 10:19:29 · answer #3 · answered by nikitasgarofallou 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Josef Stalin was an atheist and killed upwards of a hundred million people through purges, engineered famine, and the gulag.
Pol Pot was an atheist. Mao was an atheist. They also killed millions.
And despite Hitler's alleged Christian affiliation, his dalliances with occultism show him rather to be a Germanic heathen with a thin Christian veneer.
As far as Hitler's popular support goes: people were starving and humiliated by the ridiculous burdens placed on them by the Treaty of Versailles. It's amazing what starving people will do for a leader who feeds them and regains their national dignity.
2006-12-29 09:57:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Hitler wasn't a Christan, his trusted generals studied pagan traditions, he just said he was Christian to get the population to follow him.
If he had came out and said he was actually an atheist he would have possibly lost the support of the German people.
If you wanted to rule America and run it into the ground no matter what you believe you better say your a Christian.
2006-12-29 09:58:30 · answer #5 · answered by Sean 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
funny the way you pick the catholic church in a country that is mainly prodestant, however,
yes he probably would. he used new technologies like cinema and radio to blame all of Germanies woes on a clearly identifiable group while supressing any response using any means necessary. then he made sure that everyone else would be included in his new a better germany. it worked but only for a while.
2006-12-29 10:02:35 · answer #6 · answered by mixturenumber1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt it would have changed things, Adolf Hitler was an atheist himself, and after eliminating the Jews, he was going for Christians (Catholics) next. He wanted Germany to follower his teachings of a German superhuman origin. He would have probably just changed the way he presented his plan to the people in order to get elected.
2006-12-29 09:59:27 · answer #7 · answered by gypsyiiiis 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If Germany had been 98% atheist, who would Hitler have wanted to exterminate?
Hmmmmmmm?
2006-12-29 09:56:50 · answer #8 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hitler could have been anything
Christian .. Atheist .. agnostic ... white ... black ... whatever
and he would have still been crazy
he wanted power by any means ... it wasnt about God , it was about him
2006-12-29 09:56:19 · answer #9 · answered by Peace 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If the people believed in something else, he would have found another way to manipulate them into following him.
2006-12-29 10:05:30 · answer #10 · answered by Ripplediane 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋