Why do Christians believe that Nazis are Atheist?

Question

From the run up to world war two, the anti Jewish ideas came directly out of the Lutheran and Catholic Churches. Hitler often went to church and there are many pictures of him praying to god. It is documented that Hitler said that he was doing the lord work. On the Nazi uniform many wore a cross that was produced by the Nazi military. They also produced a cross with a Nazi symbol in the middle. There are many pictures of Hitler shaking hands with Lutheran priests, the pope, and other Catholic priests. The Nazi graves were labeled with Christian crosses above them and there is no record of Nazis shutting down churches in Germany before and during WWII because of a Nazi atheist agenda. Remember that anyone who believes in god is not truly an atheist, and that you cant declare someone Christian or atheist based on how they practice their Christianity. There are bad Christians Just like there are bad and good atheists. Where do Christians come up with this idea? Why do I keep hearing it?

Answer 1

The National Socialists in German during WWII were predominantly secular humanists that elevated the State and its leader (Hitler) as god. Sure they were fond of using images of Norse mythology, Christian imagery and they even attempted to influence the Christian churches in Germany and the occupied countries. But there were National Socialists (Nazis) in Germany that were Theists and Atheists. I think it’s very easy to sit back almost 70 years later and pass judgment on people that joined the movement. Not to defend German National Socialism, but you do have to take into account the Economic, Social and Political factors of the time. You also have to factor in the fact that no one really knew (in the populous) the full extent of the fate of the Jews until it was too late. I will admit, there were Lutherans that followed the Nazi party and fought for Germany, but there were also Lutherans (like my Grandfather) and Roman Catholics that fought against Nazi tyranny in Europe and Africa.

I take issue with your claim that National Socialism came directly out of the Lutheran and Roman Catholic Churches. I think this is a ridiculous claim. You do realize that the concept of the "Unter Mensch" comes from German Metaphysical Philosophy. Guys like Kant, Fichte and Hegel that eroded truth and fronted the concept that certain groups of peoples were superior to others. I would like to point out that Heinrich Heine predicted the rise of German Nationalism almost 100 years before it occurred. I think his quote speaks volumes to the rise of National Socialism,
"Christianity -- and that is its greatest merit -- has somewhat mitigated that brutal German love of war, but it could not destroy it. Should that subduing talisman, the cross, be shattered, the frenzied madness of the ancient warriors, that insane Berserk rage of which Nordic bards have spoken and sung so often, will once more burst into flame. ... The old stone gods will then rise from long ruins and rub the dust of a thousand years from their eyes, and Thor will leap to life with his giant hammer and smash the Gothic cathedrals. ... Do not smile at my advice -- the advice of a dreamer who warns you against Kantians, Fichteans, and philosophers of nature. Do not smile at the visionary who anticipates the same revolution in the realm of the visible as has taken place in the spiritual. Thought precedes action as lightning precedes thunder. German thunder ... comes rolling somewhat slowly, but .. its crash ... will be unlike anything before in the history of the world. ... At that uproar the eagles of the air will drop dead, and lions in farthest Africa will draw in their tails and slink away. ... A play will be performed in Germany which will make the French Revolution look like an innocent idyll."

I would also like to point out that Lutherans and Roman Catholics fought against the Nazis in the Armies of the Allies, in underground movements. They were also the ones that attempted to hide, smuggle and aid Jewish peoples in occupied Europe to keep them from being shipped off the to death camps. Yad Vashem lists the following numbers of people with the status of “The Righteous Among the Nations:”
Poland 6004
Netherlands 4767
France 2740
Belgium 1443
Hungary 685
Lithuania 693
Germany 443
Czech Republic 118
Croatia 106
Latvia 103
Austria 85
Switzerland 38
Norway 41
Denmark 21
Sweden 9

These people with the status of “The Righteous Among the Nations” are the Oscar Schindlers and the Irena Sendlers of History and do not account for all the people that not only stood against the Germans to help Jew, but were arrested, tortured and sent to the concentration camps because they disagreed with the Nazi regime. But you get the idea that a lot of Lutherans and Catholics work against the Nazis all across Europe to put a stop to what they were doing.

Answer 2

You're right, Adolf Hitler was not an atheist. But he also wasn't a Christian, and to say that he was is like saying Osama bin Laden is a Muslim. I think you ought to look up "Christian" in the dictionary: "Christian -- One who professes belief in the teachings of Jesus Christ." Now, where in the Bible did Jesus say to slaughter God's chosen people? Hmm, nowhere, proving your theory invalid. Hitler was NOT a Christian; he wasn't a follower of Christian doctrine, nor even a believer. YOU ARE WRONG.

Answer 3

Like so many "Christian" arguments, it is propaganda. (I wonder, what 20th Century political entity was a master of propaganda?) Nazi Germany was fun on many religious and parareligious themes. The Nazi Party promoted a philosophy of "Positive Christianity".

Answer 4

For the same reasons that they dont claim the KKK who is ALSO a Christian organization...

I cant say I hardly blame them - I wouldnt want to claim Nazis or KKK members as my own either. What pisses me off is that it makes them feel better about themselves when they pass on lies about others, by claiming that these "bad Christians" are in fact Atheists in disguise...

Answer 5

Because its easier. Like like crazy southern churches who drink venom until someone dies. Then they say that Jesus was just not with him. Plain and simple. Its easy.

Answer 6

They confuse politics and religion all the time. It happens. I've learned to accept it.

Answer 7

It's just another example of Christians not accepting their own history.

Answer 8

Because it's easier to believe than believing they were Christian.

Answer 9

Who'd want to accept them?