Hitler said he was only doing what the Christian Church had been doing for centuries ?

Question

“I believe that I am today acting according to the purposes of the Almighty Creator. In resisting the Jew, I am fighting the Lord’s battle.” --- Adolf Hitler:

Many times Althaus explained to Christians his preference for the Third Reich over the former Weimar Republic. “We Christians know,” he stated, “that we are bound by God’s will to the promotion of National Socialism, so that all members of the people will be ready for service and sacrifice.” (“Kirche and Staat,” p. 29)

Paul Althaus, a Lutheran theologian of renown in Germany, warmly greeted the rise of Hitler. He wrote that, “The Protestant churches have greeted the political turning point as a gift and miracle of God”.. (“Die deutsche Stunde der Kirche,” p.5)

In a document signed by many Christian theologians it was stated, “We as believing Christians thank God our Father that he has given to our people in its time of need the Fuhrer as a pious and faithful sovereign, and that he wants to prepare for us in the National Socialist system of government, good rule, a government with discipline and honor. Accordingly, we know that we are responsible before God to assist the work of the Fuhrer in our calling and in our station in life.”. (“Ansbacher Ratschlag,” p. 145)

Another high ranking Christian theologian, Leutheuser, believed that the Holy Spirit moves where it chooses, and stated that, “more spirit of religion has come to Germans through Hitler, than through many of the churches.” (Julius Leutheuser. “Die deutsche Christusgemeinde,” p. 18,19) This same Christian leader asserts that “Germany has been given a mission from God. The leader and prophet is Adolf Hitler.” (SiegfriedLeffer. “Christus im Drittem Reich der Deutschen,” p. 13-18)

The Vatican under Pope Pius XII made a Concordat of collaboration with National Socialism. Hitler’s portrait was placed on all walls of Catholic churches and Sunday schools. Church bells were rang at every Nazi victory, including the arrest and transportation of the last Jew from every town in Germany. The Roman Catholic Church never protested against Hitler’s barbarism including the massacre of a million and a half Jewish children.. (Dictionary of Antisemitism, p. 43)

In a speech to Polish Catholics, Hitler declared: “I as a German Catholic, ask only what is permitted to Polish Catholics. To be antisemitic is not to be un-Catholic. The Church used every weapon against the Jews, even the Inquisition. Christ himself was a pioneer in the fight against Judaism.” (ibid, p. 146)

At a Church conference, Hitler affirmed that the Catholic Church has always regarded Jews as evildoers and had banished them into ghettos. He (Hitler) is only doing what the Church had been doing for fifteen hundred years.. (ibid, p. 79)



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Answer 1

Yeah, Hitler had some misguided ideas about Christianity.

He was an immoral madman who used religion to justify his sin. But that doesn't make religion the problem. It just makes Hitler responsible.

You are doing here what is called STEREOTYPING. It's unfair and shows a lack of knowledge.

Answer 2

The fact that Hitler persecuted Catholics is not a lie. It is history. While Hitler may have been raised as a Catholic, so were a lot of avowed atheists these days. It proves nothing. I would like to see documentation that Hitler was in Communion with the RCC and for how long. Back up what you say. You claim that evolutionary theory had no place in the Third Reich, but you are again mistaken. The whole "master race" idea is a social version of evolution, sometimes called "Social Darwinism", in which Hitler asserted that the Germans were by nature fit to rule, because they were the fittest and strongest of all humans, and he even had programs in place to purposely breed even better Germans. This is all historical fact. Finally, the reason Christians say that Hitler was not a Christian is a simple teaching of Christ, Himself, which says, "You shall know a tree by its fruits." Hitler's fruits were definitely not Christian. Your assertions against the Church are also wrong. No Christian will offend the Jews in such a way. It is unbiblical. I will agree that Hitler was definitely not an atheist. He reverted back to the Teutonic myths before the end, even. He started to revive the worship of Thor and the like, got into runes and all manner of other mythic rites. If you doubt anything I say here, read your Shirer (Rise and Fall of the Third Reich).

Answer 3

It's old almost cliche statement that more people have been killed over religion then anything else- and that extends far beyond just christianity.

Hitler co-opted anything of use to him at the given moment, kind of like Bill Clinton, and this included religion.

If you want to cast blame for the Holocaust on anyone and anything other then Hitler though- you'll need a very broad brush to include most of the world, as Jews were failed and deserted by many countries and people.

Answer 4

The Christian Church was brutal for centuries, but, since all things evolve, life or otherwise, organizations like the Christian Church have become more civilized and more loving in line with Christ's teachings.
Hitler seized the black periods of history to justify the killing of Jews but, killing, either by the chuch or Hitler is a mortal sin. "Thou shalt not kill." You don't need a lot of printed text to clear up the contradictions and confusion. When it comes to violating any of the Ten Commandments, there is no justifiable argument that grants permission to be a violator. Right or wrong, neither recognizes a grey area or middle ground.

Answer 5

I don't think that Hitler's system of genocide, forced sterilization, and getting rid of "un-fits" is exactly Chirstian - in fact, I think that any objective observer would hold that it is the polar opposite of what Christianity teaches.

And look at it this way, was it not the Christian societies of the West that *defeated* Hitler - based upon objective principles of justice vs. injustice obtained from a Judeo-Christian world-view, prevlelant at that time (unlike the moral relativism today that is tearing our society apart, that is supported only by cowards and those who wish to profit from widespread and systemic injustice)?

Any decent and practicing Christian was absolutely appauled at what Hitler and his henchmen were doing - I don't think that concentration camps are the Christian way - I know that some Christians did dreadful things, as recorded in history, but in doing so, they were acting *contrary* to the Faith and the Gospels, despite what they professed.


And about speaking out, prudence and judgment have to be exercised there when confronted with an evil situation.

For example, if an evil man were holding your family hostage, you would have little sense to tell him how evil he was, would that not only provoke him rather than ensure your family's safety?


Pope Pius XII was faced with a similar situation where any formal denunciations of the Nazi regiem would only have provoked Hitler to greater evils rather than correct those evils.

Something like that was tried in Holland, where the bishops there condemned the Nazies, and as a result, all Catholics of Jewish background were rounded up and sent to the concentration camps.


Despite the falsehoods and of the mainstream media, no one did more than Pope Pius XII to help the Jews during the Holocaust - monasteries and convents were full, and the Vatican was full of hiding Jews - because of Pius' actions, it is estimated that 800,000 Jews were spared - but of course you don't hear any of this from any mainstream channels, as we know how slanted and one-sided their reporting is.

To say that Pius helped Hitler in WWII is about as close to a bald-faced lie that these "experts" have the gaul to tell on TV or write about in magazines - and they do this with their contemptable dead-pan faces too.


And I should be angry (as any sensible person should) when left-wing sleazy propaganda is presented as real news and objective commentary - and if they are PhD's it only means piled high and deeper - if they are professors, they are merely programming minds and not educating them - talk about fraud in a university setting! - I would demand my money back if I were "educated" by one of those - as your grade depends merely on how well you agree with the professor, not how much you actually know.

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Answer 6

i agree, Hitler was doing the Vatican's dirty work and being a model Catholic when he murdered 2x as many Catholics than he did Jews.

He also made up his own nazi-greek mythology hybrid religion, which of course every Christian is called to do...

Everyone thought Hitler was the bee's knee's when he came to power; he was charismatic, and he brought Germany out of the crapper.
He used Christianity to make it seem like what he was doing was right, not to mention most of the world was anti-semetic at this time...

but then his actions stray from his words, which leads to the logical conclusion that he wasn't "taking one for the team"

Answer 7

Who the heck is Paul Althaus? Some german "theologian" you guys plucked out of historical obscurity to make your point? This guy is no where on the same level as Chemnitz, Melanchthon or Walther when it comes to Lutheran Theologians.

Answer 8

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Lutheran minister who wrote the 'Cost of Discipleship' travelled back to Germany from New York to fight against Nazism.

If you wish to believe Hitler, don't cry when he shows up again, and you fall for that type of savior.

Answer 9

Hi Mr. Muslim....Hitler was an occultist who used Christianity to lull the public into a false state of security.

The Ol' Hippie Jesus Freak
Grace, Peace and Love in Christ
Peg

Answer 10

Hitler just said what all dictators and despots claim so as to give credence to their evil actions.
It`s the same old pathetic excuse ever since Adam cried `The Woman made me do it`