From: allenmk@ucsu.Colorado.EDU (Allen Melinda Kay)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.books,soc.history,soc.culture.jewish
Subject: Re: Hitler's Religion (was re: Instant Yuppies)
Date: 15 Apr 92 20:43:46 GMT
Article-I.D.: ucsu.1992Apr15.204346.17154
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder

steinar@otello.solan.unit.no (Cindy Kandolf) writes:

>Mikhail Zeleny writes:
>>CEC:[Clayton Cramer]
>>>By 1937,  Pope Pius  XI had  accused National  Socialism  of
>>>"secret and  open fundamental  hostility to  Christ and  His
>>>Church."[2]
>>
>>Note that his successor, Pius XII (reigned 1939--58), an open antisemite,
>>has suppressed the denunciation of Hitler's regime, which was prepared by
>>Pius XI shortly before his death.

>Also note that this was a _Pope_ saying this.  Hitler and crew were
>not known for being pro-Catholic.  Without context, we cannot tell is
>"Christ's Church" here refers to Catholicism specifically or Christianity
>in general.

I'm taking a course on Nazi Germany at the University of Colorado this
semester, and my research paper deals with Christian opposition to Hitler's
anti-Semitic policies.  

Based on what I have read, there is no way that Hitler was a Christian, even if
he claimed to be such (claiming to be and being are two vastly different
things).  The Nazis would pray to Hitler rather than to God--for example, 
children were taught to pray the following before meals:

  Fuehrer, my Fuehrer, bequeathed to me by the Lord,
  Protect and preserve me as long as I live!
  Thou hast rescued Germany from deepest distress,
  I thank thee today for my daily bread.
  Abide thou long with me, forsake me not,
  Fuehrer, my Fuehrer, my faith and my light!

Sickening.  Martin Bormann, a devout Nazi, wrote that "National Socialist and 
Christian concepts are incompatible," claiming that Nazism was based on 
"scientific foundations," and that Christianity built "upon the ignorance of 
men."  Whether or not you agree with his statement about Christianity, I hope 
you agree that Nazism and Christianity are very different and, as Bormann said 
(I believe it is the only true thing he says in his essay), incompatible.

Thousands of Christians were sent with Jews to the concentration camps for 
defying Hitler, refusing to echo his party line.  Among these were Dietrich 
Bonhoeffer and Martin Niemoeller.  Bonhoeffer argued against any persecution of
the Jews whatsoever, while (sadly) some Christian leaders only fought for the
rights of the converted Jews in their churches.  Niemoeller was one of
these--however, while in the concentration camp, he learned that he needed to
love each person as a creation of God, whether they agreed with his beliefs or
not, and that he had a responsibility to help anyone, Christian or not, who was
suffering persecution.

This was, at least, the open opposition.  I don't think we'll ever really know
the extent of secret opposition to Hitler--the Christians and others involved
in hiding Jews or helping them to escape the Reich.  

Anyway, this is getting longer than I intended, so I'll go ahead and end it
here.  

Melinda
 
Hitler was very much into the occult and ancient German pagan rituals--the 
cross and the Bible were removed from the churches and replaced with pictures 
of Hitler and occult items.  Hitler Youth used the churches, as well as the 
sites of ancient castles, to celebrate pagan rituals.  Some even believed that
Hitler was the incarnation of the pagan god Wotan.  


Hitler wasn't a Christian
-- 
Melinda K. Allen                  The LORD is close to the brokenhearted 
allenmk@ucsu.colorado.edu       and saves those who are crushed in spirit.   
allenmk@tramp.colorado.edu			               Psalm 34:18 
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