From: roger@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Roger Lustig)
Subject: Re: Hitler's Religion (was re: Instant Yuppies)
Originator: news@ernie.Princeton.EDU
Organization: Princeton University
     <STEINAR.92Apr14202714@otello.solan.unit.no> 
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 03:25:21 GMT

In article <1992Apr15.204346.17154@ucsu.Colorado.EDU> 
allenmk@ucsu.Colorado.EDU (Allen Melinda Kay) writes:
>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.  

Important question here: how widespread was Christian opposition?  And
how widespread was active Christian collusion?

>Based on what I have read, there is no way that Hitler was a 
Christian, even if

Nobody said he was.  But his followers included many Christians, and
many of his collaborators *used* Christianity to gain popular sympathy.
And many Christian leaders were openly behind Hitler.

>he claimed to be such (claiming to be and being are two vastly different
>things). 

In theological terms, yes.  However, until we can look into each other's
hearts we're stuck with self-reporting.  Hitler, of course, did NOT call
himself a Christian.

> 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,

Um, who is this "Lord" guy?  If they don't pray to God, what is Hitler
doing as an obvious Jesus stand-in?  

Clearly this prayer is designed to go down easily with not-too-strict
Christians, being a ripoff of the Lord's prayer (in doggerel).

>  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.

If only there weren't the uncomfortable fact that many of the Nazis
*were* Christians, and that many Christians openly supported Nazi
policies -- including the warlike and anti-Semitic ones.

>Thousands of Christians were sent with Jews to the concentration camps for 
>defying Hitler, refusing to echo his party line. 

Hundreds of thousands of Christians, from bishops on down, saw nothing
wrong with this, and took active part besides.

> 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.

Indeed he did.  How sad that it took such measures to teach him the
lesson, and that so many others had to suffer the destruction of their
country before they realized what they were doing.

>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.  

We have ideas, not to mention Gestapo files.  77% of the Jews in Germany
as of 1939 were murdered.

>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.  

Indeed -- note how he combed his hair!  (Seriously...)

Note, however, that only SOME churches received this treatment --
unfortunately, some wonderful ones were among them.  In most places,
such activity would have caused open revolt, so the Nazis left the
churches in place -- and the hierarchies as well -- and co-opted them
and used them.

As for "occult items," what do you have in mind?

Roger
>
>
>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