Evening star., 1941-12-01
Religious New Order
Is Outlined in Book
Circulated in Reich
We Have Been Called by
Fate to Breuk With
Christianity 1t Says
BY EDWIN SHANKE,

Assocleted Preh forelgn correspondent.
BERLIN, Dec 1.-The outline of
q religious new order" for Nazi-
dom replacing Catholic and Prot
estant churches with q national
German faith" is contained In .
book circulating widely in Germany.
I'VE Germans have been called by
fate to be the first to break with
Christianity; 1t Is to be an honor"
wrote an anonymous, fiery young
Nszi in the book called "Gott und
Volk" God and Nation.
Two hundred thousand copies al
seady are in circulation. apparently
rincipally among young SIS (black
shirt elite guards and SA drown
shirt storm troopers, soldiers and
labor service camps.
In wartime, when quality books at
premium are out of print because
of a paper scarcity, Berlin pub
fishing house said a new printing Of
"Gott und Volk" now is being made,
but that orders could not be taken
before 1912.
Catholic Bishops Issue Warning.
The circulation has become 50 ex-
tensive that Catholic bishops even
took official notice Of the publica-
ton in a warning to the faithful.
In Germany, where greater por-
ton of the printed word is inspired
and controlled by the authorities,
such a large circulation is signi1l-
cant. especially when, as in the case
OF this book in which the author
takes the liberty of identifying his
views with Hitler and the Nazi party.
For 1000 years the church had
time to begin moulding mankind
into a cleaner, higher-Striving race"
the book says.
The church not only did moth
ing. but has degenerated into q re-
straining impediment.
Finally, the Fuehrer and his
movement has come, decried as here
tic. to perceive and form true di-
vine will. Christianity has failed
and thus rung in its death hour.
"Holiest Obligation"
"A thousand bonds tie us to the
Christian belief. But one blow will
make us free. To make Germans
strong and ripe for this step is our
task, our holiest obligation"
The nearest thing to a definition
OF the new national religion is con-
tained in these words: German
faith won't dictate to any one his
relationship to God. Every one seeks
his own way. But no one seeks 1t
in Rome or Jerusalem. Germany
Is our holy land 1t will be our
religion
And again in a suggested creed:
Il believe in strong God and his
eternal Germany"
Reformation is no help" the book
goes on. What we need Is order
from the ground up. We want faith
which flames out Of the depths OF
German nature and out Of German
hearts"
Considerable space is devoted to
the question of how the new order"
Tor religion will be effected.
1t will first be necessary, the au-
thor declared, for communities OF
faith" to be formed.
Fidelity to Fuehrer.
They will exalt love for Germany
and fidelity to the Fuehrer as bea-
cons and pronounce courageous bat
tie as duty. Fundamentally
they will do nothing else except
make us all fanatic National So
ria1jsts ond Covv,, - ,,~rx -
When we are that then We also
are religious, without churches and
without priests to that end
we do not have to await commands
from above.
For the state can not command
Its citizens as regards faith. It can
only establish the existence of a
new religious longing and q solid
will Of all toward 1t d" to bring
about that great day Of religious
unity shall be our task from this
moment on"
Germanys Catholic bishops de-
clared war on the drive toward a
national religion, as expressed by
"Gott und Volk," in q letter read
from all pulpits.
The existence of Christianity
and the church in Germany Is at
stake" they said. Recently . book
has been spread in hundreds of
thousands Of copies which asserts
We Germans have to choose be-
tween Christ and the German peo-
pie. With flaming indignation We
German Catholics refuse to make
such choice