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Theologians Under Hitler: A Critical Examination
I would like to point out that during my reading of Theologians Under Hitler, I came across yet another blow to these so-called “Christians” that tried in vain to stop “evil” Hitler. Here is the excerpt that defies all Christian reason:
“Barth [German theologian] always felt that a political stance is incumbent for every Christian, and in the course of time he counseled opposition to Nazi Germany but advised cautious cooperation with communism in Eastern Europe” (Theologians, 17).
In other words, this wonderful “Christian” theologian was willing to turn his back on Hitler in scorn with the aim of helping his “cause” via communism? You mean to say that heartless, anti-Christian, God-hating Stalin—who has been alleged to have said, “I am God,” and, who had viciously razed the Christian churches to the ground and cast all religion in the Soviet Union into the very depths of Hell—was worth cooperating with? What kind of “Christian” was this Barth? He actually had the audacity to say that Hitler was a temptation for Christians—one can only guess why Christians would be attracted to Hitler and his incredible conception of a truly brotherly nation of love and peace for his people—and thus, a threat “to pervert Christianity” (Ibid., 17-18). If this is what these false-Christian bigots and hypocrites thought of Hitler and his government, it is no wonder he had to deal with the “Church Question” (mentioned in Wagener’s Memoirs and in Irving’s Hitler’s War).
These evil liars deserved to be thrown out and committed to compulsory labor in concentration camps. In my opinion, Hitler was probably too lenient with these people, especially that scoundrel Pastor Niemölle—who had launched blasphemous tirade after tirade against Hitler and the government. He had one chance too many, in my opinion, and had Göring not tapped one of his phone calls, this undermining of true Christianity by this heretic would have gone on much longer. Hitler should have had the imbecile shot, but instead he put him into a rather cozy camp. He even let him out on occasion and, he allowed him to attend his father’s funeral. Furthermore, Hitler told him he would be set free if he would just keep his nose out of politics, and simply attend to his spiritual duties. Jesus even said, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to Me what is Mine.” Niemöller should have been sent to the front to dig anti-tank ditches at the least!
Suffice it to say that many of these so-called “Christian theologians” became atheists with time and actually did damage to Christianity as a European faith. Hitler, for his part, endorsed the New Testament, failed to denounce Christ and the Christian faith, never opposed the many Christian churches [except when they did asinine things like this] and reprimanded Bormann and Rosenberg for doing so when it was brought to his attention, failed to resurrect or endorse the worship of Wotan/Odin as an “official” German religion, and never became an atheist. He was a better Christian than these “so-called” Christians ever were!
Unlike the many theologians, Hitler never wracked his brain with this “studious” investigation into God’s existence and the historical life of Christ… he rather simply accepted it and explained it to the best of his understanding, which I would qualify as theology in itself. Hitler was more believable— and had a much more realizable faith—than these “theologians” had ever dreamed of being.
When I read what Hitler had to say about Christ and Christianity, it reinforces my faith and actually makes me feel much more strongly about Christianity. When I read what Barth, Feuerbach, or Tillich [all supposedly first-rate theologians of their day] had to say, I actually find myself questioning, and even doubting the existence of Christ at all. So, this being said, who is the true Christian here? This is a rhetorical question and I will leave it at that. If a Christian can become a better Christian by reading Hitler’s words, then suffice it to say that he was a Christian, though I would qualify him more as a transcendentalist with Christian underpinnings. I like how Hitler put it in Memoirs when he essentially said, “Life wanted to be, and so it was.” He called it—what has been translated into English as—“The Urge.”
It is so sad when people look at a picture of Hitler and scowl in disgust. When I look at a picture of Hitler, I see nothing but hope and greatness. He was such a beautiful person. I do not care whether or not he may have had some personality flaws, because every person and leader has flaws. He was still a beautiful person, with so many unappreciated great and revolutionary ideas…
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