Hitler was a Christian??

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  1. aka-dj profile image65
    aka-djposted 10 years ago

    It has been alleged in several forum threads that Hitler was a Christian.
    This then, is used as an argument to intimate that his actions in the Wars, and the Holocaust were as a direct result of his Christian faith.

    The next inference then seems to be, that Christianity (Christians) do murderous things, like genocide, etc.

    This is, in the very least, an erroneous accusation.

    I don't understand how anyone can have this assertion.

    Anyone care to comment on this?

    1. profile image0
      SirDentposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Those who make the assertion do so merely to instigate trouble and mock Christians.

    2. MelissaBarrett profile image59
      MelissaBarrettposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I don't think anyone thinks Hitler did anything because he was a Christian. I think it's thrown up to combat the argument that Christians can't do bad things. It's in response to the no "real" Christian would do something bad stance.

      Christians do bad things all the time, not because they are Christian (most of the time) but because they are human. Being Christian doesn't make one Christ. Doing something bad doesn't make a Christian not a Christian either.

      Acting unChristlike doesn't get you kicked out of the club... or no one would be in it.

      1. aka-dj profile image65
        aka-djposted 10 years agoin reply to this

        That's pretty much the way i understand it too.

        Is it that some just DON'T get it?
        Or, are they being deliberately, wilfully, antagonistic about it?

        1. MelissaBarrett profile image59
          MelissaBarrettposted 10 years agoin reply to this

          No more willful than those who suggest that if someone does something bad then they aren't a Christian.

          Hitler likely was a Christian. I don't think Christ drove him to do anything he did. But he did pray frequently and read his Bible, and attend Church. So it is likely that he believed that everything he did was according to his faith. I wouldn't have got the same message, but he likely was faithful. It's the faith that defines, not the actions. He had, it seems, real faith.

          1. Chris Neal profile image78
            Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            HItler's hatred of Christianity is well-documented. His desire to sideline Christianity, remove the Jewish elements from the life of Jesus, and eventually destroy all Christian churches is well documented (the book The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich documented his laws he signed to start demolishing Christian churches, which was halted only by the loss of the war, and the NY Times has blogged about Hitlers 'bibles.'

            His privately stated beliefs tend more towards paganism. Blood and soil were his primary objects of awe and mysticism.

      2. Chris Neal profile image78
        Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        I have dealt with people who think that Hitler's actions were a direct result of his 'christianity.'

        I've also dealt with people who think that it makes no difference what he did, he was baptized and therefor he was a Christian and all Christians are the same.

        I don't think I've dealt with too many who make  the argument you put say they are, but that doesn't mean they aren't out there. They may even be the majority, just not a vocal one.

        1. ThisisEurope profile image60
          ThisisEuropeposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          Yes correct he admired t he Quran

    3. JMcFarland profile image69
      JMcFarlandposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Probably for the same reason that Christians like to say that Hitler was an atheist to try and prove that atheists do bad things.   It carries about as much weight as saying that Hitlers mustache made him do bad things and everyone with a mustache is evil.

      In hitlersv writing and speeches, he claimed to be doing things for god, and blamed Jews for crucifying Christ.  Saying he was not a true Christian is just the no true scotsman fallacy so that believers can distance themselves from his actions.

      The bottom line is that people do bad things,  regardless of what they claim to believe or not believe.

      1. Paul Wingert profile image60
        Paul Wingertposted 10 years agoin reply to this

        Charlie Chaplin had a square mustache. Anti Antisemitism was rampant in both Europe and here in the US before and especially after WW1.

        1. aka-dj profile image65
          aka-djposted 10 years agoin reply to this

          The wicked little man. lol

          Actually, so did my grandfather. He was a wicked little man too! (Not).

        2. Chris Neal profile image78
          Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          This is true. In fact, our government knew about the concentration camps but chose not to act on that knowledge, which is why the stories of soldiers who liberated the camps being so shocked and surprised by what they saw are the norm.

      2. aka-dj profile image65
        aka-djposted 10 years agoin reply to this

        I have stated this  very same thing, several times in the past. However, certain people seem to refuse to do the same.
        I suppose it brings a point of agreement that is undesirable (to these same ones) in a discussion.
        God forbid that a believer and an atheist should agree on anything. lol

    4. Righteous Atheist profile image59
      Righteous Atheistposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hitler was a Christian. Germany was a heavily Christian nation at the time. Most Germans were practicing Christians. Hitler felt he was doing god's work by punishing the Jews for killing Jesus. He had the support (with a few exceptions who were murdered for opposing him) of both the Catholic and Protestant churches.

      So - the holocaust was perpetrated by people claiming to be Christians. Draw what inferences you will, but claiming that Christians are more moral than atheists and atheism lead to genocide is nonsense. That is what started the discussion. A Christian claiming that atheists will commit genocide because they have no morals.

      But - of course you prefer to not notice it was a Christian attacking atheists that began the discussion in the first place. Hitler being a Christian was a  counter to that claim. Why do you ignore that fact? Because you are a bigot and hate atheism. ThIS tends to be a common theme amongst many Christians. As you have just so aptly demonstrated.

      Why do you hate atheism exactly?

      1. aka-dj profile image65
        aka-djposted 10 years agoin reply to this

        For the same reason as I do, religion.
        They both separate man from God, by spreading their perverted doctrines.

        Quite simple, really! big_smile

        1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
          Righteous Atheistposted 10 years agoin reply to this

          But there is no such thing as god. As a matter of interest - exactly what doctrines are spread by not believing in Majikal Invisible Super Beings?

          1. aka-dj profile image65
            aka-djposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Your own words, Mark. "But there is no such thing as god. As a matter of interest - exactly what doctrines are spread by not believing in Majikal Invisible Super Beings?"

            Why ask a question, and answer it in the same breath? I thought you were English?

            1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
              Righteous Atheistposted 10 years agoin reply to this

              Oh - not believing in something is a "doctrine" now? sorry - I forgot you were not English and probably think it means something else. Allow me to educate you as you are clearly incapable of understanding plain English. Sorry about that:

              Doctrine (from Latin: doctrina) is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system.

              Atheism is a lack of belief in Invisible Super Beings.

              Hope that helps.

              1. aka-dj profile image65
                aka-djposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                Not really!
                Well, my English is a bit rusty, but here goes. big_smile
                Changing the wording, changes the meaning.
                Your position cannot be both.
                Either you state your doctrine "There is no such thing as god".
                or, your philosophical position of, "I believe there is no God".

                They are clearly NOT the same thing.

                Just a bit of extra reading for you. (Just in case you want to).

                http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre … sm-defined

                http://empirestrikesblack.com/2013/04/o … -religion/

                1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
                  Righteous Atheistposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  Let me rephrase that to be clear. As far as I can tell, there doesn't appear to be any such thing as god and I don't believe your claim that there is one. My philosophical position is that there is no evidence of god and I don't believe you when you claim that there is one.

                  That is the extend of my lack of belief. So - this is clearly not a "doctrine."

                  Interesting - Hitler hated religion as you do. He must have been the same type of Christian that you are.

                  As to whether or not there is a god - you define it and I will disprove it. Thus the statement that "there is no god," is more addressing your inability to properly define it. Until you define it, the word "god," is essentially meaningless and I feel comfortable saying that it doesn't exist because of that. All we have as a definition is your various hatreds and self righteousness.  Please go ahead and define it for me.

                  1. aka-dj profile image65
                    aka-djposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                    you are very good at rephrasing. Keeps you argument slippery. GOOD strategy!Thank you for your faith statement. I always knew this about you, but I'm glad you finally own it. Well done.Clearly, you have not read one of my links. One of your own (atheist) condemns you for this type of argument. I'm sure you are well pleased with your "breaking ranks" performance.
                    pleas take a few moments to read it.
                    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfre … sm-defined
                    He needs no defining! Look at Jesus. Enough said.

    5. profile image0
      Rad Manposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I heard on the news the other day that there are some Muslims who assert that Einstein was a Muslim that got the idea of relativity from reading the Quran.

      That propaganda is much the same as claiming Hitler was not a Christian when he asserted he was and was attempting to avenge the killing of Jesus by the Jews which was a commonly held belief at that time in parts of Europe.

    6. Faith Reaper profile image83
      Faith Reaperposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hilter was a follower of Aleister Crowley, who was one of the most renowned Satanist, who referred to himself as the Great Beast.  He wrote his book The Book of Law, which Hitler read and kept. Hitler was heavy into the occult.  So, were Hitler's SS and Gestopo.  Hilter also murdered Christians.  Hitler was not Christian, but actually anti-Christian or anti-Christ.

      1. aka-dj profile image65
        aka-djposted 10 years agoin reply to this

        As with scriptures, atheists here take Hitler's self declaration of being a Christian out of context.
        His actions couldn't be even remotely considered Christ-like. Perhaps his actions were more in keeping with that of the Roman Catholic church throughout history, but CERTAINLY NOT in keeping with Christ's commandments to (His) church.
        Even if he, in some twisted way, thought he was avenging the killing of Jesus, by the Jews, he has absolutely no scriptural basis to work from.
        Thanks for your comment.

        1. wilderness profile image94
          wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

          That Hitler did not agree with your concept of what a Christian is, or how Christ behaved, does not mean he was not Christian.  It is just as likely that YOU are not Christian, particularly with the bias against Catholicism.

          1. aka-dj profile image65
            aka-djposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            What defines a (true) Christian?

            If Hitler was, and I'm not, what's the difference between us, (him and me)?

            1. wilderness profile image94
              wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

              Apparently, whoever is the current speaker defines what a true Christian is.  At least, everyone seems to know, but no two agree.

              Hitler said he was, and as he was the speaker at the time, he must have been a true Christian.  You insinuate you are much different, so you must not be even though you also insinuate you ARE. 

              Such confusion, and all to make it "obvious" one person is better than another.

              1. Silverspeeder profile image60
                Silverspeederposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                Hitler was a politician

                How many times have politicians said one thing and done exactly the opposite?

            2. profile image0
              HowardBThinameposted 10 years agoin reply to this

              I don't know if there is any important difference between a Christian and a "true" Christian, save the latter likes to dictate what the former should do in order to qualify.

              According to the records, Hitler was a Christian. Not only was he Christian - he actually cited Jesus words "when he called the Pharisees children of the devil" to justify his acts against Jews.

              Perhaps even more concerning than Hitler being a Christian is the strong support he received from the Church.

              Hitler was a product of his environment. He leaned strongly on Martin Luther's beliefs. Martin Luther - the father of the Lutheran Church - remember him? Luther was extremely antisemitic and the Lutheran Church didn't denounce Luther until the 1980s.

              I don't know why anyone is surprised that Hitler was Christian. Who do you think ran the Inquisition? It's long been a tenet of the Church to punish/torture/kill those who did not believe as the Church believed.

              Sometimes, I hear people say that if Christianity were not true - it would not have spread throughout the world. What they're forgetting is that it spread at the point of a sword. Convert or die.

              That said - Christianity IS much better today - in the Western world at any rate. Most of the Old Testament is fading into obscurity and only the message of compassion and forgiveness is cited by most of today's Christians.

            3. profile image0
              Emile Rposted 10 years agoin reply to this

              Dj. Hitler may have believed himself to be Christian, but it was perverted theories of race supremacy which drove his actions. I'm afraid faulty conclusions which arose from Darwin's theories caused quite a few worldwide to commit crimes against humanity.

              1. profile image0
                Rad Manposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                So the OT contains no reference to superior races?

                1. profile image0
                  Emile Rposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  I'm not going to stoop to debate that since, whether it does, or doesn't isn't the point; although I'm not sure there is anything in there that specifically uses the term 'superior races'.

                  1. profile image0
                    Rad Manposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                    Really, The Israelites claiming that are descendants of Gods and Gods chosen people doesn't strike any chords with you?

    7. Mark Johann profile image61
      Mark Johannposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Many people even not Christians will change into a monster after having this authority and power over other people. So I think Hitler was.

    8. Don W profile image84
      Don Wposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hitler's ideology owed a lot to the notion of social darwinism. He believed that the history of the world consisted of a struggle between the different races, and that the aryans ("master race") were superior to all others.

      While it might be reasonable to suggest that the notion of social darwinism (among other influences) was warped and distorted by Hitler's own maladjusted psychology, leading to the horrific, and perverted idea of the "final solution"; I don't think it's reasonable to suggest that darwinism is responsible for Hitler's ideology and the holocaust. Ditto religion.

      1. MelissaBarrett profile image59
        MelissaBarrettposted 10 years agoin reply to this

        I think it's reasonable to suggest both were. Any idea that leads to one human being being superior to another human being for any reason, in any area, should at least come with the disclaimer that it doesn't give anyone the right to be an ass about it.

        Any revelations, spiritual or otherwise, can lead to people acting on them. It is the responsibility of the revealing party/organization/religion/philosophy to own up to that and act to prevent it.

        1. Don W profile image84
          Don Wposted 10 years agoin reply to this

          I see it quite differently. I think we blame it on Christianity, or atheism, or Darwinism, or eugenics etc. as a way of rationalising it. This rationalisation is more palatable than the alternative: that Hitler did what he did because he was a human being, and we human beings have a biological imperative to distinguish our own social group from 'others', then eradicate the others. I think that's a frightening prospect for us collectively because it highlights an underlying truth which is difficult to accept: with all our advancements, we are still struggling to overcome our biological nature. That suggests we (as a species) lack the ability to determine our own behaviour. This lack of self-determinism conflicts with the notion of self that is so pivotal to the human psyche. The idea that Hitler happened because of a combination of political power and human biological programming run amok, is truly terrifying. But it's precisely because it's so terrifying that I think we must face up to it. Hitler isn't the only example. Others (religious and not) in similar positions of political power have done the same. So I don't believe Hitler's behaviour was caused by Christianity, or atheism, or Darwinism etc. I think the holocaust is what happens when animals with the biological imperatives we have, develop to a level of complexity that gives them the ability to kill each other on an industrial scale. In rationalising that behaviour, I think we do ourselves a disservice in the long run. Because to address such behaviour, we have to first acknowledge what it is. All the while we blame such behaviour on ideas, we'll waste time trying to change people's minds, instead of doing what we need to do which, in my opinion, is to overcome human nature.

    9. Rod Rainey profile image76
      Rod Raineyposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      German children were generally reviled by their elders around the turn of the 20th century.  Kids were commonly dubbed evil “bowel movements” (just as different races were).  Mothers would often keep their babies tightly swaddled all day so they wouldn’t have to deal with them.  It was common to see tightly swaddled, living infants, soaked with piss and excrement hanging from trees while their mothers were off in the garden working.  Children were constantly beaten, kicked, burned, molested and killed.  Most Germans around this time could recall losing their brothers and sisters to infanticide by the hands of their own parents.  And it wasn’t even considered a crime. Murdered children frequently turned up in gutters and trash heaps.

      Hitler did not act alone and he did not cast a spell on his followers.  They were all products of this brutal time in history, deeply disturbed and frightened people who saw sub-human, non-Christian enemies everywhere.

      1. aka-dj profile image65
        aka-djposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        That was a very Christian lifestyle! sad

    10. profile image56
      retief2000posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hitler had long since abandoned his Catholic faith for a Germano-Centric, occult laden, paganistic, civil religion.  All the trappings of a religion but invented from the bogus Aryan mythos woven together from Tuetonic and Norse mythologies; Tacitus's veiled critique of declining Roman virtues - Germania; the cultural/political necessity of creating a unique German character; and steeped in a "natural" superiority to all the other more decadent people of the world, especially the Jews.   No different than Lenin and Stalin's new "Soviet Man" or Castro's perfect Cuba - all create their mythologies to replace the religious faith they abandon for material power.

      1. profile image0
        HowardBThinameposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        I dunno. Hitler and the Church were pretty tight.



        http://s2.hubimg.com/u/8833613_f248.jpg

        1. profile image56
          retief2000posted 9 years agoin reply to this
          1. profile image0
            Rad Manposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            That was an interesting link. I admit I didn't read it all as I'm short on time.

            Here is why I love it. It starts by saying.
            "It is true that many Catholics turned a blind eye to the Holocaust, and others remained silent out of fear for their lives and the safety of their families. There were certainly many ex-Catholic members of the ruling Nazi circles, just as there were Catholics in some numbers who supported the Nazis out of a twisted sense of nationalism, anti-Semitic beliefs, or for pure personal advancement in a corrupt and evil state."

            Then we have the BUT.

            "But what many people don't know is that the Church itself was a target of the Nazis."

            While it is true that Hitler had his plans for the Catholic church lets not attempt to make Martyrs out of those who turned a blind eye to the killings of more than 6 million people. Poor us, look how much we suffered while aligning ourselves with with Nazi party.

            1. profile image56
              retief2000posted 9 years agoin reply to this

              A freely offered opinion from ignorance is certainly worth the price. 
              Don't let the slightest effort wipe the ignorance away.  It would be a shame if you opened you eyes.

              http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/ … recnum=472

              How about a little quote:

              "The Catholic Church in Poland was especially hard hit by the Nazis. In 1939, 80 percent of the Catholic clergy and five of the bishops of the Warthegau region had been deported to concentration camps. In Wroclaw, 49.2 percent of the clergy were dead; in Chelmno, 47.8 percent; in Lodz, 36.8 percent; in Poznan, 31.1. In the Warsaw diocese, 212 priests were killed; 92 were murdered in Wilno, 81 in Lwow, 30 in Cracow, thirteen in Kielce. Seminarians who were not killed were shipped off to Germany as forced labor."

              Jews weren't the sole victims of Nazi hate.

              OR try this one:

              http://www.holocaustforgotten.com/Newsletter.htm

              and a quote:

              "Of the 11 million people killed during the Holocaust, six million were Polish citizens. Three million were Polish Jews and another three million were Polish Catholics."

              Willful ignorance is a self imposed blindness, stop being blind.

              1. profile image0
                Rad Manposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                You seemed to have missed the point. The point is the "BUT". Sure the Catholic church turned a blind eye to the killing of Jews…but…

                Who would put a but in there besides Catholics attempting to make martyrs as we know who much some Catholics love martyrs.

                1. profile image56
                  retief2000posted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  It is not the Church that turned a blind eye, it was, as it always has been and always will be, individuals.  You seem to think that the whole of the Catholic Church is made up of little cogs who turn in the direction commanded.  I did not miss the BUTT.

                  1. profile image0
                    Rad Manposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                    Okay as long as you didn't miss the But, you must have erred in your spelling there pale.

                    You are aware that the Catholic Church is led by one right? He is thought to be infallible in these matters. I do like the new one. He has recently done something remarkable in the naming of his Anti-Abuse Group. I hope this one stays safely in his Popemobile.

      2. wilderness profile image94
        wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        You forgot Constantine the Great...

        1. profile image56
          retief2000posted 9 years agoin reply to this

          In what regard?

          1. wilderness profile image94
            wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            "all create their mythologies to replace the religious faith they abandon for material power"

            The Roman emperor that "took up" Christianity by clarifying dogma and canons with the "creed of Nicaea".  The start of Christianity and church, in other words.

            1. Rod Rainey profile image76
              Rod Raineyposted 9 years agoin reply to this

              The hijacking of Christianity

              1. wilderness profile image94
                wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                Don't know about hijacking - it was the beginnings of what would become the holy scripture, after all.

            2. profile image56
              retief2000posted 9 years agoin reply to this

              Do you believe that the Council of Nicea served Constantine, your right of course, or God, the right of others to believe.  Given the great men in attendance, I would venture to say few there would place the former ahead of the latter.  The statement of faith emerging from Nicea was the work of many men, not just one.

              1. wilderness profile image94
                wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                That is correct.  The attendees at the council were great - in the affairs of man.  The politicians and bishops of today, that lived in the third century.  And those many men came together and decided what the canons of the church would be, and what the scriptures would say - their basic decisions have survived until today, with a few changes.  They basically began the Christian religion, giving it form and substance, under the guidance and demands of Constantine.

                1. profile image56
                  retief2000posted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  Less then half the story.

                  1. wilderness profile image94
                    wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                    True - it does not delve into the Gnostic "problem", which was solved by hunting down the gnostics that believed in Christ but not in the church, and killing them.  It doesn't go into the methodology of choosing books of the bible, where Constantine is said to have thrown them all onto the table; the ones that stayed were kept, those that fell onto the floor were discarded.  Kind of hard to put all the history into a short paragraph, isn't it?

    11. profile image51
      ITRYposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Like al qaeida has nothing to do with islam, neither does hitler. Extremism is called retardedness. coming from a muslim with 90 percent friends that are christians and that knows what he talking about (I like to think)

      1. profile image0
        Rad Manposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        Good for you. Don't stop. This post has my respect, not that that means a whole bunch. Muslims have been criticized for not standing up against extremists, while Christians simply deny that extremists are Christians.

        1. MelissaBarrett profile image59
          MelissaBarrettposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          Some Christians don't. There were several Christian groups that stood against WBC. It's like fighting the tide though, Christianity-like politics-is becoming more polarized. In our case, the fundamentalists are winning because they get the most press. The faith is imploding and I fear it will eventually wipe itself out. Which is a shame, because the true message of Christ had such potential to be a positive thing... until Christians got a hold of it.

          History shows that the more extreme a philosophy is, the more limited it's life span. Extremism rears up, makes a big noise, causes havoc, then dies. I believe that's what we are watching now.

          1. profile image0
            Rad Manposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            You're right, sorry. I forgot to say some Christians and Muslims.

    12. IslandBites profile image89
      IslandBitesposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I do not think Hitler actions had nothing to do with religion. But Christians have, indeed, done "murderous things, like genocide" in the name of god ... Crusades, massacre of thousands natives in the New World, African slavery, and so on.

      It does not means all christian are violent, criminals or murderers, btw.

    13. profile image51
      idealisticposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      One thing I've learned in my life is that a cause on an event, whether direct or indirect, is still a cause for an event. The difference is in in who or what is truly responsible for the event. If one man kills another man because of a dispute over a woman, then the woman is the indirect cause but the man is responsible for his actions. Now if the woman tells the man to kill another man then she can be the direct cause and bears as much responsibility as the man who obeyed. Same difference as with religion. religion has been an indirect cause  (at the very least) of people doing bad things because of individual interpretation of whatever religion is being followed based on indoctrination and/or understanding as well as a possible direct cause (If the person was in fact hearing from a God, which in itself cannot be tested). As I've often heard before, Christianity is supposed to be considered a personal relationship with God and Christ. Therefore, based on what written reports have shown, Hitler could be considered a Christian. Since he is dead (and the only one around at the time of his death considering he killed his mistress and dog prior to killing himself) we can't know what his personal relationship was at that (or any) time.

      To say that he was not a true Christian is not only a fallacy, but it is also a head in the sand approach used by a lot of Christians in an effort to not be associated with someone who may have the same belief but still did something bad. This is one big issue a lot of people have with Christianity. Instead of acknowledging that Christians can do (and have done) bad things and trying to get to the root of the bad thing to facilitate change within the religion, they instead choose to push them out and claim that they are not a true Christian. Which in and of itself goes against certain teachings in the bible as to how to treat others in general and fellow believers that may have gone astray in particular. This adds fuel to the fire as to why religion in general (and Christianity in particular) is not taken seriously. In what's supposed to be an all inclusive personal faith and religion, organized social clubs act exclusively to kick out anyone who does not agree with them.

  2. profile image0
    SirDentposted 10 years ago

    Hitler had been brought up a Catholic and was impressed by the organization and power of the Church. For Protestant clergy he felt only contempt: 'They are insignificant little people, submissive as dogs...[-] They have neither a religion you can take seriously nor a great position to defend like Rome'. It was the 'great position' of the Church that he respected; towards its teaching he showed only the sharpest hostility. In Hitler's eyes, Christianity was a religion fit only for slaves; he detested its ethics in particular. Its teaching, he declared, was a rebellion against the natural law of selection by struggle and the survival of the fittest.

    — Excerpt from Hitler a Study in Tyranny by Alan Bullock

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitler_a_Study_in_Tyranny

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Bullock

    1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
      Righteous Atheistposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      So - simply a matter of interpretation. Hitler was  Christian and detested the wishy washy version. He saw Jesus as a warrior. Christian fundamentalist really. Like you I suppose?

      1. aka-dj profile image65
        aka-djposted 10 years agoin reply to this

        Your argument breaks down, so you resort to personal, bigoted attacks.
        I thought you don't like people doing that sort of stuff!
        HMMM, I must have read many of your posts incorrectly.

        1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
          Righteous Atheistposted 10 years agoin reply to this

          Attack? I have made no such thing. Please stop lying about me - your Super Daddy will burn you for that. Odd - you sure you believe all that guff you spout?

          1. aka-dj profile image65
            aka-djposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Sorry. replied to the wrong post before.http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/1380412746_qotd1-laughing.gif

  3. aka-dj profile image65
    aka-djposted 10 years ago

    It's now past 1am where I live.
    Time for some ssslllleeeeeepp! Night all.

  4. profile image0
    Emile Rposted 10 years ago

    I suppose we could simply make it easy and say that whatever someone professes to be....they are. And, their professed cosmic stand is what causes them to act in the manner they do.

    Hitler was a Christian. Stalin, Mao, Po Pot and Kim Jong-Il were atheists. They all did a lot of damage to humanity so I don't think anyone wants to claim any of them.

  5. Chris Neal profile image78
    Chris Nealposted 9 years ago

    I haven't read all the posts, maybe the later ones disagree, but the early ones seem to all agree that Hitler was a Christian. Let me be clear, Hitler was NOT a Christian. He did NOT like Christianity. This is well documented. He WAS a liar, which is also well documented. I've studied this quite a bit, I find Nazi Germany, Nazi ideology and Hitler specifically fascinating subjects. The assertion that saying he was not a Christian is just a 'no true Scotsman' fallacy is not the result of actual knowledge of history. He tried to supplant Christianity with Naziism from before the war, when he insisted that the swastika be alongside the cross in churches and later the cross removed. Whatever he may have done in his earlier days, by the time WW II started in earnest he was no Christian and by the end of the war he was ready to literally demolish all churches.

    1. profile image54
      (Q)posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      That is true, it is well documented.

      "Hitlers Christianity"

      http://www.nobeliefs.com/Hitler1.htm

      Here are some myths regarding Hitler's Christianity:

      "Myth 1: Hitler was not a Christian "

      http://www.nobeliefs.com/hitler-myths.htm

      1. aka-dj profile image65
        aka-djposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        I see you are another one who is clueless about the difference between a Christian, and a Christian.

        I will leave you to figure out the puzzle for yourself. hmm

        1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
          Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          Yes - it is confusing. So many of you claim to be Christ like and then act the opposite. No doubt this is why your religion has caused so many genocides. sad

          1. Chris Neal profile image78
            Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            I may regret this...

            It's true that Christianity has a bloody history, but genocides? How many actual attempts to exterminate an entire ethnic group have there been? And how does this compare to genocides caused for other reasons?

            And don't even try to say Nazi genocides were motivated by Christianity. At least not unless you can produce something more trustworthy than Q did.

            1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
              Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

              Do some research before making such statements. sad

              1. Chris Neal profile image78
                Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                Did it.

                Stand by it.

                Thanks for proving my point for me. Always love when that happens.

                1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
                  Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  Aww - sorry. Making stuff up and repeating it does not prove your point. But thanks for reminding me why Christians cause so much ill will and hatred. Like Hitler did sad

                  Well done you. Yay!

                  1. Chris Neal profile image78
                    Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                    I disagree. When other people make stuff up, it proves my point quite nicely. But don't feel bad, you're not the first. It happens all the time.

      2. Chris Neal profile image78
        Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        lol

    2. Righteous Atheist profile image59
      Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hitler WAS a Christian. He DID like Christianity. He just INTERPRETED it differently to you. God Spoke to him into his head the same as happens to you. Literally demolish huh? Who knows which of you are the REAL Christians? You all say everyone else is not a real one. Must be the smallest religion in history I suppose. sad

      1. Chris Neal profile image78
        Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        No.

        No.

        And no.

        Nice try. But to even attempt to apply the No True Scotsman fallacy here is to say, "As far as I'm concerned, if some says they're a Christian then they're a Christian and there's no difference between Paul, Francis and Hitler."

        And there is. Hitler did not like Christianity. He quoted it, sure. He also said openly that the bigger the lie, the more people will believe it. Nazi theology, what there is of it, tended toward paganism. Hitler believed in reincarnation. He started a program to resurrect the 'pre-Christian Aryan Knighthood' (saw that one on a PBS documentary.) He signed legal documents to start destroying churches. He tried to supplant Christianity with Nazism within the church from the 1930's (this is well documented in the NY Times, and in the the book The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.) Anything along the lines of "Who knows which of you are the REAL Christians?" is basically another way of saying, "You're all basically the same." Which ironically is a statement Hitler would have been quite comfortable with.

        1. MelissaBarrett profile image59
          MelissaBarrettposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          As far as I'm concerned there's no difference between Paul, Francis and Hitler... as far as their chosen religion. As far as the negative/positive effects of their actions, there is a huge difference. The faith is the same, their interpretation of the faith is different. Such things happen.

          Yes, as far as the umbrella faith chosen, we all are the same. As far as what we get from our faith, EVERY SINGLE CHRISTIAN IS DIFFERENT. That doesn't mean that they aren't Christian, it just means they have their own individual take on it.

          Chris, you can't be this blind. I love you, but seriously? You can't have it both ways. You can either say that every Christian believes exactly the same way, so there really is a "True" Christian... or you can admit that every Christian gets something different than the next... in which there is no "True Christian".

          If you believe option one, then everybody gets to LEGITIMATELY stereotype all Christians together according to what YOU do, and you will be forced to agree with it. After all, you will be exactly every other Christian, therefore anything YOU do applies to all of Christianity.  If you choose option two, then stereotypes are completely unfair... even the ones you have against members of your own faith. (Both good and bad).

          You are seriously choosing the first option?

          1. Chris Neal profile image78
            Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Hitler is an entirely different subject and anyone who states that a man who's hatred of Christianity is so well known was nonetheless a Christian is the one whose eyesight needs checking.

            Relativism in this case is an excuse for evil, plain and simple. I don't make that as a blanket statement but if you can't draw the line at Hitler, you can't draw the line anywhere and we truly live in an anything goes world.

            I love you too Melissa (don't tell hubby, though, he might not understand wink ) but I've studied Hitler and Nazism since I was a kid and the fact is that credible, unbiased histories do not paint a picture of Hitler as Christian.

            1. MelissaBarrett profile image59
              MelissaBarrettposted 9 years agoin reply to this

              In general, I'm not all that fond of Christianity either, yet I still follow Christ. His other followers generally piss me off to no ends.

              And technically, many of our Christian traditions are thinly veiled pagan rituals.

              If he thought what he was doing was glorifying Christ, there you are. If you hold everyone else up to what YOU would do as a standard of Christianity... you have became the one "True" Christian. Do you see what I'm saying?

              Did he act like I would? Nope. Lots of Christians act in ways I consider morally repugnant. I'm sure lots of Christians act in ways you would find morally repugnant too. The fact is you don't know what is going on in their mind. Faith is unobservable, as is belief. If they say it, you kinda have to take their word for it... or it is judging another's heart.

              Edit: My hubby is pretty understanding about other people loving me smile I mean when you are as loved as I am, your spouse learns to adapt smile

              1. Chris Neal profile image78
                Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                Exactly. He didn't. He had the Bible rewritten to remove the Jewish influences from Jesus' story and make him a pagan war god. He declared churches illegal. He called Christianity a diseased religion. He did NOT think he was glorifying Christ.

                1. MelissaBarrett profile image59
                  MelissaBarrettposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  Actually, it sounds to me like he thought everyone's impression of Jesus was incorrect and he was trying to "right" it. That would imply that he loved his interpretation of what Christ was. Christianity IS a diseased religion. That has nothing to do with Christ though.

          2. Chris Neal profile image78
            Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            It's also worth noting at this point that the Nazi connection to pagan rites is also well documented. There are existing films of Nazi ceremonies that are blatantly and consciously patterned after Teutonic pagan fertility rituals, complete with bonfires and half-naked women being paraded in on floats.

            I will give Q some credit, at least he pulled out a 'source' that wore it's preconceptions and desire for confirmation bias on its sleeve. But honestly, if you actually look into it (and you don't have to look nearly as hard for this as you do to pull all the 'evidence' that people do to 'prove' that Hitler was Christian) it's pretty plain that Nazism in general and Hitler specifically were not Christian.

  6. softwareexpert profile image40
    softwareexpertposted 9 years ago

    are you guys unaware of the ties between Hitlar and his contemporary Islamic leaders? he admired them for their hatred of the Jews and saw great value in collaboration with them. this is hardly someone who is a follower of Christ

    Vilification through association is a tired argument. if a man driving a truck under the influence of alcohol hits and kills a child, does that mean all men who drive trucks are DUI offending child killers?

    Further, if an individual claims association with a group, that individual is not necessarily granted the association (accept from self-proclaimed antagonists of that group, of course).  Especially if said individual is apparently devoid of the core values of that group.  It is only the simple minded who accept such a claim.

    1. MelissaBarrett profile image59
      MelissaBarrettposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Conversely, if a driver operates a truck under the influence and hits a child... does that mean he never drove a truck? Or that he wasn't driving a truck at the time of the accident because it makes trucks look bad?

      1. Chris Neal profile image78
        Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        Nevertheless, even if at one time Hitler actually WAS a Christian, by the time of WW II he most definitely was not, and by the end of his life he most DEFINITELY was NOT.

        If the truck driver says, "I renounce truck driving" and actively attempts to destroy trucking companies, then it is fair to say "He was a truck driver at one time" but it is NOT fair to say "He was a truck driver his whole life."

    2. Righteous Atheist profile image59
      Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      So  no Germans involved were Christians either? Core values appear to involve burning witches, beating slaves and stoning adulteresses. Judging by the actions of Christians over the centuries. Not seeing a contradiction here. Only the simple minded could ignore history to that extent. wink

      http://www.goddiscussion.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/we-tolerate-no-one-in-our-ranks-who-attacks-the-ideas-of-christianity-our-movement-is-christian-adolf-hitler1-330x244.jpg

      1. Chris Neal profile image78
        Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        To be clear, I don't dispute that he said stuff like that. What I add is that he is also well known for disliking Christianity, telling crowds things that he knew were lies to get them on his side, and outlawing the church. I don't ignore history, I look at the whole thing. You said I should do the research, I have. And I site reputable sources.

        1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
          Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          Most Christians claim to dislike Christianity. Outlawed the Church? lol lol Funniest lie you have repeated yet.

          1. Chris Neal profile image78
            Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Not a lie. But the easiest way to divert attention is to call the truth a lie. Every time I try to treat you like an adult, you certainly don't reciprocate.

            Bye Bye, lie lie.

            1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
              Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

              Show me the evidence that Hitler outlawed the church.

              1. aka-dj profile image65
                aka-djposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                Why ask?
                You will find some excuse to reject it, anyway.
                http://constitutionalistnc.tripod.com/h … t/id2.html

                1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
                  Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  So - nothing about outlawing the Church then? sad

          2. Chris Neal profile image78
            Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Hitler said that Nazism was a secular ideology founded on science.[23] In a diary entry of 28 December 1939, Joseph Goebbels wrote that "the Fuhrer passionately rejects any thought of founding a religion. He has no intention of becoming a priest. His sole exclusive role is that of a politician."[24] In Hitler's political relations dealing with religion he readily adopted a strategy "that suited his immediate political purposes."[25]
            Christianity remained the dominant religion in Germany through the Nazi period, and its influence over Germans displeased the Nazi hierarchy. Evans wrote that Hitler believed that in the long run National Socialism and religion would not be able to co-exist, and stressed repeatedly that Nazism was a secular ideology, founded on modern science: "Science, he declared, would easily destroy the last remaining vestiges of superstition". Germany could not tolerate the intervention of foreign influences such as the Pope and "Priests, he said, were 'black bugs', 'abortions in black cassocks'".[23]



            That's from the Wikipedia.

            And most Christians express that they don't like the church. Not the same thing.

            1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
              Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

              So claiming that he outlawed the church was untrue then?

              1. Chris Neal profile image78
                Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                No.

                Do you find such jumps comforting or do you really think you can so easily take me off guard?

                1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
                  Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  I see nothing in that about him having outlawed the church.

                  Save me a seat by the fire, wink

                  1. Chris Neal profile image78
                    Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                    You'll be there by yourself.

                    Well, not by yourself, but I won't be there.

                    If only you were as clever as you think you are...

        2. profile image0
          Rad Manposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          Hmmmmm, are you saying sometimes Christians knowing dislike other Christians? They tell crowds things they know are lies to get them on their side. Kinda like those Westboro Baptist Church people?

          1. Chris Neal profile image78
            Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            No, what I'm saying is that Hitler was not a Christian. The large body of evidence points to that. Westboro is a different discussion, I'm staying on point for this forum (for once.)

            1. profile image0
              Rad Manposted 9 years agoin reply to this

              So he called himself a Christian, but wanted some modifications to the Roman Catholic Church. Sound like every non Catholic Christian out there. I liken it to the Muslims who are now saying that Einstein was a Muslim and he used his Quran as information for relativity.

              To be fair hatred for Jews was taught in school at least in Italy. They blamed the Jews for the death of Jesus so they saw the Jews as enemies. I know this because my father outlaw was in school in Italy during the war and I've spoken to many 1 generation Canadian Italians who have told me the same, all Catholics BTW. Are you saying none of those Catholics were Christians because they hated the Jewish people?

              1. Chris Neal profile image78
                Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                Anti-Semitism had been fashionable in Europe for most of the 19th Century. I'm not talking about that. That's an entire discussion in itself.

                If by modifications you mean complete destruction and utter repudiation, I guess you would have a point. But no matter what anyone says, I find it difficult to call someone a Christian who's hatred of Christianity is so well known.

                1. profile image0
                  Rad Manposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  It's my understanding that his plan for the RCH was to overhaul it's hierarchy. How many of us wouldn't want to do that. Christians come in all shapes and sizes. Are you aliening yourself with that real Christian group? Do you get to decide that Catholics aren't Christians because they hold onto symbols of Jesus? Sorry, you don't get to exclude people from Christianity because you don't like their thinking. I brought up the anti-Semitism as a way of showing you that one can an anti-semite and still be a Christian, one may not be a good Christian or good people, but they may feel they are right as you do.

                  1. Chris Neal profile image78
                    Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                    Read the Wikipedia. He didn't want to overhaul, he wanted to eliminate.

                    As for the part about outlawing the church, aka-dj did link to an article that referred to another link. I actually had that link, but it was three years ago and it's been taken down since then. It was for Rutgers Review of Religion and Law (or some title like that, but it was Rutgers University.) So I have to wait until I can get to the library and check out the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich.

                    Previous to the war, and in the early days of the war, Hitler wanted to reorganize the Catholic church. He wanted to do the same to Protestant churches. His goal was the eventual elimination of same. I don't keep saying it over and over again just to hear myself talk, he hated Christianity. Read the Wikipedia.

                  2. profile image56
                    retief2000posted 9 years agoin reply to this

                    It is clear, however, that Hitler's Aryan, occultist, pagan Germano-Christianity was at odds with the fundamental teachings of the Catholic Church despite his having been baptized and raised Catholic.  It is quite interesting to me to read anyone claim that the Catholic Church is not Christian, that is rather ahistorical.

    3. profile image56
      retief2000posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and the Muslim Brotherhood(yes they were in existence) raised a couple of SS Divisions for the Nazis.  I guess the enemy of my enemy and all.

  7. aka-dj profile image65
    aka-djposted 9 years ago

    If Hitler was such a "good" Christian, where, in the Bible, did he get "instruction" to hate, and ultimately (try to) destroy the Jews?

    My Bible says that the believer is to BLESS Israel, not hate it (her).

    1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
      Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      As I understand it - he had a personal relationship with Jesus. He didn't get his religion out of a book like you do. wink

      Who says he was a "good," Christian - you sure you are not making that up again? Because I think your Super Daddy will burn you for that - according to your bible that is. Have you actually bothered reading it? wink

      1. aka-dj profile image65
        aka-djposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        You must have missed this.

        My Bible says that the believer is to BLESS Israel, not hate it (her).

        1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
          Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          Israel. Not Jews. Your bible says to kill homosexuals as well. As I said - Hitler had a personal relationship - not religion from a book as you do. I suggest you go read the rest of it as well. sad

          1. aka-dj profile image65
            aka-djposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Personal relationship is the LAST thing he had.

            1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
              Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

              So - you reject the idea of personal relationships with Jesus. Interesting. Seems to me this is somewhat contradicting your own claims.

              1. aka-dj profile image65
                aka-djposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                No.
                I just question (reject) Hitler's alleged one.

                1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
                  Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  I see -Interesting how that works. Seems to me his actions fit very nicely with what the bible says.

                  "If your own full brother, or your son or daughter, or your beloved wife, or you intimate friend, entices you secretly to serve other gods, whom you and your fathers have not known, gods of any other nations, near at hand or far away, from one end of the earth to the other: do not yield to him or listen to him, nor look with pity upon him, to spare or shield him, but kill him.  Your hand shall be the first raised to slay him; the rest of the people shall join in with you.  You shall stone him to death, because he sought to lead you astray from the Lord, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.  And all Israel, hearing of this, shall fear and never do such evil as this in your midst. "

                  Did god tell you into your head who has/had a relationship with him or are you judging for yourself?

                  1. aka-dj profile image65
                    aka-djposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                    I'm sure you've heard of this one.

                    John 3;16
                    For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
                    17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
                    18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
                    19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
                    20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
                    21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

  8. wmhoward4 profile image65
    wmhoward4posted 9 years ago

    The is a documentary called "The Occult History of the Third Reich" It gives significant evidence that the Nazi leadership, including Hitler practice Pagan rituals and were driven by these supersticians. The Nazi's were actually hostile to Christianity and worked to purge it from Germany.

    1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
      Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      lol lol

      http://www.goddiscussion.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/we-tolerate-no-one-in-our-ranks-who-attacks-the-ideas-of-christianity-our-movement-is-christian-adolf-hitler1-330x244.jpg

      1. Chris Neal profile image78
        Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        And you're accusing me of parroting? Why does Hitler having said something at one time make him a Christian?

        Oh yeah, because you say so.

        1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
          Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          Sorry if the facts upset you. Not really my problem.

          1. Chris Neal profile image78
            Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            The facts don't upset me at all. When you get a few, let me know.

            1. aka-dj profile image65
              aka-djposted 9 years agoin reply to this

              Ha ha ha. lol

              Good one. Wish I came up with that one!

              1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
                Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                How very Christian of you. wink

            2. Righteous Atheist profile image59
              Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

              What would be the point exactly? You will pretend they don't exist and get all upset again. sad

              1. Chris Neal profile image78
                Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                Really? Confirmation bias ill becomes you.

                I haven't gotten upset with you.

                In any case, I said I would provide the info from Rise and Fall of the Third Reich when I can get to the library and check it out. It's on a specific page. I used to have the link that aka-dj referenced, but Rutgers took it down. Still, the archived NY Times article did reference it.

                1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
                  Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  Yet still there was no mention of Hitler having outlawed the Church. Guess you didn't bother reading that either. I expected no more than that from you, but it does prove you have saved yourself a seat by the fire. Rutgers does tend to remove content that has been proven to be false.

                  Confirmation bias definitely suits you. wink

                  1. Chris Neal profile image78
                    Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                    I said that it's in the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. A book. That I need to get from the library.

                    That you ignore that simple fact in order to make a point that doesn't actually exist but you are just dying to be true does not surprise me. Disappoint, yes. I would really rather you act like the adult you claim to be. I have read it in there but I don't own my own copy.

                    I take it back. Confirmation bias seems to be your main source of support.

                    smile

  9. profile image0
    Motown2Chitownposted 9 years ago

    I've been reading through this thread since its inception and the back and forth is almost exhausting.

    There are simple facts that cannot be denied here:

    1) Hitler was baptized and raised as a Roman Catholic.
    2) He voluntarily read Scripture, and supported his actions with passages, as he interpreted them.
    3) He wove his personal philosophy and beliefs tapestry from strings taken from just about everywhere; philosophy, religion, the occult, etc.

    Now, here's where I always see Christians run into problems.  In my experience, the average Evangelical Protestant Christian carries some fairly skewed opinions.  They include the mistaken beliefs that:

    1) Roman Catholics are not Christians.
    2) Anyone who interprets differently from the way they do, or their pastors do, is in grievous error.
    3) A belief system, to be titled Christian, must carry absolutely no influence, tradition, or education outside of the Bible.

    Here are some of the problems I see with these particular facts/beliefs.

    First, Roman Catholics are indeed Christians.  Their baptism makes them such.  Sadly for those of you who wish to deny Hitler's Christianity, the Church does indeed keep a sacraments record for all of us baptized Catholic.  My baptism, confirmation, entrance into, and exit from, the convent, and my marriage are all recorded in the Church.  On one handy dandy little record.  That hasn't come into practice in this century.  As long as I am aware, the Church has recorded those things.  So, like it or not, there is indeed a paper record that states Hitler was a Christian.

    Second, if you can read a bible, you can interpret a verse.  That interpretation may differ widely from others you've seen or heard, but to you, it's absolutely true and correct.  That, in my limited experience, can be seen among those who read the bible as a spiritual record of Christ and God's love AND among those who read/study it as a purely academic endeavor.

    Lastly, the saddest truth of all is that it is rarely a person's ACTIONS that define their faith.  Rather it is what they SAY and what people choose to hear.  Anyone aware of the fact that murder is wrong in the secular moral order as well as in just about every religious tradition, would be hard pressed to say that Hitler's actions were acceptable or justifiable by ANY stretch of the imagination, whether through his own personal, religious interpretation or a simple humanistic approach.

    So, Christians, like it or not...he was IN NAME a Christian.  To those of you who argue that his Christianity is what motivated his actions, I would certainly offer a different opinion.  His personal psychosis is what did that.  Sadly, like a bazillion people before him and since, that personal psychosis may have been nurtured in part by the religion he was exposed to in his developing years.  It certainly wasn't the simple religion of love God, love your neighbor that Christ taught and espoused, and in my opinion, if you have to complicate a religion beyond that, it just ain't worth trying to practice.  The way I see it, Jesus came to make it really THAT simple.  We seem insistent on making it as convoluted as it was for the Jews in the Old Testament. 

    Who's got time for that?

    *Edit:  As an aside, though Hitler was, in name, a Christian, he had no deep love for the Church (not just Roman Catholic, but as a whole).  He did indeed persecute and kill men and women from all walks of life.  People like Corrie ten Boom - a devout Christian woman whose family was imprisoned for hiding Jews - and numerous priests and religious for standing against him.  At the end of the day, if you didn't ask how high when he said jump, you were guaranteed an eventual trip to the gas chamber or appointment with a firing squad - Christian, Jew, Pagan, atheist, man, woman, child, homosexual, heterosexual - none of that mattered.  He MADE himself God, and like many rulers of the past, he convinced the world that his directive and authority had come from God himself.  Lots of people might have stood against him as a human ruler, but who was willing to question the will of GOD?  That doesn't make him Christian so much as it makes him a highly intelligent masterful manipulator.

    1. profile image0
      MysticMoonlightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      You're amazing, Mo. Really. Amazing. Your 'it is what it is' approach deserves the upmost respect, in my opinion. None of the 'yeah, but' mumbo jumbo. Straightforward, honest, and without the unfair or obvious slanted bias that is often so prominent in those sometimes looking to create loopholes or blot out what's ugly...we can all certainly learn a lot from you. You're awesomeness does NOT go unnoticed, woman! I think I love you wink

      1. profile image0
        Motown2Chitownposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        Aww, Mystic, that's unbelievably kind and uplifting.  Thank you!  I just don't see the sense in denial.  The kicking and screaming gets us nowhere, IMO.  And, when it comes down to it, it seems to me that regardless of what this one man was or wasn't, what matters most is what do we do to keep from becoming like him?  Spend more time worrying about that, and the rest becomes what it is - the ugly past that leads us to a much more beautiful present and future.

        big_smile

        1. profile image0
          MysticMoonlightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          Hear, hear! I do not think anyone should really care what religion/non-religion, etc. Hitler was or claimed to be...he was evil, he did evil things to human beings, atrocities that boggles the mind. He was a sick, sick and disturbed man that, sadly and unfortunately, was excellent at convincing others to follow and support his agenda. That's the fact of it. Period. *Steps down from soapbox*

          1. profile image56
            retief2000posted 9 years agoin reply to this

            I will only disagree with your assessment in one regard, Hitler wasn't sick.  Evil is a willful action, sickness is involuntary.

            1. profile image0
              Motown2Chitownposted 9 years agoin reply to this

              On one hand, I'll go with you here.  I believe that most evil actions are committed by choice.  I think, however, that in many, there is a fundamental incapacity to recognize or care that one's actions may be evil, provided they help to further the evil one's ideals and goals.  For lack of a better word, there is something inside a person who chooses to do the unspeakable evils that Hitler did that simply cannot keep up the wall between what is right and wrong.  Does that make sense?

            2. profile image0
              MysticMoonlightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

              Yes, sick as in his actions and agendas was morbid. Disturbing. Disgusting. Repulsive. Sickening.

    2. Chris Neal profile image78
      Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      What I say has nothing at all to do Roman Catholicism. Please don't get bogged down in that. I don't say Catholics aren't Christians and I have not said that. It's entirely to do with Hitler's well-documented dislike of Christianity and belief in reincarnation and desire to take Germany back to a pre-Christian, pagan era and outlaw and destroy churches.

      As I've said, relativism in this case is an excuse for evil. I won't deny that I would not like for Hitler to be Christian, but in this case it's not about confirmation bias. I'm after the truth and it's solidly on my side.

      And if you can't draw the line at Hitler, truly you won't draw the line anywhere.

      1. profile image0
        Motown2Chitownposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        Chris, I in no way meant to imply that Catholicism is the issue.  I made the points I did specifically about his perversion of scripture to, unfortunately, claim him as a Christian.  The issue isn't now, nor has it EVER been, what label he chose to wear.  The issue is what he chose to do, and how he attempted to justify those actions.  I was speaking to ALL of the people who insist that they know and understand a man whose actions were so despicable that there is simply no way to excuse or explain them.  Atheists are right when they say he was a Christian.  He was.  Whether he exhibited Christlike behavior (ultimately THE mark of a Christian or not) is not on question.  He did not.  I also made it clear that his psychopathic hatred made anyone and everyone a target to him, as long as they had the nerve to breathe a single word of opposition. 

        While you don't claim to paint Catholicism with broad strokes, neither do I attempt to paint all Evangelical Protestant Christians that way.  If that's all you got from that post, read it a few more times because you missed pretty much every point I was making.

        *Edit:  And just as FYI, you will rarely see me in defense of the Roman Catholic Church.  I don't feel a need to defend my chosen denomination of Christianity, because I am more than well aware of why I chose it, and it has not failed me in those areas.  There is only ONE thing that will ever cause me anger, and when that subject is brought up in any religious conversation, I choose NOT to respond, simply because I am all to conscious of my likelihood to stray from Christian behavior while discussing said issue.

        1. Chris Neal profile image78
          Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          I think where we really disagree is in the area of self-labellng. If I understand you correctly, you're saying that because he called himself a Christian, he was a Christian. I'm saying that although he did say that, he also said other things when crowds weren't there. He did not consider himself a Christian, and he wasn't one.

          Most of the atheists who care enough to post here pretty much have their axe to grind.

          1. profile image0
            Motown2Chitownposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            I'm saying only that he was validly baptized in a Christian church and raised as a Christian.  I also said that his actions did not in any way reflect the faith in which he was raised.  I also said his philosophy/belief structure was pulled from any and everywhere and bastardized to meet his own objectives. 

            In the end, it all comes down to whether a person has the integrity to act the way their faith dictates that they should.  He was not Christlike.  He was, however, a Christian.  So is Jimmy Swaggart.  Jim Bakker.  So is the man who shoots and kills an abortion doctor.

            It's a label.  Whether I apply it to myself, or someone else does, it doesn't reflect my thoughts or beliefs unless I make it so.  He did not.

            Really, though, read through the post again. I thought I'd explained it well enough.  *shrugs*

      2. profile image0
        MysticMoonlightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        Hello Chris. Please, if you don't mind, when you said, "It's entirely to do with Hitler's well-documented dislike of Christianity and belief in reincarnation and desire to take Germany back to a pre-Christian, pagan era and outlaw and destroy churches." what is it exactly that you mean here? Also, what is the "It's"? Thanks so much.

        1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
          Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          It is very, very important that he proves Hitler was not a christian, despite the facts that prove otherwise. Like many christians, Hitler claimed to hate the established church and wanted to impose his own interpretation. It is more a question of interpretation than anything else. There is no question that Hitler was christian and so was most of the country at the time. But facts are not something Mr Neal is bothered with. The truth is of no concern either. sad

          Most christians seem to dislike christianity so I don't see how that has any bearing on anything.

          Many christians also believe in reincarnation and angels having sex with humans. Some of them also believe lots of other nonsense. Believing nonsense does not automatically get you booted from the club. Lets be honest - this is the basis of this religion anyway so I don't see how that makes Hitler a non-christian.

          Christianity was copied from previous Pagan religions also so I don't see how that has any bearing on whether or not he was a christian either.

          Mr Neal claims that Hitler outlawed churches as well - this is utter nonsense with no bearing in reality.

          1. Chris Neal profile image78
            Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Wrong.

            Wrong.

            Wrong.

            And wrong.


            You say some interesting things though. Where do you get the statistic that "most Christians  seem to dislike Christianity?"

            And how many, as near as you can get the figures, are "many christians" who "believe in angels having sex with humans"?

            Although there is little doubt that many Christian practices are copied from "previous Pagan religions" Christianity itself is not. Still, it would be interesting to get your facts on that.

            I understand that it is very, very important to you to prove that Hitler was a Christian, despite the facts proving otherwise. "Hating the church" is peripheral. Hating Christianity is not.

            Impatience on your part is not the same as being correct.

            I know that it's so much easier to say something than to prove it, but I'm not letting you slide on that. Facts matter in the truth, even if they don't to you. wink

            1. EncephaloiDead profile image55
              EncephaloiDeadposted 9 years agoin reply to this

              I haven't seen you present any facts as yet. Where are your sources? Or, are we just going on your word?

              Hitler said a great many things about Christianity and religion, but the facts show he was a religious man and believed in God along the same lines as his Catholic mother raised him. He publicly described himself as a Catholic even though he didn't agree with its central teachings

              Hitler abolished atheist and free thinking groups, but did not abolish the Church or Christianity.

              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitler_religion

              1. Chris Neal profile image78
                Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                The funny thing is, that's exactly the same article I've referenced in support of my views.

                1. profile image0
                  Motown2Chitownposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  And herein lies the problem.  Two views, one article that seemingly supports them both.  Again, one's claim to be a Christian, or the claim of others that one is such, doesn't ensure Christlike behavior from the individual in question.

                  1. Chris Neal profile image78
                    Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                    I agree with you both about the article and about that one's claims to be Christian don't ensure Christ-like behavior.

                    I know I come off as kind of rigid about this even to people who aren't hell-bent on 'proving' Hitler's Christianity, but Hitler is a special case. I wouldn't be like this about John Shelby Spong. It's that Hitler, although he was baptized, had a very real hatred for and disavowal of Christianity.

                2. EncephaloiDead profile image55
                  EncephaloiDeadposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  Then, you would have seen in that very article the sources that say Hitler was a religious man and his religion was Christianity.

                  Perhaps, your aversion to Hitler having the same religion as you is not so much based in fact but more in personal emotion?

                  We see plenty of people right here on these forums who call themselves Christians but don't act or behave in any Christ-like ways at all, quite the contrary in fact. It's no stretch of the imagination to accept the fact Hitler was a Christian, too, considering just how hypocritical others are by calling themselves Christians.

                  1. Chris Neal profile image78
                    Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                    No, it's based on a more thorough study of history and  the facts. I don't deny that the church has a bloody history. I would vastly prefer that it didn't.

            2. Righteous Atheist profile image59
              Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

              Sorry simply saying "wrong" when I am in fact right is not helping. Hitler clearly was a Christian. Odd that you have chosen not to provide evidence to the contrary. I have provided more than enough evidence that Hitler was a christian. He simply interpreted it differently to you and hated the wishy washy version of christianity. He saw christ as a warrior - not a victim like you seem to want to be.

              Still waiting for you to prove your claim that Hitler outlawed the church. Any time.

              Your god does still throw those in the lake of fire - right?

              1. Chris Neal profile image78
                Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                Um, until you actually provide evidence that Hitler was a Christian, you're no better than you say I am. Besides, I have provided the evidence, you choose not to accept it.

          2. profile image0
            MysticMoonlightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            I'm just wondering if Chris is so desperate to prove Hitler is not a Christian, that he wants to label Hitler Pagan, which, in turn, would then make Hitler's atrocious behavior and actions suddenly understandable then, if he were a pagan? A type of, 'Well, no wonder! That explains, everything!' type of mindset? Pawn him on the pagans because (some) Christians don't want to claim him? Grasping at straws? I do hope he isn't throwing pagans under the bus just to distance his own religion from the hideousness that was Hitler. I don't know if this is where he was heading in his previous statement that I questioned him about, he hasn't gotten back with me on that yet. I do hope this isn't the case. But I'm also not sure he would want to plainly say such if it is true, which is understandable due to the fact that he would then be doing to another religion what he obviously does not like being done to his own.

            1. Chris Neal profile image78
              Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

              No. It's not about labeling Hitler as anything. It's about the truth, and the truth is that Hitler was not a Christian. What he was is difficult to define.

    3. profile image56
      retief2000posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hear, Hear!

  10. softwareexpert profile image40
    softwareexpertposted 9 years ago

    At the end of the day, Hitler was an expert propagandist.  Claiming God was on his side was a clever part of promoting his evil cause, or perhaps he was delusional enough to believe it himself.  Regardless, only those seeking to oppose God would attempt to bring credence to Hitler's claim.

    It is very common for people to attempt to tie Hitler to their apologetic opponent.  Conservatives cite his socialist/fascist claims, liberals remind us of his capitalistic traits.  Atheists cite his catholic mother, Christians his admiration of Islam. In the end, Hitler wore many conflicting masks in his effort to convince the world to adopt him as it's totalitarian ruler.

    It is foolish and self-serving when, in the place of any substantive argument, effort is made to attach Hitler to one's opposition.

    1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
      Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I am confused. How can one "oppose" a non existent entity?

  11. profile image0
    SirDentposted 9 years ago

    William Shirer wrote that "under the leadership of Rosenberg, Bormann and Himmler, who were backed by Hitler, the Nazi regime intended to destroy Christianity in Germany, if it could, and substitute the old paganism of the early tribal Germanic gods and the new paganism of the Nazi extremists.

    In an 8 April 1941 entry, Goebbels wrote "He hates Christianity, because it has crippled all that is noble in humanity.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_i … ristianity

    1. EncephaloiDead profile image55
      EncephaloiDeadposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, Goebbels wrote that, but Goebbels was the Minister of Propaganda.

      1. Silverspeeder profile image60
        Silverspeederposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        "To whom should propaganda be addressed? … It must be addressed always and exclusively to the masses… The function of propaganda does not lie in the scientific training of the individual, but in calling the masses' attention to certain facts, processes, necessities, etc., whose significance is thus for the first time placed within their field of vision. The whole art consists in doing this so skilfully that everyone will be convinced that the fact is real, the process necessary, the necessity correct, etc. But since propaganda is not and cannot be the necessity in itself … its effect for the most part must be aimed at the emotions and only to a very limited degree at the so-called intellect… it's soundness is to be measured exclusively by its effective result". (Main Kampf, Vol 1, Ch 6 and Ch 12)

      2. Chris Neal profile image78
        Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        And you think Goebbels wrote what Hitler did not tell him to?

  12. profile image0
    Emile Rposted 9 years ago

    Whether Hitler was a Christian or not. I'm curious. Does anyone believe Christianity drove him to commit the crimes against humanity? Since I don't think so, I don't see where his religion is important.

    1. MelissaBarrett profile image59
      MelissaBarrettposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I think he was bat**** crazy and that caused him to do the things he did. I still think he was a Christian.

      For me, the only reason it matters is the tendency of Christians to believe that no one who is a Christian can do anything bad. If they do, then they aren't a Christian. I think that there are people who are driven to do awful things by their religion. I think by saying "Oh, he wasn't a Christian." that removes any responsibility to self-regulate your own faith/denomination.

      It's basically "Oh yeah the Bible says that adulterous women should be stoned to death, but that person who stoned that adulterous woman to death clearly wasn't a Christian." Instead of saying "Yeah, that passage that is in the Bible about stoning adulterous women, when we teach that we might want to do something about the possibility that someone will stone an adulterous woman to death."

      1. JMcFarland profile image69
        JMcFarlandposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        Not only that,  but it's not like Hitler targeting Jews,  gays and others was really all that different from the historical reality of the Catholic Church,  which made a practice of condemning anyone who disagreed with the doctrine of the church for heresy.   Unless all historical Catholics are not Christians either,  which I have also seen numerous people claim.

        Martin Luther,  the spark of the Protestant reformation was notoriously anti semitic,  and several early church fathers were as well.

        1. Chris Neal profile image78
          Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          For me, it really isn't about "Christians can't do anything bad." I think those who have truly engaged with me know me better than that. Not coincidentally, I do see some people here who seem to believe that anything bad that a person has done can be blamed on  their Christianity. Not everyone seems to think that, but there's one in particular who seems to believe that pretty fiercely.

          I may be missing something, but I think for a lot of people, simply calling yourself a Christian at any point in your life for any reason means your stuck with it for life and therefor lumped in. I'm not just talking about Mo, I think I understand her a little better now. I try very hard not to make snap judgements about who is a Christian and who isn't, and to take seriously Jesus' admonition that it's not my job to decide who goes to Heaven and who doesn't. But Hitler is so totally on record as disliking Christianity, and wanting to take Germany back to a 'pre-Christian' time before Christianity 'polluted' Germany. I've seen the films of Nazi rallies that were patterned after pagan fertility rituals.

          You're quite correct that the persecution of different groups was not out of line with a lot of church teaching at that time, or even historically. It's also true that pagan groups did the same. For what it's worth, that's the way people behaved. Anti-Semitism was a fashionable intellectual position in the late 19th Century, which was one of the impetus' for the Zionist movement.

      2. profile image0
        Emile Rposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        I can understand why someone would say he wasn't Christian. We are defined more by how we act, than what we say. People lie.

        If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck does it get to be labeled a swan because it claims to be one?

        I don't think Hitler is a case of people saying he wasn't a 'true' Christian. I think it's a case of saying no Christian in their right mind would act that way. Which is fair. A Christian is only human and no human in their right mind would have done what he did.

        I don't see it any differently from atheists scrambling to distance themselves from Stalin. You can't force people to pretend that the actions of one person define an entire group of loosely connected people.

        1. profile image0
          Rad Manposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          With one distinct difference. Atheists don't say Stalin wasn't a true Atheist. We understand that anyone from any faith can let power corrupt their mind. What these leaders of countries such as Japan, North Korea and former Soviet Union do is to try to get rid of religion so that the people will worship them as a God.

          1. profile image0
            Emile Rposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Hmm. I don't know that Hitler was worshipped as a god. But, atheists do get quite out of sorts when insisting that atheism had nothing to do with the crimes against humanity perpetrated by atheistic regimes. So, I do wonder about the amount of time they spend arguing that Hitler was a Christian. I don't see that it matters.

            It would certainly matter if all nations which were majority Christian backed the Nazi ideals, but they didn't. Correct me of I am wrong, but nations led by Christians joined forces with nations led by atheists to defeat Hitler. Religion doesn't appear to be a motivating factor for the alliance. Nor, can it be argued to have been a motivating factor of the Axis powers.

            So, again, I have to point out the pointless nature of attempting to pin a religious label on der fuhrer.

            1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
              Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

              Odd you spend so much time on it in in that case. wink Did you not notice it was a religionist started this thread in order to make the claim that Hitler was not a Christian - why is that do you think?

              And what do you think was the motivating factor in attempting to wipe put a religious group? As you reject Hitler's claims that he was doing god's work.

              Just so we are clear - Hitler claimed to be a christian doing the work of god. Most of the country was openly christian. He made an alliance with the christian churches (both versions) and used christian rhetoric to garner support. Then most of the people loading jews into the gas chambers were self professed christians.

              http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Nazi_Germany

              The motto of the german army was "god with us." In fact - without the support of both churches, it is unlikely he would have come ti power and been able to do what he did. Here is actual footage of Hitler invoking God to stir up the masses of christians.

              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StaPF5qqFDk

              Yet you think religion was incidental and unimportant. Why?

              1. profile image0
                Emile Rposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                I think religion was incidental because it usually is. In the West. You can claim he had the support of the church, but we both know what happened to those in the church who openly disagreed. Exactly what happened to those outside of the church who openly disagreed.

                I do realize this thread was started by a Christian. I have no idea what motivated dj to start it. All I'm saying is this is a fabricated reason to argue over religion, primarily because Hitler said lots of things which could mean lots of things on the subjects of religion, the church, the protestant faith and the Jewish people.

                Pinning anything on him definitively is very difficult. I think maybe we all attempt to distance ourselves because it helps us believe we could never have been involved in such as that but the truth is that ordinary people suffering difficult times were involved. We know,.deep down, we can make no such claims. We are not above doing stupid sh#t without thinking it through; to the detriment of our fellow man.

                1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
                  Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  I think it is important to understand these things in order to prevent them from happening in the future.

                  The church was in a position to actually do something about it. They did nothing.

                  All you have said is that religion was not a motivator and you don't really know what was, but you are certain religion wasn't it. You have no suggestions as to what was the motivator? No opinion of your own? How odd that you are so certain that religion is incidental. Was it incidental in Northern Ireland? Was it incidental in California when they banned gay marriage by a vote?

                  No opinion of your own? sad

                  1. profile image0
                    Emile Rposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                    Let me ask you this. If religion was a motivator for the Germans, we must also assume it was a motivator for the resistance. If religion drove the genocide, then religion fought against it.

                    What of China and Russia? They fought with us against Hitler. They were also guilty of crimes against humanity. We can't say religion drove their actions.

                    WWII isn't assumed to have been a religious conflict. Personally, i think the short and shallow answer is the European mindset of the time. Most of your countries were imperialistic. The glory of Rome was mirrored in the glory of England when the ruled a large chunk of the world. Many European countries had puppet governments in Africa and the Middle East. Germany had been beaten down hard in WWI and they simply dreamed of becoming a power ala the English model.

  13. rocketjsqu profile image75
    rocketjsquposted 9 years ago

    It seems that whether Hitler was a Christian or not is a very debatable subject.

    It also seems that a definition of what a Christian is may be useful.

    My understanding of what makes a person a Christian is somewhat simple...but first let's clearly define some things that do not qualify someone as a Christian; 1.)...an affiliation with a particular Christian church (I.e....Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, etc) does not make you a Christian simply through association or membership. 2.) ...your profession that you are in support of the religious beliefs of one the so called Christian churches does not make you a Christian. 3.) ...your self proclamation that you are in fact a Christian, does not make you a Christian.

    O.K.  So what makes you a Christian...

    A Christian is someone: a.) Who acknowledges and recognizes that we live in a sinful world and that God himself is the ultimate judge in what constiutes sinful behavior.  b.) Who acknowledges Jesus Christ as the son of God (thus CHRISTian) and that through his death the penalty for sinful behavior has been paid. c.) Whose behavior after accepting Jesus Christ as their personal savior will reflect a manifestatation of their beliefs in action.  Simply believing and testifying the merits of Jesus are not enough, you must turn away from sinful behavior and at the very least attempt to live a more santified and holy life.

    If this discribes Hitler, then I guess yes he was a Christian. 

    I am no expert on Christianity or on Hitler, but I would venture to say Hitler was not a Christian.  Did he associate himself with a particular religious doctrine, possibly.  Did he publicly profess that he was supporting or affilitated with a particular Church, possibly.  Neither of which “makes” him a Christian.

    However I sincerely doubt he recognized and or proclamed Jesus as the Son of God or accredited him with his salvation from sin.

    As far as the inference that “Christians do murderous things, like genocide.”  I would again reference the definition of Christian as an explanation.  Are Christians perfect?  NO!  Do Christians make mistakes? Yes.  Is it possible Christians could or have done bad things in the name of good? Yes.  Does this mean that ALL Christians past, present, and future are evil and personally responsible for others who call themselves by that name?  ABSOLUTELY NOT!

    1. wilderness profile image94
      wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      "you must turn away from sinful behavior and at the very least attempt to live a more santified and holy life."

      Who gets to define what sinful behavior is and what a sanctified or holy life is?  You?  There are at least three people currently on the forums claiming that god speaks directly to them - one of those?

      1. rocketjsqu profile image75
        rocketjsquposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        Every society has certain standards by which we hold ourselves accountable.  If you choose to live within the boundaries of a community within that society, you choose to hold yourself accountable for those standards.  If you violate those standards you suffer the consequences set up by the ruling authority as a penalty for "breaking the rules".

        The community of God is no different.  God ultimately is the judge.  We are personally accountable to God, and God alone for our behavior.

        Do your research...gather whatever information you have available within your means and decide for yourself what it means to live a "holy and sanctified" life according to God's standard. 

        Whether I or someone else judges your behavior as right or wrong is of no consequence when compared to Gods ultimate judgement.  Only He can offer the everlasting reward for your decisions to accept or reject His standards.

        1. wilderness profile image94
          wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          You've just said that anyone declaring that they have studied the question and are living a "holy and sanctified" life is a Christian.  Yet you made it very clear earlier that all people doing that are NOT Christian. 

          Which is correct?

          1. rocketjsqu profile image75
            rocketjsquposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Forgive me for any confusion I may have caused.
            Please allow me to clarify...
            A person who simply "declares" they are a Christian without making any effort to identify and abide by Gods standards is not a Christian.  A person who is trying to live a “holy and sanctified life” without acknowledging Jesus Christ as justification for their sins is not a Christian. 
            A Christian is someone: a.) Who acknowledges and recognizes that we live in a sinful world and that God himself is the ultimate judge in what constitutes sinful behavior.  b.) Who acknowledges Jesus Christ as the son of God (thus CHRISTian) and that through his death the penalty for sinful behavior has been paid. c.) Whose behavior after accepting Jesus Christ as their personal savior will reflect a manifestation of their beliefs in action.  Simply believing and testifying the merits of Jesus are not enough, you must turn away from sinful behavior and at the very least attempt to live a more sanctified and holy life.

    2. Righteous Atheist profile image59
      Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Not sure religionists denying reality counts as "debatable." Sorry. More like "religious believers starting a fight as usual." wink

  14. aka-dj profile image65
    aka-djposted 9 years ago

    Any Christian will tell you, that it takes more than a self declaration to make one a Christian.

    And to use the old example of Keith Green, " Going to church doesn't make you any more of a Christian , than going to McDonald's makes you a hamburger."

    Jesus left His followers with TWO commandments. Neither one has to do with exterminating Jews, nor setting up an Arian Utopia.

    1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
      Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      What is the commandment about attacking proven science and anyone who does not believe the stuff you believe again? And the one about dishonestly representing known history?

      Save me a seat by the fire.  wink

      1. aka-dj profile image65
        aka-djposted 9 years agoin reply to this

        You poor victim. sad

        I love science. I love evolutionists.
        I love atheists.

        Not too thrilled by their beliefs, but, then again, they aren't too thrilled with mine either.

        Makes for very interesting, and indeed entertaining discussions.

        Sorry about not being at the fire. My trip was cancelled, when Jesus saved me.

        Don't forget to take your marshmallows. big_smile

        1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
          Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          You love science? lol lol lol

          See you in the fire. wink

          1. aka-dj profile image65
            aka-djposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Sure I do.

            Don't care much for many of their conclusions, nor philosophy, but I can discriminate between right and wrong.

            Sorry. My ticket to the fire was cancelled when Jesus saved me.
            Don't forget the marshmallows! smile

            1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
              Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

              Then you hate science because all there is conclusions based on evidence. Right and wrong? Oh - evolution is not possible. lol lol

              Well done you! Yay! Saved no matter how un-christ like you behave.

              Sure about that seat? wink

              1. aka-dj profile image65
                aka-djposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                Sure am glad my salvation does not depend on my own righteousness, but His.

                You ought to look into that. Pretty liberating, you know.

                Yep! Sure about the fire. I have a ticket for you to avoid it, if you like. smile

                1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
                  Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  Interesting. Presumably that is why Hitler felt he could do as he pleased. Doesn't matter what you do as long as you say the majick words you get saved. That certainly does explain a lot and rather contradicts all your previous statements about Christians being known by their actions. That is the problem with believing and not thinking.

                  No thanks - I prefer to stick with my moral code rather than doing as I please, saying majick words and being saved like Hitler did. Thanks for reminding me why this religion is so corrosive.

                  Save me that seat now. wink

        2. profile image0
          Rad Manposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          Jesus saved you from his own punishment? Is that like the mafia saving you from a beating they were about to give you if you didn't hand over money? That kills me.lol

          1. Chris Neal profile image78
            Chris Nealposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            One huge difference, laughing boy, is that the mafia doesn't love you no matter what. God does love us, no matter what.

            1. Righteous Atheist profile image59
              Righteous Atheistposted 9 years agoin reply to this

              Ah - another thing about god you can imagine. Despite being nothing like us he has the same emotions. Of course - he throws people he loves in the fire or drowns them.  See where Hitler got his Christianity from? wink

            2. EncephaloiDead profile image55
              EncephaloiDeadposted 9 years agoin reply to this

              Wow, your arguments just get weaker by the post. lol

    2. EncephaloiDead profile image55
      EncephaloiDeadposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      That is the only thing each and every Christian here has every offered, a declaration. We can easily see though, which Christians actually exhibit Christ like behaviors and which don't.

 
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HubPages Traffic PixelThis is used to collect data on traffic to articles and other pages on our site. Unless you are signed in to a HubPages account, all personally identifiable information is anonymized.
Amazon Web ServicesThis is a cloud services platform that we used to host our service. (Privacy Policy)
CloudflareThis is a cloud CDN service that we use to efficiently deliver files required for our service to operate such as javascript, cascading style sheets, images, and videos. (Privacy Policy)
Google Hosted LibrariesJavascript software libraries such as jQuery are loaded at endpoints on the googleapis.com or gstatic.com domains, for performance and efficiency reasons. (Privacy Policy)
Features
Google Custom SearchThis is feature allows you to search the site. (Privacy Policy)
Google MapsSome articles have Google Maps embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
Google ChartsThis is used to display charts and graphs on articles and the author center. (Privacy Policy)
Google AdSense Host APIThis service allows you to sign up for or associate a Google AdSense account with HubPages, so that you can earn money from ads on your articles. No data is shared unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Google YouTubeSome articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
VimeoSome articles have Vimeo videos embedded in them. (Privacy Policy)
PaypalThis is used for a registered author who enrolls in the HubPages Earnings program and requests to be paid via PayPal. No data is shared with Paypal unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook LoginYou can use this to streamline signing up for, or signing in to your Hubpages account. No data is shared with Facebook unless you engage with this feature. (Privacy Policy)
MavenThis supports the Maven widget and search functionality. (Privacy Policy)
Marketing
Google AdSenseThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Google DoubleClickGoogle provides ad serving technology and runs an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Index ExchangeThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
SovrnThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Facebook AdsThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Unified Ad MarketplaceThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
AppNexusThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
OpenxThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Rubicon ProjectThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
TripleLiftThis is an ad network. (Privacy Policy)
Say MediaWe partner with Say Media to deliver ad campaigns on our sites. (Privacy Policy)
Remarketing PixelsWe may use remarketing pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to advertise the HubPages Service to people that have visited our sites.
Conversion Tracking PixelsWe may use conversion tracking pixels from advertising networks such as Google AdWords, Bing Ads, and Facebook in order to identify when an advertisement has successfully resulted in the desired action, such as signing up for the HubPages Service or publishing an article on the HubPages Service.
Statistics
Author Google AnalyticsThis is used to provide traffic data and reports to the authors of articles on the HubPages Service. (Privacy Policy)
ComscoreComScore is a media measurement and analytics company providing marketing data and analytics to enterprises, media and advertising agencies, and publishers. Non-consent will result in ComScore only processing obfuscated personal data. (Privacy Policy)
Amazon Tracking PixelSome articles display amazon products as part of the Amazon Affiliate program, this pixel provides traffic statistics for those products (Privacy Policy)
ClickscoThis is a data management platform studying reader behavior (Privacy Policy)