Topic: Atheism Weak or Strong
no photo
Sat 01/31/09 01:23 PM
Edited by Jeanniebean on Sat 01/31/09 01:26 PM


Truth is not non-contradictory, for example:
light is a wave.
light is a particle.
Both statements are true and yet appear to contradict each other.


Law of Non-Contradiction: (a) Not (p and not p) or (b) (for all x) not (x is P and x is not P). It is not possible that something be both true and not true at the same time and in the same context. I think the notion of time is more inherent in the Law as we normally understand it , but that the notion of context is equally important.

Example: A table can not be both made entirely of wood and not made entirely of wood.

Possible Counter Example : Light (l) is both a particle (P) and a wave (W). It makes sense to then say that (for all l) not (l is P and l is not P) and this statement is true because light is both a particle and not a particle.

Problem: Both notions of context and time were lost. For physicists light is only considered to be a wave or a particle depending on the nature (i.e. context) of the problem to be solved. Light is not considered to be both a particle and a wave at the same time.

More Counter Examples ? P = mostly empty space and x = a table. Or perhaps, P = is free and x = Paul. In both these case it seems we still need to be both temporally and contextually sensitive.



Light is energy. Energy is vibration. Vibrations are waves.

There is no particle.

The only way you can bring together the Macro and the Micro (quantum) worlds is to realize that there is no particle, only waves, only energy.

We live in a thought world and a thought universe that functions like a hologram. Everything manifests from thoughts and thinking centers.

Everything is vibration. This is a universe of light and sound and energy fields.

Matter is stored energy and informtion... quantum entanglements.




no photo
Sun 02/01/09 07:07 AM
Edited by Bushidobillyclub on Sun 02/01/09 07:08 AM

You are right Billy, I should not have commented, I dont know enough about it, I thought my post was a satisfactory answer.
The law of non contradiction is a powerful tool for use in the macro world. The strange nature of the subatomic world has standard logic baffled.

The problem with the human mind is that evolution never faced the need to develop a mind capable of grasping the nature of the quantum world.

We are macro beings, and the quantum weirdness defies our ability to conceptualize this strange world where time can run backwards, where things can be in two places at the same time, where things can be both on, and off, where things can cease to be in one location then appear in another without having traveled the distance between.

What is amazing is that math is not held up by these same limitations. We can work out the math of higher dimensions even if we cannot conceptualize it. We can work out the logic of a realm where probabilities rule.

Science and math offer us an insight into the very building blocks of nature.

I feel light holds a very special place in the universe. I doubt anyone alive truly grasp's even a fraction of its specialness.

Eljay's photo
Sun 02/01/09 10:27 PM






5 Pages about atheism, 25 on Hitler. laugh




Isn't that how it always works though?

Eventually someone runs out of enough "proof" for their side, and they bring up Hitler, then it just takes off from there. .

drinker


Though I don't agree with Krimsa's assessment of Hitler, I defend her right to bring it up on every thread she post in.


I only argue against the believers who insist that he was not a Catholic. Why shouldn’t I? Its misinformation.


Excuse me - but you argue that he was a Christian - which he was not.


After fixing your errors, All you have "proved" is that Hitler doesn't fit your definition of a Christian. But, by your definition, no one is a Christian. . .




So how does Hitler fit your "definition/understanding" of a Christain?

Nubby's photo
Sun 02/01/09 10:41 PM
Krimsa, I cant prove Hitler was a follower of Nietzsche with out a doubt, but I thought I would lay this out there.




"However, the ideological connection between Nietzsche and Hitler has been made by various scholars. J. P. Stern, Professor of German at the University of London, who co-authored a book on Nietzsche,[9] points out that Mussolini, who read Nietzsche extensively, received a copy of Nietzsche’s Collected Works as a present from the Führer on the Brenner Pass in 1938.[10] Another point worth noting is that, according to historian William Shirer, "Hitler often visited the Nietzsche museum in Weimar and publicized his veneration for the philosopher by posing for photographs of himself staring in rapture at the bust of the great man."[11]

Historian Paul Johnson writes of the ideological connection between Nietzsche and Hitler:

Adolf Hitler . . . was a disciple of Friedrich Nietzsche. . . . Hitler hated Christianity with a passion which rivaled Lenin’s. Shortly after assuming power in 1933, he told Hermann Rauschnig that he intended ‘to stamp out Christianity root and branch.’ ‘One is either a Christian or a German -- you cannot be both,’ he added. . . . He said, ‘I want a powerful, masterly, cruel and fearless youth. . . . The freedom and dignity of the wild beast must shine from their eyes. . . .’[12]

The death of God movement helped support and add fuel to the fire of Nazism -- even if not on the matter of anti-Semitism and German nationalism. Thus Krueger’s statement regarding anti-Semitism still doesn’t refute the point that Nietzsche’s public ideas on the death-of-God ideology and its implications had a noteworthy influence on people like Hitler or Mussolini.

Krueger goes on to assert that Hitler was a theist: "In many of his speeches, Hitler asserted that he was acting in accordance with god’s will." But this type of political pandering is certainly not unusual. One can probably safely say that many politicians have glibly invoked the name of God to gain broader support from religious constituents. Hitler was no theist. We saw above that he despised Christianity. He also despised Judaism. Hitler reportedly claimed that conscience was a Jewish invention and had to be abolished.[13] That’s Christianity and Judaism down -- we’re quickly running out of theistic options.

Jehuda Bauer, Professor of Holocaust Studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, describes the real "god" of Hitler and the Nazis:

They wanted to go back to a pagan world, beautiful, naturalistic, where natural hierarchies based on the supremacy of the strong [echoes of Nietzsche here?] would be established, because strong equalled good, powerful equalled civilized. The world did have a kind of God, the merciless God of nature, the brutal God of races, the oppressive God of hierarchies."

Inkracer's photo
Mon 02/02/09 06:31 AM







5 Pages about atheism, 25 on Hitler. laugh




Isn't that how it always works though?

Eventually someone runs out of enough "proof" for their side, and they bring up Hitler, then it just takes off from there. .

drinker


Though I don't agree with Krimsa's assessment of Hitler, I defend her right to bring it up on every thread she post in.


I only argue against the believers who insist that he was not a Catholic. Why shouldn’t I? Its misinformation.


Excuse me - but you argue that he was a Christian - which he was not.


After fixing your errors, All you have "proved" is that Hitler doesn't fit your definition of a Christian. But, by your definition, no one is a Christian. . .




So how does Hitler fit your "definition/understanding" of a Christian?


From the quotes of Hitler's that I have read, and that Krimsa has provided on here, I believe that Hitler was a Christian all his life.
I also feel it is not up to you to decide who is/isn't/was/wasn't a Christian.

Nubby's photo
Mon 02/02/09 06:45 AM








5 Pages about atheism, 25 on Hitler. laugh




Isn't that how it always works though?

Eventually someone runs out of enough "proof" for their side, and they bring up Hitler, then it just takes off from there. .

drinker


Though I don't agree with Krimsa's assessment of Hitler, I defend her right to bring it up on every thread she post in.


I only argue against the believers who insist that he was not a Catholic. Why shouldn’t I? Its misinformation.


Excuse me - but you argue that he was a Christian - which he was not.


After fixing your errors, All you have "proved" is that Hitler doesn't fit your definition of a Christian. But, by your definition, no one is a Christian. . .




So how does Hitler fit your "definition/understanding" of a Christian?


From the quotes of Hitler's that I have read, and that Krimsa has provided on here, I believe that Hitler was a Christian all his life.
I also feel it is not up to you to decide who is/isn't/was/wasn't a Christian.


By there fruit you will know them.

Inkracer's photo
Mon 02/02/09 07:06 AM

Krimsa, I cant prove Hitler was a follower of Nietzsche with out a doubt, but I thought I would lay this out there.




"However, the ideological connection between Nietzsche and Hitler has been made by various scholars. J. P. Stern, Professor of German at the University of London, who co-authored a book on Nietzsche,[9] points out that Mussolini, who read Nietzsche extensively, received a copy of Nietzsche’s Collected Works as a present from the Führer on the Brenner Pass in 1938.[10] Another point worth noting is that, according to historian William Shirer, "Hitler often visited the Nietzsche museum in Weimar and publicized his veneration for the philosopher by posing for photographs of himself staring in rapture at the bust of the great man."[11]

Historian Paul Johnson writes of the ideological connection between Nietzsche and Hitler:

Adolf Hitler . . . was a disciple of Friedrich Nietzsche. . . . Hitler hated Christianity with a passion which rivaled Lenin’s. Shortly after assuming power in 1933, he told Hermann Rauschnig that he intended ‘to stamp out Christianity root and branch.’ ‘One is either a Christian or a German -- you cannot be both,’ he added. . . . He said, ‘I want a powerful, masterly, cruel and fearless youth. . . . The freedom and dignity of the wild beast must shine from their eyes. . . .’[12]

The death of God movement helped support and add fuel to the fire of Nazism -- even if not on the matter of anti-Semitism and German nationalism. Thus Krueger’s statement regarding anti-Semitism still doesn’t refute the point that Nietzsche’s public ideas on the death-of-God ideology and its implications had a noteworthy influence on people like Hitler or Mussolini.

Krueger goes on to assert that Hitler was a theist: "In many of his speeches, Hitler asserted that he was acting in accordance with god’s will." But this type of political pandering is certainly not unusual. One can probably safely say that many politicians have glibly invoked the name of God to gain broader support from religious constituents. Hitler was no theist. We saw above that he despised Christianity. He also despised Judaism. Hitler reportedly claimed that conscience was a Jewish invention and had to be abolished.[13] That’s Christianity and Judaism down -- we’re quickly running out of theistic options.

Jehuda Bauer, Professor of Holocaust Studies at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, describes the real "god" of Hitler and the Nazis:

They wanted to go back to a pagan world, beautiful, naturalistic, where natural hierarchies based on the supremacy of the strong [echoes of Nietzsche here?] would be established, because strong equalled good, powerful equalled civilized. The world did have a kind of God, the merciless God of nature, the brutal God of races, the oppressive God of hierarchies."



If Hitler followed Nietzschian philosophy or even admired his work, then where does he describe him or his philosophy?

Nowhere in Mein Kampf does Hitler even mention Nietzsche, or Nietzchian terms such as superman (uberman), or super race. Of course Hitler did think the Aryan's represented a superior race to the Jews, but never in Nietzchian terms.

Note that Joseph-Arthur de Gobineau invented the theory of the superior Aryan race in the 1800s in his book, An Essay on the Inequality of the Human Races. Gobineau believed that racial mixture would bring about the decline of "superior" peoples. Gobineau influenced Richard Wagner (beloved by Hitler), and Houston Stewart Chamberlain (whom Hitler read and met), both of who influenced early National Socialism (and both mentioned in Mein Kampf). Popular in Germany in the 1900s, many Germans accepted Gobineau's ideas and, no doubt, influenced Hitler either directly or indirectly. Moreover, Hitler's "superior" race ideas sound like a combination of Biblical race laws and Gobineau's Aryan race ideas, but not at all like Nietzsche.

Nor does it make sense that the Christian Hitler would admire an atheistic Nietzsche. Hitler loathed atheism. In his writings and speeches, he admonished atheists. For example:

We were convinced that the people needs and requires this faith.
We have therefore undertaken the fight against the atheistic movement,
and that not merely with a few theoretical declarations: we have stamped it out.

-Adolf Hitler, in a speech in Berlin on 24 Oct. 1933
Perhaps the most notorious misrepresentation of connecting Hitler and Nietzsche came from a photo-op of Hitler visiting the Nietzsche archive. Many have incorrectly believed that Hitler visited the archive on his own volition. Not so. The photo-op idea came from Nietzsche's sister, Elisabeth Förster, a wealthy Nazi supporter, who established the Nietzsche Archive in 1933, It was she who invited Hitler (after much persuasion) to visit the archive for publicity purposes. Hitler visited the archive exactly once and only for political purposes to appease Nietzsche's anti-Semite sister. The event appeared in the German newspapers and William Shirer (The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich) briefly mentioned the event as if Hitler often visited the archive because he admired Nietzsche. Shirer probably got his information from the German news article rather than from the facts of the event. (Note, scholars have criticized Shirer for his lack of scholarship and poor source material.) Elisabeth Förster also misrepresented Nietzsche by making her brother look like an anti-Semite and a proto-Nazi (Nietzsche's philosophy had little resemblance to the National Socialist German Workers' Party). Unfortunately many Germans fell for the Nietzsche-Nazi connection including many members of the Thule society.

The pre-Nazi Thule society began in the early 1900s. Rudolf von Serbottendorff became the driving force of this order which practiced occultism and an admiration of Nietzsche. Many members of the Thule society later became Nazis and did influence Nazi literature. However, Hitler never showed any interest in the Thule cult or in its pagan practices.

Anyone who uses such material to justify a Hitler-Nietzsche link simply lacks historical depth (laziness of research) and has no understanding of Hitler.

Let's face it; Hitler showed no philosophical sophistication. If any philosopher had an influence on him, it probably came from Schopenhuer (which he does briefly mention in Mein Kampf). Hans Frank, Hitler's personal lawyer, recalled that Hitler carried a copy of Schopenhauer's World as Will and Representation with him throughout World War I, but Hitler never revealed any appreciation of Friedrich Nietzsche or his philosophy.

no photo
Mon 02/02/09 07:31 AM







5 Pages about atheism, 25 on Hitler. laugh




Isn't that how it always works though?

Eventually someone runs out of enough "proof" for their side, and they bring up Hitler, then it just takes off from there. .

drinker


Though I don't agree with Krimsa's assessment of Hitler, I defend her right to bring it up on every thread she post in.


I only argue against the believers who insist that he was not a Catholic. Why shouldn’t I? Its misinformation.


Excuse me - but you argue that he was a Christian - which he was not.


After fixing your errors, All you have "proved" is that Hitler doesn't fit your definition of a Christian. But, by your definition, no one is a Christian. . .




So how does Hitler fit your "definition/understanding" of a Christain?
Well just like you he had never to my knowledge drank poison and survived without ill effect, to me this is a written requirement to be a true follower of Jesus.

So neither are you.

Eljay's photo
Mon 02/02/09 04:13 PM
Edited by Eljay on Mon 02/02/09 04:15 PM








5 Pages about atheism, 25 on Hitler. laugh




Isn't that how it always works though?

Eventually someone runs out of enough "proof" for their side, and they bring up Hitler, then it just takes off from there. .

drinker


Though I don't agree with Krimsa's assessment of Hitler, I defend her right to bring it up on every thread she post in.


I only argue against the believers who insist that he was not a Catholic. Why shouldn’t I? Its misinformation.


Excuse me - but you argue that he was a Christian - which he was not.


After fixing your errors, All you have "proved" is that Hitler doesn't fit your definition of a Christian. But, by your definition, no one is a Christian. . .




So how does Hitler fit your "definition/understanding" of a Christian?


From the quotes of Hitler's that I have read, and that Krimsa has provided on here, I believe that Hitler was a Christian all his life.
I also feel it is not up to you to decide who is/isn't/was/wasn't a Christian.


Well - your education on the topic is limited.

I don't "decide" who is a christian and who isn't. I've examined enough of the documentation and quotations on Hitler to have no problem agreeing with the majority of historians and anyone who has casually investigated this topic that Hitler was a non-christain through his own statements of beliefs, and by his demonstrated actions.

But believe what you want.

I'm curious as to what your evidence is to refute the actions of Hitler that demonstrate clearly that he was not a christain.

Inkracer's photo
Mon 02/02/09 04:24 PM
I'm curious as to what your evidence is to refute the actions of Hitler that demonstrate clearly that he was not a christian.


What are the actions of a christian?

What actions of Hitler's don't fall in line with anything the church has done since it was created?

no photo
Mon 02/02/09 04:30 PM
HAHAH its so funny to always see this idea that Christians must judge other people as either Christian or not christian as if to make some point.

I am not going to point out the details of the hypocrisy of that idea.

laugh

Inkracer's photo
Mon 02/02/09 06:16 PM
Hitler, the Christian

Hitler not only got brought up as a Roman Catholic Christian, but he expressed his Christian views into adulthood, including his period as Chancellor of the German Third Reich. One only need read Mein Kampf to see the extent of his Biblical beliefs. The German populace knew well about Hitler's book and it became a best-seller second only to the Bible. Furthermore, Hitler expressed his Christian feelings even more intensely in his speeches and proclamations throughout his power reign.

Although some might counter that Hitler's admission to Christianity, by itself, does not make one a Christian, how else can an individual convey to another his religion except from their own confession? One of the tenants of Christian belief, indeed the definition of a Christian, comes from the Pauline epistiles in regards to faith in Jesus:Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

-Galatians 2:16


To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

-Romans 3:26-28
Paul, by declaring faith in Jesus over law, effectively separated Christianity from Judaism. It came from these Pauline declarations that first defined Christianity. Belief in Jesus serves as the only requirement for membership into the Christian community. Christianity does not require adhering to Old Testament laws or membership to any Church or abstaining from evil deeds. One need only have faith in Jesus for its justification, period.


Although Hitler did not attend church regularly and later criticized the Church for their rejection of his reformation of a unified German Church, at no time did Hitler criticize God or Jesus. He always maintained an honor and belief in Jesus. This alone put him as a Christian believer. But Hitler went beyond just belief in Jesus; he devoted his entire political life to deeds aimed at creating a race of people in the pure image of God.

Some claim that Hitler lied when promoting religion, for political reasons (without citing a shred of evidence), but nothing in the historical record indicates this, nor would there appear any reason for him to do so. Even if he lied in Mein Kampf, why would he continue to consider himself a Christian after he held absolute German power? Why spend so much valuable resources to rid Germany of Jews if not from some profound justification? Hate of Jews alone cannot explain it. The hate must stem from some source and the historical record shows that anti-Judaism had long lived in the minds of Christians ever since Paul separated his community of believers from the law and people of Judaism.
Just as revealingly, not only did Hitler present his religious beliefs in his speeches, but his own private notes reveal the influence of the Bible, long before he came into power. In one of his notes, he describes the Bible as the monumental history of mankind and used the old testament race laws as the foundation for his views against the Jews, which later turned into the Nazi Nuremberg race laws [Maser, p.282]

Many Christians have attempted to destroy Hitler's claimed Christianity by pointing out that his actions did not appear Christian-like (whatever that means). Therefore, so the hypothesis goes, no "true" Christian would cause "evil" deeds. But again, the Bible does not define Christianity in terms of deeds regardless of how good or evil they seem. Yet it came through his very deeds that Hitler confessed his work for the Lord:Hence today I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: by defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord.

-Hitler (Mein Kampf)



Hitler's work of the Lord only agrees with Biblical scripture:And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

-Colossians 3:17



Hitler not only believed in Jesus (which alone made him a Christian) but his work against the Jews came straight from Christian theological reasoning just as had many Christian saints of the past. His Christian expressions of "Lord God," "Living Christ," and "Lord and Savior" indicates his acknowledgement of Jesus as God and his acceptance of a resurrected Christ (for what else can "Living" and "Savior" mean except from a resurrected state?). Hitler also believed in the supernatural concept of life after death. In Mein Kampf he wrote, "a religion in the Aryan sense cannot be imagined which lacks the conviction of survival after death in some form."

Another indication of Hitler's beliefs about religion comes from his private library of numerous books. Although most of Hitler's books came as gifts from writers and publishers, those where he penciled and underlined sections reveal, not only the books that he read, but also those that he commented on and had an interest in. Timothy W. Ryback, who examined Hitler's books, found more than 130 books devoted to spirituality and religion including the teachings of Jesus Christ. Some of the titles included, Sunday Meditations; On Prayer; A Primer for Religious Questions, Large and Small; Large Truths About Mankind, the World and God; a German translation of E. Stanley Jones's 1931 best seller, The Christ of the Mount; and a 500-page work on the life and teachings of Jesus, published in 1935 under the title The Son: The Evangelical Sources and Pronouncements of Jesus of Nazareth in Their Original Form and With the Jewish Influences. Ryback also found a leather-bound tome -- with WORTE CHRISTI, or "Words of Christ," embossed in gold on the cover -- According to Ryback, it "was well worn, the silky, supple leather peeling upward in gentle curls along the edges. Human hands had obviously spent a lot of time with this book.... I scanned the book for marginalia that might suggest a close study of the text. A white-silk bookmark, preserved in its original perfection between pages 22 and 23 (only the portion exposed to the air had deteriorated), lay across a description of the Last Supper as related by Saint John. A series of pages that followed contained only a single aphorism each: 'Believe in God' (page 31), 'Have no fear, just believe' (page 52), 'If you believe, anything is possible' (page 53), and so on, all the way to page 95, which offers the solemn wisdom 'Many are called but few are chosen.'" [Ryback]

After reading Hitler's book and his speeches, one cannot help but realize that Hitler believed in fate and the guiding hand of Providence. Like many powerful religious people, he thought of himself as a sort of messiah, chosen by God. In 1943, while the war still raged on, the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (forerunner of the CIA) commissioned the psychoanalyst, Walter Langer, to develop a "psychological profile" of Adolf Hitler. Langer looked at all the, then, available material about Hitler, including Mein Kampf, his speeches, and interviews with former Hitler associates. Langer concluded:

A survey of all the evidence forces us to conclude that Hitler believes himself destined to become an Immortal Hitler, chosen by God to be the New Deliverer of Germany and the Founder of a new social order for the world. He firmly believes this and is certain that in spite of all the trials and tribulations through which he must pass he will finally attain that goal. The one condition is that he follow the dictates of the inner voice that have guided and protected him in the past.


Langer hypothesized the most likely scenario if Hitler faced defeat where, in a "prescient moment," Hitler's belief in divine protection would compel him to fight to the bitter end, "drag[ging] a world with us -- a world in flames," and ultimately, he would take his own life. [Ryback]

Fortunately Hitler did not drag us with him in a world of flames but Langer pegged Hitler's profile.

Puzzling as it may seem, some Christians want to see a suicidal Hitler as "evidence" for his alleged apostasy because, according to Catholic doctrine, the act of suicide results in "mortal sin." But these same accusers don't seem to realize that Hitler's suicide occurred well after his preemptive war and the Jewish holocaust. Ironically by using the mortal-sin argument, they have placed Hitler into Christianity as a pre-Christian, the very Christianized Hitler that did the damage in the first place! Of course none of this matters because, according to Christian beliefs (Protestant or Catholic), regardless of how sinful one lives, sin alone cannot excuse a person from Christianity, even though it may keep you from Heaven (whatever that means).

Unfortunately, either through ignorance, subterfuge or sheer self-deceit, modern Christians will adhere to anything to escape a religious Hitler. Christians love to point out that Hitler imprisoned priests and nuns, some of them dying in concentration camps; therefore he must have had anti-Christian feelings, so the reasoning goes. But the Nazis imprisoned people of many faiths, including a few Nazis who stood in Hitler's way. But the Nazis condemned these people for their political views against the NSDAP government, never for their Christian religious beliefs.

Although Hitler may have deluded and blinded himself by belief, he appeared brutally honest in his fanaticism and beliefs. Nowhere do we find him denouncing Jesus; nothing in the record shows him expressing hatred toward Christians for their beliefs; not at anytime does he destroy Christian churches or attempt to eliminate the Christian religion. Even though Hitler had political problems with the hierarchy of the churches, he spent inordinate amount of time attempting to unite the Churches into one German Reich Church and spoke for establishing what he called real Christianity. His reach for uniting Christianity brought conflict within the denominations and created political divisions. It came from this that Hitler sometimes spoke against Christianity as a power structure, but never against Christianity as a belief system. (Note that many prominent Christians, throughout history, had spoken against their own religions, or other competing Christian religions). Although the historical record does show that, along with Jews and gypsies, a number of Christians did die in extermination camps, these death sentences resulted from their political views against Nazism, not because of their religion, faith in God, or because Hitler hated Christians. His religious reasoning for killing people aimed at Jews, not Christians and this included Jews who converted to Christianity.

If imprisoning or killing Christians constituted a condition for determining anti-Christianity, then we would have to consider virtually all governments or leaders of society who called for death sentences against Christians, as anti-Christian as well. Note that the majority of criminals in U.S. prisons, as well as those we execute, live and die as Christians. Does that make our prosecutors anti Christian? Should we consider George W. Bush anti-Christian just because his Texas agenda for the death penalty put many Christian criminals to death? Of course not, and neither can one use this reasoning as an argument against Hitler's Christianity. If, indeed, Hitler imprisoned priests or Christians for religious reasons, then where does this evidence exist? What proclamation or religious belief does Hitler cite to justify this hearsay belief?

Hitler makes his position clearly known about priests violating state concerns when he said:

So long as they concern themselves with their religious problems the State does not concern itself with them. But so soon as they attempt by any means whatsoever-- by letters, Encyclica, or otherwise-- to arrogate to themselves rights which belong to the State alone we shall force them back into their proper spiritual, pastoral activity.

-Adolf Hitler, in a speech delivered in Berlin on the May Day festival, 1937 [Baynes]



Hitler fully realized that his political enemies were making accusations against him and although he didn't have to, he explicitly makes his position known about his feelings for religion:

Amongst the accusations which are directed against Germany in the so called democracies is the charge that the National Socialist State is hostile to religion. In answer to that charge I should like to make before the German people the following solemn declaration:

1. No one in Germany has in the past been persecuted because of his religious views (Einstellung), nor will anyone in the future be so persecuted....

The Churches are the greatest landed proprietors after the State... Further, the Church in the National Socialist State is in many ways favoured in regard to taxation, and for gifts, legacies, &c., it enjoys immunity from taxation.

It is therefore, to put mildly-- effrontery when especially foreign politicians make bold to speak of hostility to religion in the Third Reich....

I would allow myself only one question: what contributions during the same period have France, England, or the United States made through the State from the public funds?

3. The National Socialist State has not closed a church, nor has it prevented the holding of a religious service, nor has it ever exercised any influence upon the form of a religious service. It has not exercised any pressure upon the doctrine nor on the profession of faith of any of the Confessions. In the National Socialist State anyone is free to seek his blessedness after his own fashion....

There are ten thousands and ten thousands of priests of all the Christian Confessions who perform their ecclesiastical duties just as well as or probably better than the political agitators without ever coming into conflict with the laws of the State....

This State has only once intervened in the internal regulation of the Churches, that is when I myself in 1933 endeavoured to unite the weak and divided Protestant Churches of the different States into one great and powerful Evangelical Church of the Reich. That attempt failed through the opposition of the bishops of some States; it was therefore abandoned. For it is in the last resort not our task to defend or even to strengthen the Evangelical Church through violence against its own representatives....

But on one point it is well that there should be no uncertainty: the German priest as servant of God we shall protect, the priest as political enemy of the German State we shall destroy.

-Adolf Hitler, a speech in the Reichstag on 30 Jan. 1939 [Baynes]



Hitler emphasized that he attached the greatest importance to cooperation with the Catholic church and spoke of himself as a Catholic:

I am absolutely convinced of the great power and the deep significance of the Christian religion, and consequently will not permit any other founders of religion (Religionsstifter). Therefore I have turned against Ludendoriff and separated myself from him; therefore I reject Rosenberg's book. That book is written by a Protestant. It is not a party book. It is not written by him as a member of the party. The Protestants can settle matters with him.

My desire is that no confessional conflict arise. I must act correctly to both confessions. I will not tolerate a Kulturkampf.... I stand by my word. I will protect the rights and freedom of the church and will not permit them to be touched. You need have no apprehensions concerning the freedom of the church.

-Hitler [quoted from Helmreich, p.241]

As for schools, it was a matter of utmost importance to the Catholic hierarchy, and agreed to by the Reich Concordat between the Nazis and the Vatican. Hitler went on in this chilling observation:

Secular schools can never be tolerated because such a school has no religious instruction and a general moral instruction without a religious foundation is built on air; consequently, all character training and religion must be derived from faith. from our point of view as representatives of the state, we need believing people. A dark cloud threatens from Poland. We have need of soldiers, believing solders. Believing solders are the most valuable ones. They give their all. Therefore we will maintain the confessional schools in order to train believing people through the schools, but this depends upon having truly believing teachers, not by chance Marxists who do not stand fully by their religious faith, as teachers.

-Hitler, [quoted from Helmreich, p.241]



Notice how Hitler spoke of the schools in the way Right Wing Christians do today in their attempt to take control of public and private schools.

no photo
Mon 02/02/09 09:59 PM
your copy-paste kung fu is strong

Eljay's photo
Mon 02/02/09 10:27 PM








5 Pages about atheism, 25 on Hitler. laugh




Isn't that how it always works though?

Eventually someone runs out of enough "proof" for their side, and they bring up Hitler, then it just takes off from there. .

drinker


Though I don't agree with Krimsa's assessment of Hitler, I defend her right to bring it up on every thread she post in.


I only argue against the believers who insist that he was not a Catholic. Why shouldn’t I? Its misinformation.


Excuse me - but you argue that he was a Christian - which he was not.


After fixing your errors, All you have "proved" is that Hitler doesn't fit your definition of a Christian. But, by your definition, no one is a Christian. . .




So how does Hitler fit your "definition/understanding" of a Christain?
Well just like you he had never to my knowledge drank poison and survived without ill effect, to me this is a written requirement to be a true follower of Jesus.

So neither are you.


A written requirement? What bible are you reading?

Eljay's photo
Mon 02/02/09 10:31 PM
Edited by Eljay on Mon 02/02/09 10:33 PM

I'm curious as to what your evidence is to refute the actions of Hitler that demonstrate clearly that he was not a christian.


What are the actions of a christian?

What actions of Hitler's don't fall in line with anything the church has done since it was created?


See 2 Peter 1:3-11; All of 1 John; and James.

Start there, and this will give you an idea of the actions of a christain - as well as insight into the actions of those claiming to be christians - but do so in vain.

Don't blame the philosophy with the actions of those who abuse it. The bible is clear on what the actions of a christian are - History is clear about those who have abused it.

Inkracer's photo
Tue 02/03/09 06:21 AM


I'm curious as to what your evidence is to refute the actions of Hitler that demonstrate clearly that he was not a christian.


What are the actions of a christian?

What actions of Hitler's don't fall in line with anything the church has done since it was created?


See 2 Peter 1:3-11; All of 1 John; and James.

Start there, and this will give you an idea of the actions of a christain - as well as insight into the actions of those claiming to be christians - but do so in vain.

Don't blame the philosophy with the actions of those who abuse it. The bible is clear on what the actions of a christian are - History is clear about those who have abused it.


1. -Romans 3:26-28
Paul, by declaring faith in Jesus over law, effectively separated Christianity from Judaism. It came from these Pauline declarations that first defined Christianity. Belief in Jesus serves as the only requirement for membership into the Christian community. Christianity does not require adhering to Old Testament laws or membership to any Church or abstaining from evil deeds. One need only have faith in Jesus for its justification, period.

2. What about all the passages in the Bible that say it is Okay to kill people of other religions(Heathens), unruly children, and women who aren't virgins on their wedding day.

DeKLiNe0fMaN's photo
Tue 02/03/09 07:02 AM
Edited by DeKLiNe0fMaN on Tue 02/03/09 07:11 AM

Look around you. You all want to put down the bible. It is true thier was a day when atrocities happened.

In todays world where the Holy Bible is held as a guidence book you have the freedom to say and speak what you want.

Just like on here.

In a communists or socialists country you have to watch what you say. Because at the top is an Athiests and he has decided he has total control.

So why don't Athiests and non believers flock to Russia to where they won't have to hear anything about the Scriptures? Blessings...Miles

On that note might i add the fact that athiest and or agnostics will exert and argue at great lengths against something they claim they don't even believe in.
That to me is like arguing 1 + 1 = 3 ....I don't believe it so why would i tell you you're right or wrong if you believe it ? whoa It seems a moot point. That is of course unless you're just reaching out for the way, the truth, and the life as we Christians know of it. So I will show you God through the way i live my life, not perfect so you'll have a finger to point and say " i told you so" but daily accepting responsibility for my actions and striving to be more Christ like. :angel:

Inkracer's photo
Tue 02/03/09 07:18 AM
On that note might i add the fact that athiest and or agnostics will exert and argue at great lengths against something they claim they don't even believe in.


There are a number of Atheists out there(myself included) who were raised as a child of religious parents, since my parents are Christian, I was raised on the "teachings" of the bible.
Also, to be able to defend ourselves in the arguments about god, we still need to have a knowledge of all the religions, because you cannot argue for or against that which you do not know.

DeKLiNe0fMaN's photo
Tue 02/03/09 07:34 AM

On that note might i add the fact that athiest and or agnostics will exert and argue at great lengths against something they claim they don't even believe in.


There are a number of Atheists out there(myself included) who were raised as a child of religious parents, since my parents are Christian, I was raised on the "teachings" of the bible.
Also, to be able to defend ourselves in the arguments about god, we still need to have a knowledge of all the religions, because you cannot argue for or against that which you do not know.

What i don't understand ink is why you feel you need to defend yourself against a God you don't believe in.
Perhaps you should look back at your "teachers" and ask yourself if they are living what they are teaching. and not base you entire belief structure on what may add up to poor teaching. And just because i don't agree with you doesn't mean i'm saying your wrong. Because that kind of prideful assumptions destroys all hope of communication.

Inkracer's photo
Tue 02/03/09 07:42 AM


On that note might i add the fact that athiest and or agnostics will exert and argue at great lengths against something they claim they don't even believe in.


There are a number of Atheists out there(myself included) who were raised as a child of religious parents, since my parents are Christian, I was raised on the "teachings" of the bible.
Also, to be able to defend ourselves in the arguments about god, we still need to have a knowledge of all the religions, because you cannot argue for or against that which you do not know.

What i don't understand ink is why you feel you need to defend yourself against a God you don't believe in.
Perhaps you should look back at your "teachers" and ask yourself if they are living what they are teaching. and not base you entire belief structure on what may add up to poor teaching. And just because i don't agree with you doesn't mean i'm saying your wrong. Because that kind of prideful assumptions destroys all hope of communication.


It's not a need to defend ourselves in front of a god we don't believe exists, it's a need to be able to defend ourselves against the people who do believe that a god exists.
If I don't have a basic understanding(at least) of the bible, then when someone makes the claim that they get their morals/values from the bible, I don't have a response.