[Comment by Holwick follows article]
Many preachers and politicians have joined together in a new movement: to distort and rewrite history to favor their own agendas. On the airwaves they routinely condemn atheists and claim Adolph Hitler was a follower of their unholy views. True historical fact neither favors or spares allegiance to any cause, politics, or religion.
The belief that America was founded as a Christian nation is the vital animating element of the ideology of the Christian Right. As one of the most successful and powerful political movements in American history, it currently affects every aspect of life and culture. The notion that America’s alleged Christian identity has by some means been wrongly taken, and must somehow be restored, shapes the psychology and vision of the entire movement. No understanding of Christian Fundamentalism and Christian Revisionism is remotely sufficient without this foundational concept. The need for Christian Revisionists to distance themselves from the reflections of an ignoble past is best exemplified by their aversion to recognizing the fundamentalism of Hitler, Nazism, and the third Reich. While displaying an ideological hatred for homosexuality, atheism, and pluralism, and while advocating militarism and unquestioning nationalism, the resemblance between these two fundamentalist ideologies has created a movement rooted in denial. The similarities of these two distinct movements account for their obsessive need to replace the history of fact with a more appealing image. Trampling over the bitter saga of Hitler’s blight on humanity and obscuring the vision of this horrific past is an error of grave proportions. And for this reason only, affirmations of fact about Hitler’s religious observance is presented herein. Heartfelt objections to historical fact must not become the impetus for compromising these significant truths.
When Hitler was an infant in Austria, he was baptized into the Roman Catholic church, became an altar boy, and was later confirmed as a “soldier of Christ”. Within the confines of the church, he was first taught the term “perfidious Jew” (treacherous Jew). Not until 1961, was this despicable term removed from the church’s teachings. In Hitler’s day, however, hatred of Jews was prevalent and openly expressed. The two major religions of Germany, Catholicism, and Lutheranism perpetuated anti-Semitism. Moreover, Hitler especially admired Martin Luther, who openly hated the Jews. Despite Luther’s denunciation of the Catholic Church for its corruption, he supported the centuries of pogroms sponsored by the Pope against the Jews. “The Jews deserve to be hanged on gallows, seven times higher than ordinary thieves,” and “We ought to take revenge on the Jews and kill them,” Luther stated in his book, TABLE TALK. Abiding by these beliefs in his rise to power, Hitler wrote in his book, MEIN KAMPF, “. .I am convinced that I am acting as the agent of our Creator. By fighting off the Jews. I am doing the Lord’s work.” In a Reichstag speech in 1938 several years later, he quoted those same exact words. The Nazi Party soon took control of the courts, local government, and all civic organizations except the Protestant and Catholic churches. Contrary to popular beliefs, the most evil man in contemporary history, Adolph Hitler, was a Christian. Is this an indictment of all Christians? Not at all! From every religion and from every nationality characters of ill-repute are born and raised.
Cherry-picking quotes intertwined with editorial propaganda is a common practice of those who seek to rewrite and fictionalize history. Simply reading MEIN KAMPF will refute those that claim Hitler was an atheist. Some Christians will vehemently object, but denial of these historical truths, of countless documents, and indisputable photographs can only persuade those unfettered by the brainwashing perpetuated by fundamentalist ideologues. Regardless of historical proof, some will continue to declare Hitler was an Atheist. In fact, the infamous Ann Coulter, the Christian extremist, who makes a living at creating bigoted remarks aimed at Muslims, Jews, and liberals, stated: “this was the approach of all the great mass murderers of the last century — all of whom were atheists: Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot.”
The power of history is great. As Christian historical revisionism infiltrates mainstream America, it is important for the rest of society to recognize our need to craft an accurate, compelling, and a shared story of American history, particularly as it relates to the function of religion in government and politics. More than needing to know how Christian fundamentalism is wrong, we ourselves must know where we stand in the light of history, in relation to each other. We must know how we can better foresee a future united, when freedom from religious prejudice, and the prospects of religious warfare will cease to threaten our world. In George Orwell’s book 1984, it was written: “Who controls the past controls the future, who controls the present controls the past.” What is next? Who is going to control our nation, fundamentalism or freedom?
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[Holwick: see #34950 for actual quotes by Hitler on Christianity. It must be admitted that Hitler gave at least lip service to Christianity in political contexts, just as many American politicians do today. But it is also true that Hitler’s strongest inspiration came not from Christianity but from pre-Christian German mythology. This paganism was exalted in Nazi symbolism and rallies. Hitler believed in the supernatural and consulted astrologers. His greatest philosophical influence was probably the atheist Nietzsche. Active Christian practice was discouraged in the highest levels of the Nazi regime, with the unlikely exception of Goebbels, who was a practicing Catholic.]