Was Hitler Christian?

[dust1n]

Was Hitler a Christian? Was Hitler Christian?

 

[joea]

Yes Christianity found Hitler..

 

[MSizer]

Until recently I would have argued that I doubt he subscribed to christianity, and that he was probably an atheist, but I have to admit the "Gott Mit Uns" inscription on the soldier's belt buckles makes me wonder. Was it his idea, or was it already in place before Hitler? And was it a propaganda tactic, or did they believe it?

I don't know.

 

[tumbleweed41]

More than likely, a lapsed Catholic who was as adept at using religious fervor as he was at nationalistic and racial fervor.

 

[fallingblood]

I have to agree with tumbleweed41.

Hitler was a Christian (Catholic) at one time. I lean to the idea that he probably maintained his faith in God, but I doubt it played an important part in his life.

 

[TheKnight]

Biblically speaking he was not a Christian. I admit (I lost a debate on this once where the opponent presented mounds of evidence that he professed Christian ideas) that he probably believed in some form of Christianity and called himself a Christian.

But it doesn't mean he was one. I would posit that many Christians think they are Christians but Biblically speaking are not. It makes me wonder how exactly such people should be labelled.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Biblically speaking he was not a Christian.

Now there's an exclusive group.

 

[TheKnight]

Now there's an exclusive group.

Not at all. It's a matter of definitions. There is a Biblical description of the follower of Jesus that can be found in the New Testament, and Hitler did not fit that description.

If you want to be picky, you can say that everything that has a specific definition (which separates it from other things) is exclusive. But that's a narrow way of thinking IMO.

If I am blue and you are not, then are "blue people" an exclusive group?
If I am straight and you are not, then are "straight people" an exclusive group?

Using a definition and applying it to yourself or others and not applying it to certain others is not exclusive. It's simply a form of grouping (which I agree you could argue is exclusive).

 

[dust1n]

Biblically speaking he was not a Christian. I admit (I lost a debate on this once where the opponent presented mounds of evidence that he professed Christian ideas) that he probably believed in some form of Christianity and called himself a Christian.

But it doesn't mean he was one. I would posit that many Christians think they are Christians but Biblically speaking are not. It makes me wonder how exactly such people should be labelled.

Just to make sure, where is the definite line between a real Christian and a non-Christian that calls himself a Christian?

 

[TheKnight]

Just to make sure, where is the definite line between a real Christian and a non-Christian that calls himself a Christian?

That all depends. Biblically speaking a Christian is one who believes that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead, and then implements Jesus' teachings in his/her life.

So a person who either doesn't believe that or doesn't implement his teachings (IE work on refining him/herself towards that end) would not be a Christian.

Someone who thinks they're a Christian and isn't would be someone who was raised a Christian but has never really considered it or attempted to implement Christ's teachings.

 

[dogsgod]

The no true Scotsman fallacy isn't going to cut it here. Hitler was a devout Catholic in his own words and he put the fight to the Jews because they killed his God. He was obviously familiar with the Passion Narrative.

 

[fallingblood]

That all depends. Biblically speaking a Christian is one who believes that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead, and then implements Jesus' teachings in his/her life.

So a person who either doesn't believe that or doesn't implement his teachings (IE work on refining him/herself towards that end) would not be a Christian.

Someone who thinks they're a Christian and isn't would be someone who was raised a Christian but has never really considered it or attempted to implement Christ's teachings.

Jesus and his earliest followers were all Jews. Paul was a Jew and died a Jew. So to follow Jesus's teachings completely, you would be a Jew as he was a Jew and taught a Jewish message.

 

[Rainbow Mage]

Hiter might be called a Catholic, although not a good one, and certainly not in good standing with the church

 

[fallingblood]

Hiter might be called a Catholic, although not a good one, and certainly not in good standing with the church

There is some evidence that quite a few in the church either didn't care, or supported what Hitler was doing.

 

[dust1n]

That all depends. Biblically speaking a Christian is one who believes that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead, and then implements Jesus' teachings in his/her life.

So a person who either doesn't believe that or doesn't implement his teachings (IE work on refining him/herself towards that end) would not be a Christian.

Someone who thinks they're a Christian and isn't would be someone who was raised a Christian but has never really considered it or attempted to implement Christ's teachings.

I don't understand... do you implement Christ's teachings always?


What if I implement Christ's teachings, but don't believe him to be a savior?

 

[Azrael]

Wasn't he born into a Catholic family?

 

[TheKnight]

The no true Scotsman fallacy isn't going to cut it here. Hitler was a devout Catholic in his own words and he put the fight to the Jews because they killed his God. He was obviously familiar with the Passion Narrative.

How do you know he was a devout Catholic? His actions don't reflect what a Christian lifestyle should be. He might have called himself one, but that doesn't mean that he was one. Just like if I call myself a white person, I'm not because I'm black.

Jesus and his earliest followers were all Jews. Paul was a Jew and died a Jew. So to follow Jesus's teachings completely, you would be a Jew as he was a Jew and taught a Jewish message.

Paul didn't teach a Jewish message. And I believe there is enough to doubt Paul's Jewishness. Karl Marx was also a Jew. Does that mean one must have been a Jew to follow/agree with what he taught?

Being a Jew doesn't mean that everything you do is Jewish.

 

[sonofskeptish]

How do you know he was a devout Catholic? His actions don't reflect what a Christian lifestyle should be.

Says who? By your standards, wouldn't most people claiming to be Christians not actually be Christians?

 

[logician]

Since the criteria in the U.S. seems to be that if you profess to be a Christian, you are one, then yes, Hitler certainly was a Christian. Doesn't matter whether he knew the bible(which I think he did), or went to church.

 

[fallingblood]

Paul didn't teach a Jewish message. And I believe there is enough to doubt Paul's Jewishness. Karl Marx was also a Jew. Does that mean one must have been a Jew to follow/agree with what he taught?

Being a Jew doesn't mean that everything you do is Jewish.

Paul's message was also under Judaism. He message was a Jewish message, and he was a pious Jew. He never proclaims a new religion, and the Jesus movement was still a Jewish movement.

Christianity was a Jewish movement. All of the evidence shows that.