Theologians Under Hitler -- The Crisis, Part 2

Having now finished chapter one of this book*, I can say I have encountered important history regarding theology in the twentieth century. Theologians dealt with have included Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, and Rudolf Bultmann, plus Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Some or all of these names may be familiar to you.

It is clear as I have continued reading that the world was in a crisis of faith for the past approximately two hundred years whether it knew it or not. I remember many sermons over the years dealing with this subject. In a book like this, however, the matter is dealt with with more particulars and with greater depth. As a result the crisis is rather more lucid and understandable, even if not all questions are answered.

I am grateful for this book as it has me appreciate more the extent of our current world crisis. I see that the crisis is really nothing new, but an extension of unresolved matters despite the best efforts of some brilliant minds. That the crisis has been solved in outline is hopeful news, the telling of which must wait for a later date. (I am searching for the right time and mode of explanation.)

For now, Theologians Under Hitler can serve as a useful foundation and background for an understanding of our present time. And with a dysfunctional United States Presidency, and thus a federal government seriously hampered, it is all the more necessary to at least attempt to comprehend how we got to this point.

At this point I am glad to quote the last paragraph of chapter one. Robert P. Ericksen writes:

This chapter opened with an acknowledgement that Hitler was evil. Therefore, to support him was wrong. Before condemning his supporters, however, we must recognize the complexity of the crisis which faced Germans in the Wiemar period. We must further acknowledge that neither rationalism, intellectual capacity nor Christian values protected Kittel, Althaus or Hirsch from supporting Hitler. This is a disturbing conclusion and one which requires careful consideration if we desire the Hitler phenomenon not to recur.

If this sounds like an apologia for the miscreant theologians, I shall reserve judgment pending further information. I for one passionately wish the Hitler phonomenon not to recur. I see it as completely unnecessary. Yet as we have the essential mindset of fascism present at the highest levels of the U.S. government now, it is of pressing need to understand, but more importantly oppose this leadership. It is in trying to meet this necessity that the posts of these days are presented. In coming days and weeks I plan to present as many of the main points of this book as I can within the constraints of this format. For now, let us remain ever vigilant, lest our democracy and freedoms slip loose from us as in a momentary passage of time the bright sunlight turns to late evening darkness.
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*See immediately preceding posts.