There has been a growing trend among secularists to label Hitler as a Christian and therefore attribute the atrocities of the second world war to the Christian religion. Joe Keysor examines the true sources of Nazi ideology and contrasts the Nazis' behavior with the Biblical record. Joe Keysor's well reasoned, well researched, and comprehensive defense of the Christian faith against these challenges is a useful tool for scholars, pastors, and educators who are interested in the truth. "Hitler and Christianity" is a necessity in one's apologetics library, and secularists, skeptics, and atheists will be obliged to respond.
Hitler, the Holocaust, and the Bible
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thorough Refutation of Various Hitlerian Myths,
By Mariano "Mariano" (Earth) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Hitler, the Holocaust, and the Bible: A Scriptural Analysis of Anti-Semitism, National Socialism, and the Churches in Nazi Germany (Paperback)
This year Adolf Hitler is receiving a posthumous birthday present. Today, Adolf Hitler's birthday, a new book is being released which is entitled, "Hitler, the Holocaust, and the Bible" by Joe Keysor.
The book seeks to analyze anti-Semitism, National Socialism and the churches in Nazi Germany. Joe Keysor's background includes being an English teacher in various private schools, a college and a Chinese University. He holds a BA in Russian and East European Studies and a Masters Degree in adult ed. Some authors function as rifles: yes, indeed they hit their target with perfect accuracy. However, we end up noting that the target equated to a very narrow focus. Indeed the target was hit but we are left asking why the author did not delve into this or that relevant aspect of the topic. Other authors function as shotguns: they go in one hundred directions at once and certainly cover a lot of ground. Yet, after smoke clears we note that while shooting that sawed-off-twelve-gauge certainly was fun (and/or informative) we are left wondering whether there was a main point--what, or where, was the target? Joe Keysor has managed to manufacture a new weapon that combines the multidirectional spray of a shotgun with the on target focus of a rifle. As it occurred I had working on an essay which will serve as a response to Richard Dawkins' claims (in "The God Delusion") about Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Nazism and Communism when the publisher of "Adolf Hitler, the Holocaust, and the Bible" ("Athanatos Publishing Group") contacted me to ask if I would be willing to review the book. Well, my head was swimming in Nazism and as it is said, "`coincidence' is not a kosher word." Thus, I am posting this review and will follow it by posting my parsed essay. The issue of "Hitler, the Holocaust, and the Bible" is very important to me for very many reasons two of which are: 1) some of my relatives were murdered in Nazi concentration camps and 2) the claim that Christianity was to blame for Nazism either exclusively or in large part. Part history, part logic, part polemic, part critical and all common sense; Joe Keysor's book takes us on a circuitous ride into the very heart, soul and mind of Adolf Hitler and Nazism in general which makes various stops along the way in order to pick up the various related issues. As, alluded to above Joe Keysor's scope is wide and yet focused as he considers: In part I "Christianity and National Socialism"; The New Testament and the Jews Medieval Christian Anti-Semitism Adolf Hitler's Secular and Ungodly Ideas The Christians in Nazi Germany In part II "The Origins of National Socialism"; The Historical Background Wagner Chamberlin Haeckel Nietzsche One useful feature of the book is that it is part bibliographical criticism in that along the way he notes various books and even websites that relate to his subject matter and notes their strengths and weaknesses. An example regarding books states, "A more academic attempt to directly link Christianity to Naziism is Richard Steigmann-Galls' The Holy Reich" which, "asserts that Adolf Hitler `regarded Christ's struggle as direct inspiration for his own' and claims `Adolf Hitler insists that Christianity is at the center of Nazi social thought' and `regards the teachings of Christ as direct inspiration for the `German' socialism advanced by the party.'" Then, in a refreshingly straight forward and commonsensical manner, Joe Keysor writes, "This explains why Adolf Hitler cared nothing for political power, was a pacifist, and commanded his followers not to fight on his behalf" (p. 3) Another example regarding websites is Jim Walker who will have some major s'planing to do form both the, now, discredited website which he runs and the fact that he refused to correspond with Joe Keysor, Walker claims that Hitler believed in the God of the Bible, and then attempts to substantiate it with words from Hitler's speeches and from Mein Kampfthat show Hitler to have had many ideas directly contrary to the Bible's teachings. That is a peculiar sort of logic, to strongly assert a point, and then offer evidence to the contrary in support of it [p. 116]...To prove Hitler's Christianity Walker gives a quote showing that Hitler had a purely secular and humanist concept of it [p. 117]. These are mere examples of the dissection that Joe Keysor performs on Jim Walker's propaganda. Joe Keysor also tackles various attempts to read anti-Semitism into the New Testament (note that of the 27 New Testament books/epistles 25 were written by Jews). For instance, the fallacious claim that the New Testament condemns "the Jews" for Jesus' death while excusing the Gentile Romans as exampled by Pontius Pilate literally and figuratively washing his hands of the judgment he handed down to have Jesus crucified (by Gentile Romans). Joe Keysor comments thusly, "What sort of commentators think that a judge can knowingly sentence an innocent man [which Pilate admits] to be tortured to death and then clear himself by a simple theatrical gesture?" (p. 30). To further this point and evidence non-anti-Semitic Christian attitudes in post-Medieval Christianity reference is made to Matthew Henry's 1706 commentary on this text (his Bible commentary is still very popular today) which states, By saying; in which, First, He clears himself; I am innocent of the blood of this just person. What nonsense was this, to condemn him, and yet protest that he was innocent of his blood! For men to protest against a thing, and yet to practice it, is only to proclaim that they sin against their consciences. Though Pilate professed his innocency, God charges him with guilt, Acts iv. 27. Since "Adolf Hitler, the Holocaust, and the Bible" tackles, in part, the question of whether Christianity logically, and/or theologically, leads to Nazi-like concepts and actions part one begins with an elucidation of what C.S. Lewis termed "mere Christianity." A basic overview of what, biblically, is a Christian and therefore, what is Christianity? It will be fascinating to see what sorts of opinions will arise as to Joe Keysor's book because those interested in the subject range widely, and wildly, from the scholarly works of careful researchers to those who are satisfied with claiming that since the Wehrmacht wore belt buckles that read "Gott mit uns" the matter is settled. Little do such pseudo-skeptics stop to ask who is this Gott, what are its attributes, whence comes such a theology. And this is not even to mention (ok, mentioning) that the "Gott mit uns" motto dates to Otto von Bismarck's 1870 imperial standard and that the SS's motto was "Meine Ehre heißt Treue." (my honor is loyalty). If we could judge a person's entire worldview by their belt buckles I would imagine that there are literally millions of professional rodeo bull riders. Thus, in another commonsensical note; Joe Keysor writes, there are people today who have faith in Adolf Hitler's honesty (or pretend to) and claim that he was an upright and truthful man who expressed his religious views with candor and sincerity. These people say "We know Adolf Hitler was a Christian because he said so himself!" (p. 74) This goes to the point that was made by Moishe Rosen, The phrase "2,000 years of history leading up to the Holocaust" is more than a reference to past prejudice and persecution. It is an indictment against Christianity that misinterprets Christ's message and intent. Anyone who gives credence to such an accusation bestows upon Adolf Hitler the power to change theology [Compiled by Eliyah Gould, Rich Robinson and Ruth Rosen, The Y'shua Challenge - Answers for Those Who Say Jews Can't Believe in Jesus (San Francisco, CA: Purple Pomegranate Productions), p. 21, citing Moishe Rosen, "Am Yisrael Chai," Issue, 9:4 (1993), p.2]. Otherwise, this sentiment "well describes German `Christians' like Hans Kerrl, the Nazi Minister for Church Affairs, Kerrl stated `A new authority has arisen as to what Christ and Christianity really are--Adolf Adolf Hitler'" (p. 21). In counter distinction, it bears repeating that the total percentage of `Christians' who have actively persecuted Jews in nearly 2,000 years of Christianity is a small one. Random mobs in the Middle Ages or in eastern Europe, a cruel Inquisition in only a small handful of countries out of the many in which Christianity has flourished--these denials of Christianity were nothing but sin an devil, directly contrary to the New Testament's calling for the Christian (p. 28). Yet, this is no mere assertion on the part of Joe Keysor but it contextualized by references to the Bible, on the one hand, and references to history, on the other. As for those who fallaciously attempt to justify their malicious actions by appealing to the Jesus or biblical Christianity "That they practice evil in the name of Christ does not justify them, but rather intensifies their guilt" (p. 29). It is also elucidating to note that as for those who are satisfied by myopically condemning Christianity and Christians for the actions done by those who violate Christianity ethics, "a blood libel has been attached to the teachings of Christ, often by the very same people who hypocritically object to a blood libel being applied to themselves" (p. 37). I must admit that upon reading Joe Keysor's review of the Crusades I thought it utterly inadequate as he thought to accomplish this in half of one page (p. 53). Yet, studying the Bible has attuned me to think in terms of context--both immediate and greater. Thus, so as to not take a text out of context to make a pretext of a prooftext... Read more ›
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thorough Trouncing of the Charge,
By Telling it Like it Is "nuff said." (Minnesota, US) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Hitler, the Holocaust, and the Bible: A Scriptural Analysis of Anti-Semitism, National Socialism, and the Churches in Nazi Germany (Paperback)
Joe Keysor puts together a solid rebuttal to the charge that Hitler and his holocaust are derived from Christian principles. This charge is becoming more and more frequent, in particular in the mouths of atheists and skeptics who are interested in pinning every nasty thing that humanity has ever done on the shoulders of religionists, and Christians in particular. The irony is that in this case the reverse is true: Hitler's ideology was fueled by various 'secular' philosophers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Keysor doesn't merely assert this, but demonstrates it. He shows how Hitler's thought reflects the writings and beliefs of evolutionary apologist Haeckel and nihilist Nietzsche and of course Wagner, to name a few.
He also engages in a frank conversation about Christians that have been accused of fueling Hitler's anti-semitism such as Martin Luther. While not a scholarly treatise, per se, scholars will find fertile material here. It is amply resourced with an extensive bibliography (available online). Christian apologists will especially find it useful. The main reason why this book is not 'scholarly' per se is because it does not pretend to be impartial. Personally, I prefer Mr. Keysor's approach as a great deal of 'scholarly' work is biased beyond belief, with 'impartiality' a mere pretension. This is especially the case in 'scholarship' critical of Christianity like we see from folks like Crossan and the Jesus Seminar. Mr. Keysor states his assumptions up front and isn't shy about them. As such, the intelligent reader can factor them into his reading of the text. The occasional barb also makes for enjoyable reading; or at least as enjoyable as such a topic could permit.
7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Religion-first - erudite history-second,
By
This review is from: Hitler, the Holocaust, and the Bible: A Scriptural Analysis of Anti-Semitism, National Socialism, and the Churches in Nazi Germany (Paperback)
In his book "Hitler, the Holocaust, and the Bible", author Joe Keysor writes from a conservative fundamentalist Christian perspective to offer an exhaustive essay refuting possible links between Hitler and the National Socialists and Christianity. Keysor covers all of the bases, lending chapters in defense of medieval Christians and the Bible itself against indictments of anti-Semitism, in defense of German Christians and their actions in Nazi Germany, and revealing the actions of Hitler to preclude any notion that he was a practicing Christian. In confronting a broad scope of secular arguments that aim to establish Christian roots in National Socialism, Keysor leaves few stones uncovered in defending his faith with great breadth and tenacity. In addition, Keysor develops and supports his thesis by pointing to convincing evidence in primary and secondary sources that National Socialism was in fact a function of an extensive philosophic and pseudo-Christian groundwork laid by 18th century Romantic German philosophers.
This essay should be well-received in Christian circles, as the main thesis is supported by "faith assumptions" - the theory that certain elements of an argument must be received in faith - and frequent citation of Biblical anecdotes, mandates, and doctrine. Keysor often references the Bible and traditional Christian beliefs, and makes it very clear to the reader that his religious beliefs shape his arguments. Keysor's essay presents a great deal of evidence that would suggest Christianity's disconnect from the roots of National Socialism, and uses an extensive list of citations to support his arguments. This essay uses several selections of primary source work, from Hitler's own Mein Kampf to writings by Schopenhauer and Nietzsche, to illustrate the philosophical background of the Nazi movement, and utilizes several different authors' analyses to further extrapolate on the thesis. It is clear that the author has a sufficient grasp on the cultural and philosophic history of Germany to support his thesis clearly and in depth. Keysor also finds secondary sources that offer opposition to his arguments, and confronts them head on to resolve the discrepancy in scholarship. However, in his effort to provide a Christian history of the foundations of National Socialism, Keysor's recurrent use of exclusive Christian themes creates a gap between his work and the Academy. Keysor confronts dissenting secular historians in the field with a strong "us versus them" mentality, and approaches their scholarship with a rigid air of superiority, based on his religious enlightenment. Keysor appears to pick and choose the authors and arguments he wishes to refute, and in giving limited information about opposing arguments, he sets them up as a straw man ready to burn. In addition, the author relies heavily upon works already completed by published authors, compiling others' arguments to create his own. This essay uses religious, faith-based refutations to refute secular arguments, thus failing to meet dissenters on their own terms and creating a chasm between Keysor's Christian history and a Christian history that could be embraced by the accepted historical Academy. Although there are several reasons to reject this book as a buoyant example of academic Christian history, it was not Keysor's intent to appeal to academic historians. The phrase "Scriptural Analysis" in the sub-script of the title makes it clear that the author writes for an audience of fellow Christians seeking to defend their faith against indictments of founding Nazism. In addition, the presupposition of the Bible as the literal and inerrant word of the true Christian God is not intended to stir controversy among the audience, but confirm a common belief. Read in the intended context of a `religion-first - erudite history-second' perspective and not in search of purely academic scholarship, "Hitler, The Holocaust, and the Bible" will prove a driving and comprehensive study for the reader. One can expect a truly revealing essay and a valuable source for further discussion.
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