Recently, Bill O'Reilly had Richard Dawkins on. Dawkins is one of the premiere evolutionary scientists in the world, and O'Reilly assaulted him with his usual closed mindedness. I have to admit that he wasn't as acerbic as I might have expected...but his basic argument was that he believes what he believes, and Dawkins believes what he believes...even though Dawkins was trying to make some legitimate points.
The one thing that really teed me off about the discussion was O'Reilly made the claim that Hitler was an Atheist...basically implying that this Godlessness was the reason for why the Nazi party did the things it did. Since that time, I've seen a lot more rhetoric on the Net echoing this idea. It's basically a matter of people hearing someone they believe and respect (O'Reilly), and accepting his word as gospel...if you'll excuse my use of that word.
The truth is that Hitler was a Christian, and even when Dawkins tried to point this out, O'Riley dismissed it. As evidence, I give you this...
I believe today that my conduct is in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator. [Adolph Hitler, Mein Kampf, pp. 46]
I know a lot of atheist, and I can't imagine any of them saying something along those lines...although I can hear a lot of the more radical Christians saying these kinds of things...
It's pathetic that people just want to believe whatever they hear, and then accept that as what is right in the world. Nine times out of ten, if I hear something that fits with my worldview, I'll at least double check to make sure it's accurate...it's really not that hard, but Americans tend to be herd animals, and only want to accept things that fit into their small, narrow view of the world. Thus the reason why we're in the situation we now find ourselves in.
Friday, April 27, 2007
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5 comments:
It seems Hitler either a Christian or Atheist, depending on what was good for Hitler.
http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/quotes_hitler.html
Interesting, though, that fascist like O'Reilly should need to use Hitler to attack atheists.
Mussolini defined Fascism here:
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/mussolini-fascism.html
and it interesting to note the similarities to the Neocon's views.
A Christian is someone that believes in Jesus
A born again Christian is someone that has taken a water baptism (different then a birth baptism) and prophases Jesus as Lord and savior. There are many Christians that are church goers that are not born agains.
I believe today that my conduct is in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator. [Adolph Hitler, Mein Kampf, pp. 46]
The above does not make Hitler a Christian any more then Orthodox Jews believe in God but not in Jesus. Orthodox Jews are not Christians. I believe in God but not in Jesus. There is a difference.
I am not a church goer or a bible thumper either.
Gott mitt unst. My hubby says that was on the belt buckles of the SS or something like that. Sorry for the misspelling.
Also see:
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/Adolf+Hitler's+religious+beliefs
According Goebbels, Hitler disliked "flabby" Christianity, but believed in God. He thought Moslems were closer to the truth.
From everything I've read, it would seem that he was a Christian, but he basically believed what he wanted to believe and nothing else. In other words, he took the parts of Christianity that he could bend to his will and goals, and tossed out the rest.
Jim-I have no problem with someone believing in god. I'm not one of those atheists that's out to "convert" everyone. I just get a little upset when someone twists reality to slam atheists. It would be like me saying that since Hitler was a Christian, then clearly Christians have no moral center. That was basically what O'Reilly was saying about atheism...and he's wrong. There are a lot of great people that are atheists...just like there are a lot of shitty people that are atheists. The same is true with any group...
Like the Crusaders of old, the Nazis wore crosses and massacred the Jews.
If they weren't Christians, they could have fooled me.
Robert
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