And here is a summary of the response of German churches at the time:
Summary of Church Responses to Nazi Regime and Positive Christianity
The reaction of German churches to the Nazi regime and its concept of "Positive Christianity" varied significantly, ranging from support to resistance, reflecting the diverse religious landscape in Germany at the time.
Protestant Churches:
The Protestant churches were primarily divided between the
German Christians, who supported the Nazis, and the
Confessing Church, which resisted Nazi attempts to co-opt Christianity.
- German Christians: This group embraced Nazi racial ideologies and supported integrating these views into Christian teachings. They advocated for the removal of Jewish elements from Christian practices and aligned closely with Nazi policies.
- Confessing Church: Led by theologians like Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Niemöller, this faction opposed the Nazification of Protestant churches. They stressed the importance of the Old Testament and the Jewish heritage of Jesus, directly challenging the ideological distortions of Positive Christianity.
Catholic Church:
The Catholic Church’s response was initially to negotiate its position through the
Reich Concordat of 1933, an agreement aimed at protecting church rights under the Nazi regime.
- Early Accommodation: Through the Concordat, the Catholic Church aimed to preserve its independence, but this agreement inadvertently lent legitimacy to Hitler's regime.
- Increasing Conflict: Tensions grew as the Nazis increasingly violated the Concordat’s terms and implemented policies that conflicted with Catholic teachings, especially those regarding euthanasia and racial laws.
- Catholic Resistance: Notable resistance emerged from figures like Bishop Clemens August Graf von Galen, who openly criticized Nazi policies from the pulpit. The Vatican also issued the encyclical "Mit brennender Sorge" in 1937, denouncing Nazi ideology.
Mennonites:
The Mennonites, though smaller in number, had a varied response to the Nazi regime, influenced by their pacifist beliefs and the geographic diversity of their congregations.
- Support and Accommodation: Some Mennonite communities, particularly those in more rural areas, found the Nazi emphasis on agrarian values and ethnic purity appealing. A portion of the Mennonite community tried to fit into the regime by highlighting their Germanic heritage and agreeing with racial policies.
- Opposition and Pacifism: Despite some levels of accommodation, many Mennonites struggled with the regime's militarism and overt violence, which conflicted with their pacifist principles. However, their isolated and pacifist nature often meant that resistance was more passive and less coordinated than in other denominations.
Overall Impact and Resistance:
The churches in Nazi Germany navigated a precarious situation, grappling with moral and ethical dilemmas on how to respond to a regime that aggressively sought to reshape religious beliefs to fit its agenda. While some church leaders attempted to find a middle ground through political neutrality or limited support, others engaged in active resistance, striving to uphold the core tenets of their faith against the regime's intrusions.
The varied responses from the Protestant, Catholic, and Mennonite churches underscore the broader struggle within Germany over how to deal with the pervasive and invasive ideologies imposed by the Nazis. The degree of resistance and accommodation displayed by these religious institutions reflects the complex interplay between faith, politics, and survival in an era marked by extreme totalitarianism.
Is it biblical? Is it Christlike? Is it loving? Is it true? How can I find out?