Adolf Hitler's Views on Religion and Evolution

Adolf Hitler is often cited as being an atheist and Darwinist, by critics of the theory of evolution. The claim is that the theory of evolution and a survival of the fittest mentality were driving forces behind the pogroms of the 3rd Reich. Many theists believe evolution goes against God. Indeed, they often equate those who accept evolution with atheists. As if the two go hand in hand. And of course, no true Christian would massacre millions of people. Perhaps these are some of the reasons Hitler is claimed to have been an atheist. But are those claims about him true?

Hitler and Religion

Adolf Hitler was not an atheist. In fact, he was a Christian. Specifically, Catholic. Thus, his view on origins was that everything was created by the will of an almighty God. I ran across many theist websites while researching this thread, and found in their case for Hitler being an atheist, they cherry picked quotes out of context, and ignored most others all together. There can be no doubt, in my mind, that Hitler was religious. The evidence is overwhelming, as we shall see.

Mein Kampf, page 65:

“Hence today I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: by defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord.“

Mein Kampf, page 152:

“This human world of ours would be inconceivable without the practical existence of a religious belief.”

Mein Kampf, page 174:

“And the founder of Christianity made no secret indeed of his estimation of the Jewish people. When He found it necessary, He drove those enemies of the human race out of the Temple of God.”

Mein Kampf, page 383:

”Anyone who dares to lay hands on the highest image of the Lord commits sacrilege against the benevolent creator of this miracle and contributes to the expulsion from paradise.”

Mein Kampf, page 562:

”The folkish-minded man, in particular, has the sacred duty, each in his own denomination, of making people stop just talking superficially of God's will, and actually fulfill God's will, and not let God's word be desecrated. For God's will gave men their form, their essence and their abilities. Anyone who destroys His work is declaring war on the Lord's creation, the divine will.”

Speech delivered in Munich, April 12th 1922:

”My feeling as a Christian points me to my Lord and Savior as a fighter. It points me to the man who once in loneliness, surrounded only by a few followers, recognized these Jews for what they were and summoned men to fight against them and who, God's truth! was greatest not as a sufferer but as a fighter. In boundless love as a Christian and as a man I read through the passage which tells us how the Lord at last rose in His might and seized the scourge to drive out of the Temple the brood of vipers and adders. How terrific was his fight against the Jewish poison. Today, after two thousand years, with deepest emotion I recognize more profoundly than ever before the fact that it was for this that He had to shed his blood upon the Cross. As a Christian I have no duty to allow myself to be cheated, but I have the duty to be a fighter for truth and justice. And as a man I have the duty to see to it that human society does not suffer the same catastrophic collapse as did the civilization of the ancient world some two thousand years ago—a civilization which was driven to its ruin through this same Jewish people.”

Speech delivered in Passau, October 27th 1928:

”We are a people of different religions, but we are one. Which faith conquers the other is not the question; rather, the question is whether Christianity stands or falls... We tolerate no one in our ranks who attacks the ideas of Christianity … in fact our movement is Christian. We are filled with a desire for Catholics and Protestants to discover one another in the deep distress of our own people.”

Speech delivered in Stuttgart, February 15th 1933:

”I do not merely talk of Christianity, no, I also profess that I will never ally myself with the parties which destroy Christianity. If many wish today to take threatened Christianity under their protection, where, I would ask, was Christianity for them in these fourteen years when they went arm in arm with atheism? No, never and at no time was greater internal damage done to Christianity than in these fourteen years when a party, theoretically Christian, sat with those who denied God in one and the same Government.”

Speech delivered at the Reichstag, January 30th 1937:

”It is not for men to discuss the question of why Providence created different races, but rather to recognize the fact that it punishes those who disregard its work of creation... As I look back on the great work that has been done during the past four years you will understand quite well that my first feeling is simply one of thankfulness to our Almighty God for having allowed me to bring this work to success. He has blessed our labors and has enabled our people to come through all the obstacles which encompassed them on their way.”

Speech delivered at Regensburg, February 20th 1938:

”In this hour I would ask of the Lord God only this: that, as in the past, so in the years to come He would give His blessing to our work and our action, to our judgement and our resolution, that He will safeguard us from all false pride and from all cowardly servility, that He may grant us to find the straight path which His Providence has ordained for the German people, and that He may ever give us the courage to do the right, never to falter, never to yield before any violence, before any danger... I am convinced that men who are created by God should live in accordance with the will of the Almighty... If Providence had not guided us I could often never have found these dizzy paths... Thus it is that we National Socialists, too, have in the depths of our hearts our faith. We cannot do otherwise: no man can fashion world-history or the history of peoples unless upon his purpose and his powers there rests the blessings of this Providence.”

Radio broadcast, July 20th 1944:

”I thank Providence and my Creator, not for saving my life, but for making it possible for me to endure my cares and pursue the task which my conscience commands me.”

Speech delivered in a radio address, January 30th 1945:

”Only He can relieve me of this duty Who called me to it. It was in the hand of Providence to snuff me out by the bomb that exploded only one and a half meters from me on July 20, and thus to terminate my life's work. That the Almighty protected me on that day I consider a renewed affirmation of the task entrusted to me. In the years to come I shall continue on this road, uncompromisingly safeguarding my people's interests, oblivious to all misery and danger, and filled with the holy conviction that God the Almighty will not abandon him who, during all his life, had no desire but to save his people from a fate it had never deserved, neither by virtue of its number nor by way of its importance.”

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It seems clear that Adolf Hitler was indeed a Christian, and abhorred atheism. It must be noted that I found a few quotes to the contrary! However, upon further research those quotes are disputed or miss-attributed. In any case, if anti-Christian sentiments were ever actually made by Hitler, they are outweighed by the sheer volume of pro Christian and religion statements. I get the feeling that he did have a disdain for what he viewed as false Christianity.

There are many, many more quotes from Hitler about religion and his personal beliefs. Visit the Wikiquote page, Religious views of Adolf Hitler, RationalWiki's Hitler on Religion, or this essay called Hitler's Religion, to read more.

In addition to quotes, there is also an ample supply of Nazi photos depicting Hitler and other members of the party with members of the church (Priests, Bishops, Cardinals etc.), attending services, in prayer, at funerals, and at weddings, among other things. One picture is of Cardinal Secretary of State, Eugenio Pacelli signing an agreement between Nazi Germany and the Vatican. Pacelli later went on to become Pope Pius the XII.

There are also Nazi artifacts depicting Christian symbols and mottos. As well as Quotes from Hitler's henchmen and Nazi sympathizers. And of course, the churches themselves supported Hitler.

Hitler and Evolution

Extreme critics the theory of evolution often come to the false conclusion that it promotes and supports racism. This could not be further from the truth, and it was never the intention of Charles Darwin for his theories and ideas to be considered in such context. He should hardly be blamed for the actions of those that misunderstand and skew the theory, for their own agendas. Unfortunately his character is continuously under attack. However, Darwin isn't the focus of this thread.

The question is, if a skewed understanding of evolution was a motivating factor in the actions of Adolf Hitler and the 3rd Reich?

In guidelines from Die Bücherei (1935), we find a list of types of literature to be banned. One entry states:

”Writings of a philosophical and social nature whose content deals with the false scientific enlightenment of primitive Darwinism and Monism (Häckel).”

Source.

Quickly touching on the Christian aspect of the 3rd Reich again, since the theory of evolution is often viewed as an attack on God by some. In, Blacklist for Public Libraries and Commercial Lending Libraries, we find:

”All writings that ridicule, belittle or besmirch the Christian religion and its institution, faith in God, or other things that are holy to the healthy sentiments of the Volk.”

Source.

Mein Kampf, Vol. 1 Chapter 3:

“The anti-Semitism of the new movement (Christian Social movement) was based on religious ideas instead of racial knowledge.“

If Hitler ever talked about Charles Darwin, there are no surviving records of what he said. No doubt he was at the very least aware of him, and the theory of evolution. As we have seen, literature on Darwinism was in the book banning guidelines. Still, this is not enough, we have to dig deeper!

On interbreeding Hitler said things like:

Mein Kampf, Vol. 1 Chapter 11:

“No more than Nature desires the mating of weaker with stronger individuals, even less does she desire the blending of a higher with a lower race, since, if she did, her whole work of higher breeding, over perhaps hundreds of thousands of years, night be ruined with one blow.“

Mein Kampf, Vol. 1 Chapter 11:

“The result of all racial crossing is therefore in brief always the following:

(a) Lowering of the level of the higher race;

(b) Physical and intellectual regression and hence the ......beginning of a slowly but surely progressing sickness.

To bring about such a development is, then, nothing else but to sin against the will of the eternal creator.“

Mein Kampf, Vol. 1 Chapter 11:

“The result of all racial crossing is therefore in brief always the following:

(a) Lowering of the level of the higher race;

(b) Physical and intellectual regression and hence the ......beginning of a slowly but surely progressing sickness.

To bring about such a development is, then, nothing else but to sin against the will of the eternal creator.“

Mein Kampf Volume I, Chapter 11

On natural selection Hitler said things like:

Mein Kampf, Vol. 1 Chapter 3:

“Whatever survives these hardships of existence has been tested and tried a thousandfold, hardened and renders fit to continue the process of procreation; so that the same thorough selection will begin all over again. By thus dealing brutally with the individual and recalling him the very moment he shows that he is not fitted for the trials of life, Nature preserves the strength of the race and the species and raises it to the highest degree of efficiency.“

Mein Kampf, Vol. 1 Chapter 3:

“By leaving the process of procreation unchecked and by submitting the individual to the hardest preparatory tests in life, Nature selects the best from an abundance of single elements and stamps them as fit to live and carry on the conservation of the species.“

On human evolution Hitler said things like:

Hitler's Table Talk:

“There have been human beings, in the baboon category, for at least three hundred thousand years.“

Hitler's Table Talk:

“Where do we acquire the right to believe that man has not always been what he is now? The study of nature teaches us that, in the animal kingdom just as much as in the vegetable kingdom, variations have occurred. They've occurred within the species, but none of these variations has an importance comparable with that which separates man from the monkey — assuming that this transformation really took place.“

It should be noted that Hitler's Table Talk isn't universally accepted, and there is criticism regarding the translations.

Some of the things Hitler said may sound like he is referring to the biological theory of evolution. However, it is my opinion that is not the case. It could be said that perhaps he understood and accepted some of the concepts. But it is clear, he did not understand it in it's entirety. Whatever understanding Hitler may have had about the theory of evolution does not actually reflect the theory itself. Nor did the theory, have any major influence on the pogroms of the 3rd Reich.

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Conclusions

To those who will say Adolf Hitler is not an example of what all Christians would do in a similar position of power, I say this. Joseph Stalin is not an example of what all atheists would do in a similar position of power. I did not create this thread to bash Christians, or to say, ”Look what they're capable of!”. The intent is to set the record straight about Adolf Hitler. A figure often used to say, ”Look what atheists are capable of!”. It shouldn't be a contest. People of all races and creeds are capable of horrible things. Hitler was an artist too. Should we now assume all artists are potential mass murderers?

From an atheist perspective, Hitler is dead and gone. From a Christian perspective, there exists the real possibility he is in heaven living it up! God only knows...


This thread was inspired by, Racial Darwinism, a video by Aron Ra.

Looking forward to comments and more information.

He was just another Jackalope using religion to push his agenda...
HE was not a true Christian a true Christian would know the Jews are GOD'S chosen people...

originally posted by: ATF1886
He was just another Jackalope using religion to push his agenda...
HE was not a true Christian a true Christian would know the Jews are GOD'S chosen people...

Only God knows a man's heart.

Not excusing Hitler's actions but as they say, every mans a sinner.

Only God would know if Hitler was a true Christian, at heart.

Either way, Hitler identified as a Christian.

True true true but the problem with your theory is that he killed millions of people i dont think he was truly in line with GODS heart lets be honest with each other...a reply to: WakeUpBeer

originally posted by: ATF1886
He was just another Jackalope using religion to push his agenda...
HE was not a true Christian a true Christian would know the Jews are GOD'S chosen people...

No True Scotsman Fallacy

originally posted by: ATF1886
True true true but the problem with your theory is that he killed millions of people i dont think he was truly in line with GODS heart lets be honest with each other...a reply to: WakeUpBeer

Well, I am an atheist so I agree with you!

But from a Christian perspective, it's open to interpretation.

It's not as if God hasn't commanded genocides before.

But, you will note I am not trying to make the case that Hitler's Christianity represents other Christians or Christianity as a whole. It's a more complex issue than that I'd say.

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: WakeUpBeer

The reason it is called the "Third Reich" is because it is the third Holy Roman Empire. With the first being the one in Rome, the second being the Empire under Charlemagne and this one being under Hitler.

Interesting, I did not know that.

Thanks for your comment. You're right it's pretty clear not only was he a Catholic, but had the support of the church. Another interesting thing to note was that Hitler was never excommunicated. There was a Nazi officer who was, but his name escapes me at the moment. Something to do with a marriage I think though, and not war crimes.

originally posted by: Krazysh0t
a reply to: WakeUpBeer

It's pretty obvious that Hitler was a Catholic. The reason it is called the "Third Reich" is because it is the third Holy Roman Empire. With the first being the one in Rome, the second being the Empire under Charlemagne and this one being under Hitler. It's pretty much the 1940's equivalent of ISIS declaring a caliphate, except in this case the Catholic church backed him up.

Smarty, where's your source? Was the second really considered under Charlemagne? There are some who would question that.

Solitary with a bible, then he wrote "Mein Kampf"..

Seriously this sounds like religious doctrination, a tool used to brainwash masses with sexy ideas and mental abstracts, to lead them to conquer others, all in yhe name of the UNKNOWN-almighty one. ..

The evil jews and their magic! They were too much a threat, and god didn't agree to have them around due to their opposing abstracts. .

He killed, slaughtered, and slept at night. I don't care if he was Christians, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhism, a guru or whatever his abstracts were.

He killed. He was a crazy son of a bitch who spent too much time alone.

a reply to: WakeUpBeer

Looking forward to comments and more information.

I am sure Hitler and the Nazis were model Christians:

During Hitler's dictatorship, more than 6,000 clergymen, on the charge of treasonable activity, were imprisoned or executed.[30] The same measures were taken in the occupied territories; in French Lorraine, the Nazis forbade religious youth movements, parish meetings, scout meetings, and church assets were taken. Church schools were closed, and teachers in religious institutes were dismissed. The episcopal seminary was closed, and the SA and SS desecrated churches, religious statutes and pictures. 300 clergy were expelled from the Lorraine region, monks and nuns were deported or forced to renounce their vows.[31]

or

During the war Alfred Rosenberg formulated a thirty-point program for the National Reich Church, which included:

The National Reich Church claims exclusive right and control over all Churches.
The National Church is determined to exterminate foreign Christian faiths imported into Germany in the ill-omened year 800.
The National Church demands immediate cessation of the publishing and dissemination of the Bible.
The National Church will clear away from its altars all Crucifixes, Bibles and pictures of Saints.
On the altars there must be nothing but Mein Kampf and to the left of the altar a sword.[38]

Religion in Nazi Germany

Nazi ideology conflicted with traditional Christian beliefs in various respects - Nazis criticized Christian notions of "meekness and guilt" on the basis that they "repressed the violent instincts necessary to prevent inferior races from dominating Aryans".[20] Aggressive anti-Church radicals like Joseph Goebbels and Martin Bormann saw the conflict with the Churches as a priority concern, and anti-church and anti-clerical sentiments were strong among grassroots party activists.[21] East Prussian Party Gauleiter Erich Koch on the other hand, said that Nazism "had to develop from a basic Prussian-Protestant attitude and from Luther's unfinished Reformation".[22] Hitler himself disdained Christianity:[23]

and here is a quote :

In Hitler's eyes, Christianity was a religion fit only for slaves; he detested its ethics in particular. Its teaching, he declared, was a rebellion against the natural law of selection by struggle and the survival of the fittest.

— Extract from Hitler a Study in Tyranny, by Alan Bullock

Kirchenkampf

Here is another quote :

We live in an era of the ultimate conflict with Christianity. It is part of the mission of the SS to give the German people in the next half century the non-Christian ideological foundations on which to lead and shape their lives. This task does not consist solely in overcoming an ideological opponent but must be accompanied at every step by a positive impetus: in this case that means the reconstruction of the German heritage in the widest and most comprehensive sense.

— Heinrich Himmler, 1937

Nazi Persecution of the Catholic Chruch

Peace

Hitler is actually a fascinating study.

Definitely a "madman" by some means. Whether abusive childhood, manipulation, drugs, power, interest of human origin ---- whatever.

a reply to: WakeUpBeer

Sorry I misspoke. They have changed the classifications of reichs since I studied them. A reich is just an empire and they don't classify the Holy Roman empire as one of the three reichs. I don't want to parlay bad info.

a reply to: eisegesis

Yeah. I was wrong. I made the mistake of looking up the source after I spoke lol. Going off of bad preconceived notions from poor history classes I guess.

a reply to: WakeUpBeer

What people say about themselves is not nearly as important as what they do.

Since Jesus was himself a Jew, I doubt you could attribute anything Hitler actually did to being a Christian act.

He also self-identified as a "socialist" in a speech I've read, that you have likely seen and yet people will argue he was not. Usually those with socialist leanings that don't want to be associated with him, even though his actions have nothing to do with their beliefs.

Being Christian has to do with following the teachings of Christ, not what a person claims to be. By their fruits..............

originally posted by: Krazysh0t

originally posted by: ATF1886
He was just another Jackalope using religion to push his agenda...
HE was not a true Christian a true Christian would know the Jews are GOD'S chosen people...

No True Scotsman Fallacy

No true Scotsman is an informal fallacy, an ad hoc attempt to retain an unreasoned assertion.[1] When faced with a counterexample to a universal claim.

link to False Claim

You and all the people that post this crap from Wikipedia need something better to go on you post these links with this information with out even understanding what it means...

a reply to: ATF1886

Everything you just said doesn't make it untrue. You made an informal fallacy by claiming that Hitler wasn't a Christian because he doesn't live up to YOUR ideals of what a Christian is despite claiming his whole life that he was a Christian.

a reply to: Seed76

You are correct. Other Christians and churches weren't safe from the hammer of the Nazis. This is one of the reasons I get the feeling he had his vision of what a "true Christian" was, and he set about to take care of those that didn't fit that bill. As for anti-Christian sentiments from Hitler. All of those quotes (that I am aware of) stem from the disputed source, Hitler's Table Talk (linked in OP). It was published in the early fifties and a main point of critique it faces is in it's translations to English. You will have to form your own opinion as to whether or not consider it accurate.

That being said, like I pointed out in the OP. The sheer volume of pro Christian sentiments and claims of being one himself, far outweigh the few possibly inaccurate quotes to the contrary. Also, the multiple amount of times he refers to "Almighty creator" in general.