Later this evening I am teaching a weekly Biblical studies/theology group through Zoom, which I often introduce with a teaser question or some thought-provoking exercise. I rarely focus on politics (neither in my theology teaching nor in this forum) but in view of the gravity of our times—and recent events in American politics—I’ve decided to introduce tonight’s Zoom class session with two discussions:
(1) How did Hitler and the Nazis foster support among Germans who called themselves Christians? And what controversial question among historians is associated with the calendar date of Kristallnacht? (Was the associations with the calendar date a deliberate strategy of the Nazis or just a convenient coincidence.?)
(2) “Let’s play a game. Who said it: Hitler or Trump?” Here’s the quotations I have so far. (Perhaps readers have some additional suggestions.)
“We pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and the radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country . . ."
“We must first root out the causes which led to our collapse and we must eliminate all those who are profiting by that collapse . . . "
*“It is a very sad thing for our country. It’s poisoning the blood of our country. It’s so bad, and people are coming in with disease." *
“The threat from outside forces is far less sinister, dangerous and grave than the threat from within."
“It’s the blood of our country; what they’re doing is destroying our country.”
For readers who would accuse me of having an agenda, I’ll just say that I agree. I eschew hatred, racial/ethnic bigotry, and especially the hypocrisy of associating Jesus with ominous ideas which have nothing to do with his teachings. I will also say that I’ve been a registered Republican and a Bible-affirming Evangelical Christ-follower since before most readers were born. (I’m not a “godless liberal”, “pinko”, “leftist”, or whatever knee-jerk label some would casually banter about towards anybody they don’t like.) I certainly do not take recent events lightly. I’ve read a great deal of German history, some of it in the original language. As much as I am cautioned by the reality of Godwin’s Law, I can’t help but be alarmed at the obvious danger recent events represent.
Moreover, what alarms me most is NOT that we have in America quite a number of politicians who are entirely comfortable with such alarming rhetoric (or, at least, try to minimize the significance of the rhetoric by calling it “unhelpful” or just “poorly chosen words.”) No, I’m horrified that so many millions of Americans, especially millions of Americans who claim an affiliation of some sort with Jesus, are not at all horrified by such language.
If my viewpoint and grave concerns are unsupported by the facts, I am very happy to be corrected.