Reply #104: try as you might

[kwassa]

catbert:
"If the name Christian were exclusive to people who follow and act out Jesus' teachings, which seems to be your definition, than the number of Christians would be very small indeed."

They are very small indeed. You are correct, sir.

"We have no reason to believe Hitler did not believe in Jesus Christ and the God of the Bible, since he said a number of times that he did."

As I said before, his speeches are worthless, and he said he believed in many other things as well, including pagan beliefs, German Nationalism, racial purity, most of which were much more important in his life. He clearly oppressed clergy and churches.

"Most historians and historically-minded people are inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt about his personal beliefs, because no one else truly knew what they were."

The only correct thing you said was "no one else truly knew what they were". You give him the benefit of the doubt. There is great division as to whether or not Hitler could be considered a Christian, you present it as foregone conclusion. What is clear is that it is important as a concept only to some atheists. Why would that be?

"He reaffirmed his Christian beliefs time and again, leading any reasonable person to conclude that without any evidence to the contrary, Hitler personally was a Christian believer."

A reasonable person would consider the totality of Hitler, not focus on the clearly very minor role that Christianity played in his entire life, or his belief system, if any role was played at all. Through his actions, he was one of the great monsters, and anti-Christians of history, if the teachings of Jesus have any value at all.