Reply #135: Well, to be fair,

[Dorian Gray]

we don't need to read Hitler's mind. We have Mein Kampf out there for all to read. Oh, and all the historical records, his political speeches, and oh... his actions... which definitely put a question mark on his "Christianity." Can one hate and torture Jews and still be a "proper" Christian? One would have to follow Jesus' two commandments to the best of their abilities to do so: Love God and Love One Another as you love Me. Not to mention that Jesus, according to the New Testament, was Jewish. So, can one hate the Jewish and still be a follower of Christ?

I would think that Hitler's whole life was anathema to that, as are many other historical "Christian" leaders. But, with the mix of Paganism, Nationalism, and Aryanism at the core of his beliefs, I think it's a valid question to study whether Hitler was still actually Christian or not.

I'm not denying in any way that he was influenced by his Catholic background or German Christianity (Lutheranism). He definitely invoked Christian terms and ideas in his speeches. But, to remain a practicing Catholic, one must attend masses throughout their lives. History shows that he didn't maintain a weekely mass attendance, nor did he fully embrace Lutheranism. So, while he never officially renounced Christianity, he didn't formally practice Christianity, either.

So, can't the answer be that he was a lapsed Christian? That's how I would define him. According to both Catholic and Lutheran beliefs, the belief in the Occult is anathema to Christianity, and he was into the Occult.

None of this means, however, that he was an atheist. His interest in the occult proves that he wasn't an atheist. And he does believe in God, and he believes in Jesus, but not the biblical Jewish Jesus. Can one deny Him, His Ancestry, and His two commandments and still be a Christian? One can proclaim that they are Christians, but when you deny who Jesus is and deny His two commandments, at the very least you are a horrible Christian. But, I would suspect that your Christian faith is false.

And I honestly don't understand why that is problematic.