1 / 17

Age of Ideologies I

Age of Ideologies I. WWII: Pius XII, Dietrich Bonh öffer, Corrie Ten Boom. Post WWI Christianity. 1914 World War I started 1918 World War I ended, leaving a much changed Europe Post WWI Europe suffered a massive dechristianization

donar
Download Presentation

Age of Ideologies I

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Age of Ideologies I WWII: Pius XII, Dietrich Bonhöffer, Corrie Ten Boom

  2. Post WWI Christianity • 1914 World War I started • 1918 World War I ended, leaving a much changed Europe • Post WWI Europe suffered a massive dechristianization • The Roman Catholics responded with increased ties to the state, and various social programs, to some good effect • The protestant churches were a bit more shaken, and due to weaker ties with the state less able to respond

  3. Post WWI Christianity • Especially in Central Europe, Germany was the worst destroyed by WWI and had previously been the center for the majority of European missions work • Britain was also discouraged and subjected to great losses in WWI • In both churches the rise in intellectualism marked a moving away of scholars from Christianity

  4. WWII Roman Catholicism • 1933 Hitler and the Nazi party took majority control in the government • The RCC had long been seeking a concordat (legitimizing agreement) with Germany in order to maintain influence • Shortly after Hitler’s rise to power a concordat was signed laying out various benefits and concessions on both parts • The most important were, freedom of religion, clerics not involved in political parties, and no state interference in RCC organizations

  5. WWII Roman Catholicism • The Reichskonkordat was negotiated by Cardinal Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli who was shortly to become pope Pius XII • The concordat gave legitimacy to the Nazi party allowing an even greater control of the government to fall to them • Some use the above as an excuse to blame Hitler and WWII on the RCC • The problems in the concordat were understood, but seen as unavoidable

  6. WWII Roman Catholicism • Pius XI published “Mit Brennender Sorge” “With Burning Concern” decrying Germany’s abuse of the Reichskonkordat • Cardinal Pacelli became Pope Pius XII on his 63rd birthday, March 2, 1939 • Despite his having formerly worked with them, the Nazi's complained about Pius XII • When the war began he tried to maintain the traditional neutrality of the RCC • He did speak out somewhat against the Nazi’s and anti-semitism, but never directly called for action against them

  7. WWII Roman Catholicism • The RCC’s record during WWII is rather hit and miss, sometimes doing great deeds, other time neglecting great needs • The pope never would take an open stand against the Nazis but did try to obtain passports and aid some Jewish emigration • After WWII the Pius XII and the RCC’s role in the war was greatly criticized • Pius was accused of being Hitler’s puppet, criticized for his lack of involvement, and his acceptance of the Ustase’s war crimes

  8. WWII Roman Catholicism • Pius XII had other influences on the RCC • He exercised papal infallibility in declaring the doctrine of the assumption of Mary • Called the Great Consistory and ended the 400 year long majority of Italian Cardinals • Published an Encyclical titled Humani Generis, explaining the RCC v. Evolution • Died in 1958 under the administrations of a quack, who also botched his embalming • 1999 the RCC appointed the ICJHC to investigate the conduct in WWII, they were inconclusive

  9. WWII Protestantism • Protestantism being inherently more divided than Catholicism, they suffered greater losses during the inter-war period • When the Nazis took power they also tried to take control of the church, they formed the National Reich Church by conglomerating the protestants together • The Nazis attempted to make a puppet church that was merely another platform for popular indoctrination

  10. WWII Protestantism • Through a process called “positive Christianity” they tried to emphasize the Aryan Jesus and deemphasize his Jewishness • While most churches went along with it, generally loving nation above God, the “Confessing Church” went underground

  11. Dietrich Bonhöffer • Born 1906 in Breslau Germany, the 6th of 8 children in an upper middle class family • Wanted to be a minister from an early age • Got his doctorate in theology from the University of Berlin, then studied at Union Theological in New York • While in New York he came to enjoy the “African-American Spiritual” • Returned to Germany in 1931, pastored for a time, and was resistant to the Nazis

  12. Dietrich Bonhöffer • 1931 Along with Martin Niemöller and Karl Barth he set up the “Bekennende Kirche” or “Confessing Church” • Taught in various underground seminaries training German pastors • Emphasized that Nazi ideology must be resisted and the Jews must be helped • Before the war he went to the U.S.A. so that he wouldn’t have to fight, but realized his place was in Germany with his people • 1939 he joined a group of conspirators who were trying to assassinate Hitler

  13. 1943 money used to help Jews escape was traced to him and he was imprisoned • In 1944 the failed July 20 Plot revealed Bonhöffer’s connections to the conspiracy • He was moved through various prison/concentration camps • 1945 in Flossenbürg he was executed by hanging, his brother and two brothers in law were also executed for their part in the conspiracy to assasinate Hitler • His major literary contribution to today is his book The Cost of Discipleship

  14. Corrie Ten Boom • Born April 15, 1892 in Amsterdam • Grew up in a strong Christian home, greatly influenced by her father • Became the fist licensed woman watchmaker in the Netherlands • During WWII her family actively hid many Jews helping them to escape • Her entire family was arrested, her father died, and she and her sister were sent to Ravensbrück concentration camp

  15. Corrie Ten Boom • Her sister died very shortly before Corrie was released • Corrie began an international ministry speaking and teaching about Christ • A movie “The Hiding Place” was based on her autobiography • She died on her 91st birthday in 1983 • You can listen to her at http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=14

  16. Hitler’s Christianity • Some try and claim that Hitler was a Christian, many Christians claim Hitler was an atheist • He was probably primarily atheistic and “Christian” in formality also because it gave him influence, obviously, he was not actually a Christian • In any case Hitler was a rather notorious liar

More Related