A Church Divided: German Protestants Confront The Nazi Past Project Muse Upcc Books

This book closely examines the turmoil in the German Protestant churches in the immediate postwar years as they attempted to come to terms with the recent past. Reeling from the impact of war, the churches addressed the consequences of cooperation with the regime and the treatment of Jews. In Germany, the Protestant Church consisted of 28 autonomous regional churches. During the Nazi years, these churches formed into various alliances. One group, the German Christian Church, openly aligned itself with the Nazis. The rest were cautiously opposed to the regime or tried to remain noncommittal. The internal debates, however, involved every group and centered on issues of belief that were important to all. Important theologians such as Karl Barth were instrumental in pressing these issues forward. While not an exhaustive study of Protestantism during the Nazi years, A Church Divided breaks new ground in the discussion of responsibility, guilt, and the Nazi past. This book closely examines the turmoil in the German Protestant churches in the immediate postwar years as they attempted to come to terms with the recent past. Reeling from the impact of war, the churches addressed the consequences of cooperation with the Nazi regime and the treatment of Jews. In Germany, the Protestant Church consisted of twenty-eight autonomous regional churches. During the Nazi years, these churches formed into various alliances. One group, the German Christian Church, openly aligned itself with the Nazis. Some, such as the Confessing Church, were cautious in their opposition to the regime, while others tried to remain noncommittal. The postwar debates, however, involved every group and centered on issues of belief that were important to all. Theologians such as Karl Barth were instrumental in pressing these issues forward. A Church Divided breaks new ground in the discussion of responsibility, guilt, and the Nazi past.Matthew D. Hockenos tracks the divergent and discordant paths taken by prominent pastors, church leaders, and theologians as they sought to explain the church's role in Nazism. In addition to Karl Barth, the churchmen discussed at length include Hans Asmussen, Otto Dibelius, Hermann Diem, Hans Iwand, Hans Meiser, Martin Niemoller, Helmut Thielicke, and Theophil Wurm. The various and contradictory ways these men interpreted their actions and inaction during the Third Reich reflected long-standing divisions within Protestantism over the relationship between Jews and Christians, church and state, and Lutherans and Reformed Protestants. For the conservative Lutheran majority in the church, Vergangenheitsbewaltigung (coming to terms with the past) meant minimizing or excusing the church's complacency toward and complicity in Nazi rule. At the same time, it sought recognition of German hardship and suffering during the war and occupation. A radical minority, on the other hand, harshly criticized these attitudes as wholly inconsistent with Christian values and sought to redress past wrongs by acknowledging the church's share of responsibility for what had happened during the Third Reich. Matthew D. Hockenos Tracks The Divergent And Discordant Paths Taken By Prominent Pastors, Church Leaders, And Theologians As They Sought To Explain The Church's Role In Nazism. In Addition To Karl Barth, The Churchmen Discussed At Length Include Hans Asmussen, Otto Dibelius, Hermann Diem, Hans Iwand, Hans Meiser, Martin Niemoller, Helmut Thielicke, And Theophil Wurm. The Various And Contradictory Ways These Men Interpreted Their Actions And Inaction During The Third Reich Reflected Long-standing Divisions Within Protestantism Over The Relationship Between Jews And Christians, Church And State, And Lutherans And Reformed Protestants.--book Jacket. The Church Struggle : Ecclesiastical, Political, And Theological Disunity In The Third Reich -- Representations Of The Nazi Past In Early 1945 -- Guilt From Another World : Guilt, Repentance, And Forgiveness In The Year Zero -- The Stuttgart Declaration Of Guilt : Religious Confession, Freedom Charter, Or Another Versailles? -- The Guilt Of The Others : Bishop Wurm's Letter To English Christians -- On The Political Course Of Our People -- The Church And Antisemitism -- A Ray Of Light In Their Darkness : The Church And Anti-judaism. Matthew D. Hockenos. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [235]-259) And Index. Cover......Page 1 TOC......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Introduction......Page 16 1. The Church Struggle......Page 30 2. Representations of the Nazi Past in Early 1945......Page 57 3. Guilt from Another World......Page 78 4. The Stuttgart Declaration of Guilt......Page 90 5. The Guilt of the Others......Page 116 6. On the Political Course of Our People......Page 133 7. The Church and Antisemitism......Page 150 8. A Ray of Light in Their Darkness......Page 168 Conclusion......Page 186 Appendix 1. Theological Declaration of Barmen......Page 194 Appendix 2. Message to the Pastors......Page 196 Appendix 3. Message to the Congregation......Page 200 Appendix 4. Stuttgart Declaration of Guilt......Page 202 Appendix 5. To the Christians in England......Page 204 Appendix 6. Statement by the Council of Brethren.........Page 208 Appendix 7. Message Concerning the Jewish Question......Page 210 Appendix 8. Statement on the Jewish Question......Page 214 Notes......Page 216 Bibliography......Page 250 In the period 1933-45 Protestant responses to National Socialism in Germany ranged from enthusiastic endorsement to active opposition.