Re: Speaking of the Holocaust...

I watched a special on the Holocaust last night on PBS. It was a guy who came from survivors going around Europe showing the various places where it played out, and how it played out. There aren't many first-hand account survivors anymore, as the youngest would be in their 80's.

Anyway, it occurred to me that the Jews were annihilated largely by people who were themselves baptized Christians. Many of these Christians were Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant....and they were standing at the end of a gun or just outside the gas chambers. There were many pastors, too, who didn't speak out, who just went along with it. The Pope during that time also didn't forcefully speak against Hitler....And yes, there were countless examples (although not nearly enough) of courageous Christians, who helped save some Jews.

One of humanity's low points. One of organized Christianity's low points, too.

During Lent, I was reflecting on my own shortcomings, of which there are many. If I was ever put in a position like what happened in Europe in the 30's and 40's, what would I do? I think I know what Jesus would want me to do. But I worry I wouldn't have the guts to do it.

And no, I'm not making any comparisons between then and now. Just thinking about what I watched last night & it got me thinking.

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I think it goes like this . . .

Apr 28, 2025, 12:06 PM

At some point, a person commits to the idea that the bible is the inerrant word of God, and that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving. Then their whole world is built around that belief. Any challenge to that is a challenge to their whole world, at the most fundamental level. So when challenged, the first thought isn't "Hmmmm, let's think about this objectively; could they be right? What if I knew nothing of the bible, or any religion, are those the beliefs to which reason and common sense would lead me?". Instead, the thought process is "I've got to figure out a way to support my belief, no matter what".

At the end of the day, even for those who are trying to be objective, there is no getting around the fact that they believe that God created a existence/universe/realm which unnecessarily included hell for most of the people he loved.

No amount of rationalizing, dancing, ignoring, explaining, or denying changes that. As you have seen, I have gotten a ton of lengthy replies in response, but why God would do something so nonsensical has never been reasonably addressed . . . and no, "because he's God" is not it; that just means "I have no idea, that's just what I believe". And as you point out, saying "We as mere humans can't possibly understand God" does not explain why you would believe that God behaves irrationally or nonsensically, or that if God does it, it can't possibly be irrational. That's just the decision to commit blindly to a belief, no matter what. And that too is fine, just admit that's what you're doing.

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Above all else, love and forgive. Understand that people who disagree with you are not necessarily idiots or your enemies. Respect the wisdom of the founding fathers and individual rights and freedoms. Always see the beauty and humor in life.

Speaking of the Holocaust...

What would you have done in Europe in the 30's and 40's?...

Re: What would you have done in Europe in the 30's and 40's?...

Here's a guy....