You are correct that the Nazis were not Christian. I neglected to make that distinction. They bear the lion’s share of the responsibility. However, the Nazis did take advantage of centuries of Anti-Semitism in Europe and the civilian population who were Christian largely stood by and did nothing. Although there were valiant exceptions to this fact and while it could be said that the Christians who did stand up were more true to their faith than others, the fact remains that Christians bear at least some responsibility both for the climate in which the Nazi party flourished and for looking the other way as millions of Jews were sent to the camps. Thankfully, the majority of Christians have repented of playing even this part in the Holocaust and have worked very hard to redeem our faith by protecting and supporting Jews since then. This shows a great maturity which islam isnt even close to showing. Whatsmore, given the modern era’s access to information and cross-cultural exchange, islam has even less excuse to be so far behind in its growth curve. So while the records of the two faiths may be about even regarding Anti-Semitism, it is telling that islam shows so little interest in catching up to the Christian example. I doubt that they will since, for just one example, they can’t allow synagouges in Saudi without disobeying mohammed’s explicit directions. They cant allow full freedom of speech or religion without also disobeying explict commands against allowing Christians to freely spread their faith on an even playing field among muslims as muslims are allowed to do in Christian dominated lands. I see Christians pulling far ahead in years to come while muslims will fall farther and farther behind.

I wouldn’t ascribe the Nazi murder extravaganza to Christians. The Nazis were hardly to be described as Christians. They were more along the lines of the atheism that become fashionable in the late 19th Century and that people who considered themselves up-to-date adopted in the 20th Century. In a book called “Hitler Strikes Poland” about the early murder operations in WWII, Alexander B. Rossino looks at the backgrounds of the senior officers of the SS who commanded the special murder units. The all had to renounce their religious faith in order to gain promotion to high rank in the SS.

Incidentally, one of the classes of targets for those murder brigades, in addition to the Jews and various other Poles, was members of the Boy Scouts.

When I said that the records are about the same I meant to include modern history. I dont think I am exagerating at all when I say that no Jews living outside of their own homeland have ever been treated better than they have been in America. It wasn’t islam that achieved this high water mark. Nothing, not even this acheivement, excuses something like the Holocaust or any progrom committed by anyone. I only mean to say that each group has been just as anti-Jew as the other when all has been taken into account. Historical circumstances made the Nazi’s into monstrously efficient exterminators but the Arab Muslim world has been straining to catch up ever since. Both faiths should be ashamed of themselves. Unfortunately only the Christians have managed to express that shame and sorrow to the Jews. Thanks be to G-d, as we say. It not to our credit but to His.

Apparently his thinking went something like this.

Every bad thing that Christians have ever done to the Jews can be blamed on the Christian faith itself. But every bad thing that Muslims have ever done is not the fault of islam but of culture or the evil of a few individuals.

I tried to get him to realize/admit the truth and burst his unrealistic, idealistic bubble by arguing quite correctly that neither Christianity nor islam can possibly claim to have historically treated the Jews better than the other. The history of both faiths, and I speak as a devout Christian here, are equally bad and equally inexcusable. Neither one can be or should be exonerated by their believers if they are truly interested in bringing these faiths to maturity.

But his bitterness and delusion was inpregnable. ahhh well. I tried.

Good post. Keep spreading the word. I just found your blog due to Sharon’s illness. I like it very much. If only I could have found it under better circumstances….