Hitler's Religion: The Twisted Beliefs that Drove the Third Reich Hardcover – Illustrated, November 21, 2016

My disclaimer is that I was given this book in exchange for writing a review. A fuller disclosure is that I had already preordered the book at the time the offer was made. I accepted the offer and gave the extra copy to a friend. I have read all of his books and you should too if you are interested in how our culture arrived at where we are today. I recommend this book highly for any who find Hitler fascinating.Hitler was arguably the most influential and interesting leader of the 20th century. He led a civilized society that was still the zenith (though less so after WWI) of European culture into perpetrating acts so despicable that it created a whole class of people known as deniers. For some, these deeds let loose by Hitler are simply too horrible to contemplate. What drove this man? Could Hitler really have had any religion? In Hitler’s speeches and writings he spoke of God, a Creator and on at least one occasion a ‘Lord and Savior.’ Were his beliefs based on anything like the Bible and Christianity? Did they translate into anything like orthodox Christianity?If all you want is a one sentence answer, Dr. Weikart gives it in the introduction but there is so much more in this book. At heart, Weikart is a scientist. This may sound strange as a description of a historian but history too is a science. This book is assiduously footnoted with sources. Whenever possible, Weikart uses Hitler’s own words from Mein Kampf, Hitler’s Second Book and published speeches. Secondary sources include Table Talk, collections of anecdotes and interviews with close associates. Where controversies exist, Weikart presents his argument then follows with his opposite number’s counterargument and finally he gives his rejoinder to the counterargument. Honesty like this is refreshing and rare. Would that all historians would present their view in such a fashion.The early chapters include an exploration of Hitler’s early influences – notably Schopenhauer and Nietzsche – and whether or not Hitler was a Christian or an Atheist. Later, Weikart explores Hitler’s true antipathy toward Christian churches, the sources of his anti-Semitism and whether or not he was an occultist/pagan. Weikart finishes up with the identity of Hitler’s ‘Lord’, in what sense he believed in creation and the basis for the morality that he possessed.Hitler’s agenda and the reaction to it reshaped the world. It was an epic battle of good against evil. Ideas do have consequences. You would be mistaken if you think that such a man had no theology or that you have no theology. This book is an in-depth exploration of the philosophical, theological, logical and scientific foundations of Hitler’s vision for the modern world and it is a damn fine read.

This book is exquisitely researched. This is definitely worth reading. I've cross verified the facts out forth by the author and I can confirm that all he has written is completely accurate and factual.

This book has given me a very clear view of what Hitler believed. It's not the simple caricature of a Christian or Atheist as I hear all the time from people trying to throw those views under the bus. This book paints a more nuanced picture that matches and explains reality. Excellent book!

Sadly, after months of anticipation, I could only get through about 1/3 of this book before I simply could not read any further. Weikart has a very dull, very academic writing style where he jumps back and forth and just repeats facts. I couldn't do it anymore.However, I will say that this book is long overdue. Over and over and over and over again, we have been told by militant atheists that Hitler was a devout Christian and this is what drove him to do what he did. I encourage those militant atheists to read just the first 100 pages like I did, and this theory will be completely annihilated for them. Hitler simply despised Christianity and he especially hated the teachings of universal love and pacifism. He even preferred the ancient Greco-Roman architecture to the grand Catholic cathedrals of his day.One striking fact that really stuck with me from this book is the fact that during World War I, rather than carrying a Bible like most other soldiers, Hitler carried a copy of the German atheistic philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer with him. This strikes me as both odd and good evidence against the theory that Hitler was motivated by Christianity. In wartime, most soldiers turn to the Bible because it offers them spiritual comfort during times of great despair, but a pessimistic, atheistic philosopher like Schopenhauer will only dampen somebody's spirits even more. How on earth Hitler's mind worked we will never know.Another important argument in this book is that for Hitler and most of the Nazis, it would have been political suicide for them to renounce their membership in the Catholic Church. They didn't do this because they knew they needed the Catholic support to gain power. So when somebody like Richard Dawkins just carelessly asserts that Hitler was a genuine Catholic because he never renounced his membership, it makes the atheists look much more unreasonable than the Christians. There was a political reason he didn't withdraw his membership, not a religious one!Furthermore, I cannot help but notice a slight similarity between the policies of the Nazis and the policies of many secular leftists today: they both advocate a complete separation between religion and politics. And they both also view Christianity as hindering human progress. Of course I am not saying that all secularists today are Nazis, but in any case, their world-views are not all that different. Hitler and the Nazis simply could not be farther from Christianity, both in their actions and in their beliefs.Indeed, this book essentially takes all of what we have been spoon-fed in school and by militant atheists and turns it completely upside down.

Weikart's work is well researched, with copious quotes, that begins by discussing the problems identifying the religion of Adolf Hitler. While he is at his strongest when arguing negatives (what Hitler was not), he does penetrate beyond the propaganda wars of our current day.

Everyone knows how horrible Hitler was but very few can trace the ideology he used back to the root. Weikart does this and the effect is chilling. Amazing but chilling.

A good explanation of Hitler’s world view, and a good break down of his religious underpinnings.If you want to understand how an entire country can be drawn into the worst evil imaginable, this is a book worth reading. Well researched.A lot of repetition of the main points, which made for slower reading, of an otherwise clear and understandable text.

Dr. Weikart really knows his stuff. Delves deep into the people and literature that influenced Hitler's thoughts and beliefs.