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While we are on the topic of Einstein's opinions: "Being a lover of freedom, when the revolution came in Germany, I looked to the universities to defend it, kn
by shawndumas 10y ago
While we are on the topic of Einstein's opinions:
"Being a lover of freedom, when the revolution came in Germany, I looked to the universities to defend it, knowing that they had always boasted of their devotion to the cause of truth; but, no, the universities immediately were silenced. Then I looked to the great editors of the newspapers whose flaming editorials in days gone by had proclaimed their love of freedom; but they, like the universities, were silenced in a few short weeks. [...]
"Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler's campaign for suppressing truth. I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and admiration because the Church alone has had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual truth and moral freedom. I am forced thus to confess that what I once despised I now praise unreservedly."
- adamnemecek 10y agoWasn't the Catholic church in cahoot with Nazis though? Didn't they help top Nazi officials flee Europe with Vatican passports after the war?
- Retric 10y agoThe Catholic church has long offered sancutary. Cahoots implys more than that IMO. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_and_Nazi_Germany_during_World_War_II https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_and_Nazi_Ger...
- pfortuny 10y agoThe simple answer is "no they weren't." The nuanced answer is "it's complicated." But anyway, you are forgetting the countless Jews who were saved by the Vatican. And in Nazi Germany the Church was persecuted. Edit: s/which/who s/jew/Jew
- fredgrott 10y agoyes but was not Germany full protestant?
- dogma1138 10y agoHalf Lutheran/Protestant, half Catholic.
- wmil 10y agoNo. In 1933: 66% Protestant, 33% Catholic. Jews < 1%. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Nazi_Germany https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Nazi_Germany
- weinzierl 10y agoRoughly divided in protestant north and catholic south - same as today. Catholic southern Germany was and is culturally and religiously much closer to Austria (and maybe even Italy) than to northern Germany. Hitler was from Austria and raised catholic.
- woodandsteel 10y agoMy understanding is there was a strong Catholic political party that opposed the Nazis, but Hitler made them a lot of promises in exchange for dropping opposition. Then when he came to power he broke the promises.