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Gleishcshaltung and the Confessing Church During the German Church Conflict , by Emily J

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Gleishcshaltung and the Confessing Church During the German Church Conflict , by Emily J LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF RELIGION GLEICHSCHALTUNG AND THE CONFESSING CHURCH DURING THE GERMAN CHURCH STRUGGLE A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF THE SCHOOL OF RELIGION IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTERS OF ARTS IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES BY EMILY J. DARNELL NOVEMBER, 2008 ii LIBERTY UNIVERSITY THESIS APPROVAL SHEET ____________________________________________________________ Grade Date ____________________________________________________________ Dr. John Morrison, Thesis Mentor Date ____________________________________________________________ Dr. Craig Hinkson, Reader Date iii Contents Abstract ……………………………………………………………………………..v List of Terms……………………………………………………………………..….vi Chapter 1. Introduction …………………………………………………………….1 2. Luther’s Theology as a Voice Directed at the Church………………….6 A Fallacious Quietism in The Two Kingdoms……………………..7 Lessons on Obeying Temporal Authority…………………………11 Martin Luther and the Germanic Pagan Myths……………………15 Luther’s Anti-Semitism……………………………………………16 Implications………………………………………………………..19 3. The Impact of the Weimar Years……………………………………...26 Loss of Dignity as a Nation……………………………………….27 Aversion to Democracy…………………………………………...29 Volk, Volkstum, Volkheit…………………………………………..30 The Kingdom of God……………………………………………..33 The Volk in the Church……………………………………………37 From Weimar Republic to Third Reich…………………………..40 4. Deutsche Christen Working with Hitler………………………………43 Formation of the German Christians………..……………………..44 Heretical Doctrines of the German Christians………………….…46 Gleichschaltung………………………………………………………… .48 Hitler’s Creed and Revelation…………………………………….52 iv A Purely Aryan Church...…………………………….……………56 Chancellor Hitler’s Church Involvement………………………….57 5. The Confessing Church……………………………………………….60 The Pastor’s Emergency League...…………………….………….61 The Barmen Declaration……………………………….………….66 The Confessors After Barmen.………….………………………...71 Hitler Seen as Threat…………………………………………..….75 The Church is Not a Volkskirche …………………………………82 6. The “Word” and Karl Barth’s Words to the Churches………...…..…85 Barth’s Early Years………………………………………………85 Theology that Resisted Safety…………………………..…..…....89 Addressing Doctrinal Issues………………………………….…..93 The Kingdom…………………………………………….94 The Church………………………………………………96 Revelation……………………………………………….97 Answering Questions……………………………………………100 7. Conclusion…………………………………………………..….…...104 Appendix………………………………………………………………………..112 Reference List…………………………………………………………………...114 v Gleishcshaltung and the Confessing Church During the German Church Conflict , By Emily J. Darnell, M.A., Liberty University, 2008, 111 pages. This thesis analyzes the contributing factors to the actions taken by the churches in Germany during what Karl Barth and others termed the Kirchenkampf , or German Church Struggle. The Kirchenkampf took place mainly in the 1930s and 1940s. As Hitler rose to power, a new term was coined, Gleichschaltung , which described his program for bringing all of Germany and his conquests into line with the worldview of the Third Reich. The primary sources for research include works by Martin Luther that shaped the mindset of the churchmen, and history texts detailing the Weimar Republic serving as background for the cultural upheaval experienced by all Germans. From the time of the Kirchenkampf , sources include church history texts with documents and data pertaining to the 1930s and 1940s, and works by Karl Barth directed at the churches of this era. Gleichschaltung was successful in most areas of Germany and German occupation. This thesis will analyze whether it was successful inside the German churches. Churches were granted many freedoms in the legal constitution of Germany prior to the Third Reich. In contradiction of their stated position the State controlled much of the church’s life including religious education of youth, preaching, finances, attendance, and written publications, to name a few. The Confessing Church arose at this time, not as a separate provincial church, but as an organized opposition to Gleichschaltung . They united pastors and faithful believers in Christ in the quest for truth and identity. Both truth and identity were at stake as outside voices were redefining “church” “Christianity” “revelation” and “worship.” Other sources of revelation were introduced, and the Old Testament and Paul’s writings were banned. Only those of Aryan descent could participate in church activities, and a form of Christianity mixed with Nordic German myths was creeping into the churches as a group called German Christians gained leadership positions. Despite all this, there were Christians who remained faithful to the confessions, to all of Scripture, and to one Lord. Karl Barth attests that this era was used by God to show the Church her need of Him, and to remind Christians that the True Church could never crumble. vi List of Terms NSDAP –The National Socialist German Workers Party, declared the only legal political party by Hitler Kirchenkampf –The Church Struggle, so called by Christians in Germany, approximately 1933- end of WWII. Bekennende Kirche —The Confessing Church, an association of pastors swearing allegiance to Christ, but not Hitler. Glaubensbewegung Deutsche Christen —The German Christian Faith Movement, responsible for mixing “Nordic heathenism” and Völkische teachings into Christian Doctrine, removing the Christian doctrines that offended them. They strove to work with Hitler. Völkische –having to do with the Volk Volk –sometimes translated “folk” or “people” it implies kindred connected by blood alone. Gleichschaltung –Hitler’s process of bringing all of German life into line with his worldview. Reich –Empire, realm. Barmen Declaration –Document issued by the Confessing Church to counter the German Christian teachings. Weltanschauung –Worldview. Herr Reichminister – The position created in 1935 to aid the Reichsbischof when Hitler deemed he was not bringing the churches into line quickly or appropriately enough. Aryan clause, Aryan paragraph - This government clause stated that only those of Aryan descent could participate fully in work, commerce, education, worship, etc. Great War – The name given to WWI prior to there being a WWII. Weimar Republic –the German democracy formed after WWI, short lived. Länder –country, nation. Führer –leader. Landeskirchen - Land churches, territorial churches or regional churches Kirchentag - A group that would exercise supervisory powers over the Landeskirchen , and establish synods. Reichsbischof – The position first appointed by Hitler to work with German Church in bringing them into line with the Third Reich. 1 CHAPTER ONE Introduction The churches in Germany at the end of the Great War 1 were mainly Catholic, Lutheran, or Reformed. For many years, all churches were tied to the State, receiving tax money and protection. This tradition goes back even to Luther’s day, when he was accused of being a little too cozy with the princes. 2 During and after the Reformation, this bond ensured that the princes were part of the process of choosing who would be a leader in the church. This tradition greatly impacted the way the Church experienced political changes during the 1930s and 1940s, as Hitler came to power. In a lecture at Oxford, 1938, Barth described the offer held out to the German churches as one that seemed so promising. This offer made by Hitler’s government seemed like an answer from God to the trouble caused by war and declining attendance: The promise was made to her: if she now took the right attitude, if she now had the courage to grasp and support the spirit of the new time, then the hour had come at which the great masses, that 80 to 90 per cent. of the German people which had hitherto stood aloof from the Church, would return to her…Only one small condition was attached…3 Barth was speaking tongue-in-cheek when he said that condition was small, it was anything but small. Complete allegiance to a worldview contrary to its essence was not a small condition for the church to submit to. Karl Barth viewed the Kirchenkampf as a struggle for truth. There were many influences on the church at that time, many voices wanting to have the allegiance of the German Protestants during the 1930s. Was there an hermeneutic that would allow the 1 The name given to WWI prior to there being a WWII. 2 Lewis Spitz, “The Political Luther” in Christian History , Vol. 11 Issue 2 , 1992, http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&an=9604291032. 3 Karl Barth, Trouble and Promise in the Struggle of the Church in Germany , translated by P.V.M. Benecke, (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1938), 5-6. 2 church to remain orthodox in her faith? This question is best answered by an analysis of these influences and their role in the development of the German Church. This particular analysis will include the life and teachings of Martin Luther, the German Culture following the Great War 4 in which culture the völkische 5 movement flourished, the heretical teachings of the German Christians who worked with Hitler throughout the German Church Conflict, and Karl Barth’s teachings that ran counter to these. Karl Barth noticed the struggle before many theologians in Germany, he fought heresies with his Christo-centric hermeneutic and was answering the questions that many Christians would look back and ask. One scholar has noted that up until the mid-1970s, almost all books covering this era and the Kirchenkampf had political agendas, not one had a German Christian viewpoint, and few dealt with the theological and religious aspects. The Church was not
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