Holocaust - Mass Killing of the Jews - Essay Example

Holocaust Theology It would not be a mistake to suggest that the previous century was full of significant events that shaped the development of the human civilization. Indeed, it features many historic discoveries that changed the world into what we see now. However, there are also some sorrowful pages that were written, namely two world wars. While World War I was considered to be greatest armed conflict at the time, the atrocities of it were surpassed by what happened during World War II. This paper will explore one of such aspects, namely Holocaust, engaging views of the scholars and exploring the connection between religion and mass killing of the Jews. Thus, if one reads the text by Berenbaum, one will be able to see the general picture of the time. Indeed, the Nazi Germany was a young state that desperately needed recognition of its is new ways. At first it seized the power legally when Adolf Hitler was appointed a Chancellor. However, in the course of a series of attacks on the opponents, the NSDAP became the only real power in the country. There could be no resistance to them as otherwise people will be eliminated. It is quite understandable that under such conditions the Germans who knew about the final solution could not express their views freely as they were afraid for their life as well. Berenbaum was one of the researchers who tried to draw a connection between Christianity and the mass killings that took place. He noted that the Nazi acted in the Christian social environment and, therefore, had to align their actions with the dominating moral framework. Keeping in mind the scope of the Holocaust, one might suggest that they succeeded in doing so. Some scholars, like Heinsohn, put emphasis on a different aspect of Holocaust. He argues that the modern people are simply not able to understand the event that took place in the middle of the previous century: our contemporaries live in a completely different set of conditions. Indeed, the citizens of the Nazi Germany faced other problems. The government thought that the best way to ensure the survival of their state is to perform the following steps: get rid of the weak that hold the state back; re-conquer the territories to gain more space for the growing population; get rid of the Jewish principles that largely guided the development of the German society. Further more, this scholar points out that the Holocaust should not be seen as simple military operation: it is an ideological war that sent a particular message not only to the Jews, but to the Germans as well as to the world in general. Indeed, the Slavs were the next nation to be executed. On the other hand, Bloxham points out that there was another aspect that should be included: it is the religious background. Europe used to be united by Catholicism, but later it was divided between Catholic and Protestant states. Nevertheless, they were able to make a pact and unite against other religion. Therefore, conflicts with the aliens in terms of religion are nothing new to Europe in general, for example the struggle against the Muslims. That is why the extermination of Jews which were perceived as an ethnic as well as a religious group was quite understandable. In other words, Jews were labeled as aliens and aliens are always dangerous, even if they are cooperative. For example, prior to the Holocaust, they were integrated into the economic life, but there still was a sense of unease. There is yet another important point that should be made: the tragedy of Holocaust happened in the time period when modernity emerged. Keysor notes that one of the characteristic features of modernity is secularism which is hostile to any religion, including Christianity. Furthermore, he argues that it is easily compatible with nationalism which was extremely popular in the nineteenth century. The reason that can explain their fruitful cooperation is the following: they both tried to unite what religion has already united. Therefore, the latter was largely seen as the enemy. In addition to that famous philosophers were often engaged to justify violence. The most controversial example is the use of Kant’s idea. The irony lies in the fact that he was against viewing people as means, but that is exactly the logic behind the thinking that led to Holocaust. Another component that is partially responsible for the imperialistic approach towards politics. Indeed, the Nazis were not willing to limit their ambitions with the East Europe only. They thought that extermination of Jews is just the beginning of the Reich that would last for at least a thousand years and become the greatest political power on the planet. Finally, it was quite interesting to learn that the form of violence in question largely happened, because people were trying to do their best to protect the group. Indeed, Waller suggests that the Holocaust might be easily explained by the fact that the German nation was united against a common enemy and was heroically eliminating it, expecting positive consequences. In other words, the Jews were used as scapegoats for the young Nazi state as the latter claims that they were responsible for all the misfortunes that the Germans had to experience in their lives. In addition to that, the Jews were objectified and their mass killings were not perceived as tragedy, but merely a way to build a better society. This is a form of making a problem less sensitive to the public. Having examined all the points that were brought up in the paragraphs above, one is able to make the following conclusion: the Holocaust is surely one of the worst tragedies that the humanity witnessed. It is so controversial that the modern people are not able to fully understand it. Partially the institute of religion is engaged in it, as the Jews are not only an ethnic group, but a religious community as well. All in all, the modern people can hardly understand that the reasons for this events in full. Read More