The Civitas Podcast Episode 33: The Age of Hitler and How We Will Survive It, with Alec Ryrie
6 snips
Jul 30, 2025 
In this lively discussion, Alec Ryrie, a Professor of Christianity at Durham University and author of 'The Age of Hitler and How We Will Survive It', delves into the dark interplay of Protestantism and the Nazi regime. He highlights the moral complexities of that era, showcasing figures like Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The conversation also warns against compromising political alliances today and critiques the fragile foundations of modern human rights. Ryrie argues for the preservation of Christian traditions to inform ethics in today's turbulent climate.
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Protestant Churches' Failure Under Nazism
- German Protestant churches largely failed morally under Nazism, with many aligning with the regime.
- Few heroic exceptions like Bonhoeffer and Barth recognized Nazi evil clearly and resisted courageously.
Theological Limits on Nazi Resistance
- Protestant theology, especially Lutheran two kingdoms doctrine, hampered resistance to the Nazi state.
- Bonhoeffer struggled to frame opposition within this theology, ultimately denying Nazi legitimacy as a state.
Hitler as Moral Absolute Post-War
- Post-WWII Western ethics are dominated by the moral absolute of Hitler's evil.
- This focus teaches what to hate but fails to offer a complete moral framework, needing integration with older traditions.
