Theological Debates, Defamation, and the Horrors of the Holocaust
In a chilling revelation from World War II, Heinrich Himmler's Posen speech, delivered on October 4, 1943, offers a rare and unsettling insight into the Nazi regime's policies during the Holocaust. The speech, delivered to senior SS officers at Posen (now Poznań, Poland), openly admitted the systematic extermination of the Jewish people as Nazi policy.
During the height of the war, Himmler candidly acknowledged the ongoing genocide, emphasizing the need for secrecy and justifying the atrocities as a necessary duty. The speech, which can be found at this link, provides direct documentary evidence of the Nazi leadership's knowledge and deliberate execution of the Holocaust.
The context of the speech was during a time when the Nazis had already implemented large-scale genocide, mainly in Eastern Europe. By late 1941, extermination efforts intensified with the establishment of death camps like Auschwitz, and by 1943, Himmler was addressing SS leaders about these actions amid ongoing military conflicts on the Eastern Front.
Rebecca Hamilton, in her essay "Slander is Murder with Words," argues that slander is a form of murder with words, and the author of the article shares similar sentiments. In a recent development, Andy Sloan posted a meme about the author on Twitter, which the author considers a form of slander.
The author is also concerned about the rise of antisemitism, both in religious and political circles. They warn against introducing political antisemitism through the back door of religion and question the reasoning behind the anger that drives antisemite slanderers. The author is particularly concerned about stoking the fires of enmity and preserving free speech.
Moreover, the author is troubled by theological dogmatizing or immanentizing, believing these practices to be wicked. They are also concerned about some people using God's name in support of their hatreds, political projects, and dogmas. The author suggests that antisemites' judgments are bad, their sources dubious, and their reasoning half-baked.
In a more general context, the author is concerned about the totalitarian rulers of Russia and China preparing for war against the United States. They warn against the dangers of political antisemitism and the stoking of enmity, particularly in the current geopolitical climate.
The author's writings are free of anti-Russian and anti-Chinese bigotry, and they encourage a thoughtful and nuanced approach to understanding international relations. They believe that God is mysterious and beyond the understanding of mortals, and they encourage a respectful and compassionate approach to religious and political discourse.
[1] Rebecca Hamilton, "Slander is Murder with Words" - [Link] [2] Andrew Nagorski, "Hitlerland: American Eyewitnesses to the Nazi Rise to Power" [3] Martin Gilbert, "The Holocaust: A History of the Jews of Europe During the Second World War" [4] Ian Kershaw, "The Nazi Dictatorship: Problems and Perspectives of Interpretation"
- The author of "Slander is Murder with Words" expressed concern about political antisemitism, warning against its introduction through the back door of religion and the stoking of enmity.
- The author is particularly worried about the potential war between the United States and totalitarian rulers like those of Russia and China in the current geopolitical climate.
- In the essay, the author argues that slander is a form of murder with words, and they are troubled by the use of God's name in support of hatred, political projects, and dogmas.
- The author encourages a thoughtful and nuanced approach to understanding international relations, free of anti-Russian and anti-Chinese bigotry, and advocates for respectful and compassionate discourse in religious and political contexts.
