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Opposition to Christianity (view source)
Revision as of 00:05, December 20, 2009
, 00:05, December 20, 2009→Germany
==Germany==
==Germany==
The Vatican signed the Reichskonkordat in 1933 to try to normalize the status of the Catholic Church in nazi Germany. Nevertheless Catholicism faced much hostility from powerful Nazis, especially from the neo-pagan tendency associated with figures like Alfred Rosenberg. Disputes arose early on sensitive issues and in areas such as youth organizations, religious education, Catholic labor organizations, and the press, though Rosenberg's anti-Christian rhetoric provoked the Church to defend itself more assertively. Though only a minority of German Catholics actively resisted the regime, many kept a critical distance from it. The Church's predicament showed that traditionalism and hard-line fascism were essentially irreconcilable, but also revealed the limits of the German Church's political understanding in 1933.<ref> Günter Lewy, ''The Catholic Church and Nazi Germany'' (1964); Ernst Christian Helmreich, ''The German Churches under Hitler'' (1979)</ref>
The Vatican signed the Reichskonkordat in 1933 to try to normalize the status of the Catholic Church in nazi Germany. Nevertheless Catholicism faced much hostility from powerful Nazis, especially from the neo-pagan tendency associated with figures like Alfred Rosenberg. Disputes arose early on sensitive issues and in areas such as youth organizations, religious education, Catholic labor organizations, and the press, though Rosenberg's anti-Christian rhetoric provoked the Church to defend itself more assertively. Though only a minority of German Catholics actively resisted the regime, many kept a critical distance from it. The Church's predicament showed that traditionalism and hard-line fascism were essentially irreconcilable, but also revealed the limits of the German Church's political understanding in 1933.<ref> Günter Lewy, ''The Catholic Church and Nazi Germany'' (1964); Ernst Christian Helmreich, ''The German Churches under Hitler'' (1979)</ref>
The Nazis set up the Hitler Youth which fought the Catholic Church for control over the young generation in the catholic regions. The Hitler Youth's power and influence have been greatly overestimated, while the Church's efforts to retain the loyalties of its young adherents, in limiting the Hitler Youth's anti-Christian impact, and in preserving its own influence over religious and moral education proved unexpectedly successful.<ref< Daniel Horn, "The Struggle for Catholic Youth in Hitler's Germany: an Assessment," ''Catholic Historical Review'' 1979 65(4): 561-582</ref>
==Italy==
==Italy==
The Italians of the 17th century were considered by European intellectuals as either libertines, who did not believe in God, or as fools, who believed in religious superstitions. Libertinism was a development parallel to the Catholic [[Counter-Reformation]] with its formal religion, priestly power, and Inquisition. Libertines brought to fruition a form of anti-Christian and antihumanistic Aristotelianism that led to a radical naturalism. The most famous thinkers in this tradition were [[Giordano Bruno]] and [[Thomas Companella]]. Intellectual libertinism, which defined itself as the opponent of religion, did not survuve into the 18th century.
The Italians of the 17th century were considered by European intellectuals as either libertines, who did not believe in God, or as fools, who believed in religious superstitions. Libertinism was a development parallel to the Catholic [[Counter-Reformation]] with its formal religion, priestly power, and Inquisition. Libertines brought to fruition a form of anti-Christian and antihumanistic Aristotelianism that led to a radical naturalism. The most famous thinkers in this tradition were [[Giordano Bruno]] and [[Thomas Companella]]. Intellectual libertinism, which defined itself as the opponent of religion, did not survuve into the 18th century.