Houses on the Sand?: Pacifist Denominations in Nazi Germany

by James Irvin Lichti

Under Hitler, Germany’s state-linked provincial churches functioned as seedbeds of nationalism. A smaller and independent church form – the «free church» or denomination – offered greater promise of nonconformity. Linked by pacifist traditions, German Mennonites, Seventh-day Adventists, and Quakers promoted a range of liberal empowerment of the individual conscience, respect for confessional diversity, and separation of church and state. Nonetheless, two of these denominations used these same principles to defend and even embrace the Nazi regime. This book examines what makes Christian communities – when meeting the harsh challenges of modernity – viable entities of faith or hollow forms.

292 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2008

Reviews

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I heard Lichti speak at a conference in March 2018, and wanted to read his book. I assume this is his dissertation. It is the most heavily footnoted book I have ever read (compliment). He looks at the denominational literature of 3 groups: Mennonites, Quakers, and 7th Day Adventist during Nazi Germany. I would have thought his degree was in theology, but the bio says history. This reads as a very hefty theology book. It was quite well done, but it was tough for me to keep up on all of it. His overall point is that these 3 groups weren’t as outspoken against Hitler as you might have hoped, but he notes the limitations of looking only at published literature [during a fascist regime].