(June 18, 2013 at 2:45 pm)apophenia Wrote: My point being that Hitler having and being motivated by other things besides Christian beliefs and aims does not preclude him as also having been motivated by Christian ones.That's fine and dandy but then you went on to say: Christianity... is quite compatible with, and even consonant with, many motivations which result in palpable evil.
Now, when you say this, are you referring to Christians, or the actual religion Christianity? The former is obviously is true, as with any other group, but if you're arguing the latter, then you'd have to bring some scriptural evidence or a verdict by the papacy/clergy etc. because that's what the religion is based upon. You cannot use Hitler to argue that the actual religion is compatible with "palpable evil", whatever that means. Evil, of course, isn't objectively defined.