The Great Heresy: The Religious Struggle During the Rise of Adolf Hitler

One of the most persistent and puzzling questions facing modern historians has been why the Christian church in Germany appeared to cooperate so enthusiastically with the Nazi regime from 1933-45. Explanations vary from outright condemnation to na ve defensiveness. The Great Heresy offers a more nuanced understanding by situating the German church within its own history, theology, and cultural context. What emerges is a complex but compelling picture of both failure and heroism, of how the church was weakened by its own theology, exploited by cultural and political forces, and yet attempted to regain its integrity even under the most trying circumstances. The Great Heresy documents both the positive and negative roles that religion plays in public life, a story that needs to be heard by every generation.