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It is a great pity that this tendency towards religious thought can find no better outlet than the Jewish pettifoggery of the Old Testament, for a religious Folk who, in the solitude of winter, continually seek ultimate light on their religious problems with the assistance of the Bible, must eventually become spiritually deformed. The wretched Folk strive to extract truths from these Jewish chicaneries, where in fact no truths exist. As a result they become embedded in some rut of thought and, unless they possess an exceptionally commonsense mind, degenerate into religious maniacs.

Adolf Hitler#165

ReligionAntisemitismCriticismDogma

About this quote

What does it mean?
The quote argues that religious thought seeking truth in the Old Testament leads to spiritual deformation and fanaticism. It dismisses Jewish scripture as chicanery without truth.
In plain terms
It claims studying the Old Testament leads to spiritual distortion and extremism.
What can you take from it?
Religious texts should be approached with critical thinking.

Where it applies

  • theological debate
  • religious critique
  • historical context

Putting it to work

  • religious studies
  • critical analysis

Questions to consider

  • How does scriptural interpretation affect behavior?
  • What defines healthy religious inquiry?

Another view

The text promotes religious intolerance and misinformation.

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