Hitler.

[truthpaste]

Re: Hitler.

I agree. See also my reply to Robin Friday's Ghost response.

Yes thanks for that, we can learn a lot from every generation, and also appreciate how much easier we have it in comparison.
I envy the fact that so many more knew the Lord in those days, so it must have been so much easier having a 'normal' conversation about matters outside this brief existence in time. I feel that way when I meet many people from Africa (for example), as they are able to talk about faith as casually as we do the weather, with no sign of a nose bleed!

As for your comments on character and our approach to those who are seeking reliable answers in the fog of war, politics, materialism, lust and vanity, then one guy I work alongside on our leadership team is very much like yourself, measured and much less confrontational than I often am. I suppose I see him as the 'John' and I am more the 'Peter', though I don't have a collection of ears in my freezer

I just feel that if someone wishes to sweep their hand (like dismissing an email on their mobile) at what Christian's believe, then they should at least have two things; firstly a good reason for why they think otherwise, and secondly their reason for dismissing the claims of Christ including His Resurrection, particularly given the irrefutable evidence.

I have chosen to work on the 'front line' for just over 40 years, discussing key matters with (for example) Muslims, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, Religious Protestants, Catholics (R), open minded Agnostics, and of course the more common close minded Agnostics.
Each of them have a position on Christ, even if it's only His Name on their angry lips.
Of course many would assume I have blazing arguments with these people, but with the exception of a few over-heated 'religious christians', I end up having a mutually enjoyable time with the majority, often exchanging email addresses for further correspondance or arranging to meet regularly to talk things through properly. One such retired JW couple I have met on and off since 2018.

[Gofer Blue]

Re: Hitler.

My brother lives in the States and over there they call them the Greatest Generation. My uncle died in WW2 and is buried in Padua cemetery in Italy. I've been there to visit his grave. It's beautifully maintained and very peaceful. My cousin (who was in the armed services) and I put together a dossier of his life including his time at war. He was actually captured twice and was eventually injured by US friendly fire and died of gangrene later. We even have letters from the Italian nurse who looked after him.
I became interested in the interwar era after becoming friends in my early 20s with an old chap who was a lifelong communist and had been active in the political struggles of that time. An incredible man among many incredible men and women.
I hope you get to write your story. There is never a better time than now.

During WW2 your uncle would have been in Italy at the same time as my Dad. Our Dad was with a field ambulance unit in the 78th (“The Battleaxe") Division and came to Italy via North Africa. I have read the war diaries for his unit at the NA in Kew and subsequently retraced his movements all the way through Italy to Austria where he was demobbed. I took photos of all the towns and villages that his unit had stopped at and talked to some of the locals, at least the ones who were old enough to remember the war. We actually stayed one night at the same villa which his unit had commandeered back in 1944 - it's now a B&B!

I was thinking of him yesterday in particular as it was the 80th anniversary of the battle at Monte Cassino. Although he rarely spoke about the war (again I wish I had asked him more about his memories) I discovered after he died that the battle there had had a huge impact on him, because so much so that he had written a poem about it. I didn't know this until going through his papers - he called it "A Lament for Liri Plain". It is very moving.

The war time exploits will form quite a big section of the biography I think, as it brought about a huge change in his life circumstances.

I too have visited some of the military cemeteries in Italy. As you say they are immaculately kept. The one with the biggest impact on me was the Polish cemetery at Cassino. I actually cried when I saw the number of graves there (over 1000) and in particular reading the inscription there:

"We Polish soldiers, For our freedom and yours, Have given our souls to God , Our bodies to the soil of Italy, And our hearts to Poland."

Heartbreaking.

[SLUDGE FACTORY]

Re: Hitler.

During WW2 your uncle would have been in Italy at the same time as my Dad. Our Dad was with a field ambulance unit in the 78th (“The Battleaxe") Division and came to Italy via North Africa. I have read the war diaries for his unit at the NA in Kew and subsequently retraced his movements all the way through Italy to Austria where he was demobbed. I took photos of all the towns and villages that his unit had stopped at and talked to some of the locals, at least the ones who were old enough to remember the war. We actually stayed one night at the same villa which his unit had commandeered back in 1944 - it's now a B&B!

I was thinking of him yesterday in particular as it was the 80th anniversary of the battle at Monte Cassino. Although he rarely spoke about the war (again I wish I had asked him more about his memories) I discovered after he died that the battle there had had a huge impact on him, because so much so that he had written a poem about it. I didn't know this until going through his papers - he called it "A Lament for Liri Plain". It is very moving.

The war time exploits will form quite a big section of the biography I think, as it brought about a huge change in his life circumstances.

I too have visited some of the military cemeteries in Italy. As you say they are immaculately kept. The one with the biggest impact on me was the Polish cemetery at Cassino. I actually cried when I saw the number of graves there (over 1000) and in particular reading the inscription there:

"We Polish soldiers, For our freedom and yours, Have given our souls to God , Our bodies to the soil of Italy, And our hearts to Poland."

Heartbreaking.

My father's brother was killed in WW2 , he was a gunner in a Stirling bomber

He was 19 , my father was 7

My grandfather on my dad's side was a very religious man a quaker but that was the end of his faith for him and the reason why my father was atheist

My father believed that if God existed and was all powerful then the horror of world war two ......and of course other awful events wouldn't happen

I agree

[Robin Friday's Ghost]

Re: Hitler.

During WW2 your uncle would have been in Italy at the same time as my Dad. Our Dad was with a field ambulance unit in the 78th (“The Battleaxe") Division and came to Italy via North Africa. I have read the war diaries for his unit at the NA in Kew and subsequently retraced his movements all the way through Italy to Austria where he was demobbed. I took photos of all the towns and villages that his unit had stopped at and talked to some of the locals, at least the ones who were old enough to remember the war. We actually stayed one night at the same villa which his unit had commandeered back in 1944 - it's now a B&B!

I was thinking of him yesterday in particular as it was the 80th anniversary of the battle at Monte Cassino. Although he rarely spoke about the war (again I wish I had asked him more about his memories) I discovered after he died that the battle there had had a huge impact on him, because so much so that he had written a poem about it. I didn't know this until going through his papers - he called it "A Lament for Liri Plain". It is very moving.

The war time exploits will form quite a big section of the biography I think, as it brought about a huge change in his life circumstances.

I too have visited some of the military cemeteries in Italy. As you say they are immaculately kept. The one with the biggest impact on me was the Polish cemetery at Cassino. I actually cried when I saw the number of graves there (over 1000) and in particular reading the inscription there:

"We Polish soldiers, For our freedom and yours, Have given our souls to God , Our bodies to the soil of Italy, And our hearts to Poland."

Heartbreaking.

My uncle was in the Green Howards. We were fortunate that my cousin's forces background gave us access to records that would otherwise be difficto obtain. I also found details of his death online at the The National Archives and ordered copies. It might be worth looking to see if they have any details for your dad. https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

By the way, my uncle was first captured in north Africa. He was taken to a camp in Italy where he was released but then recaptured and eventually mortally wounded.

[Hilts]

Re: Hitler.

The book was written in 1930 so yes, nearly 100 years ago but of what significance that is I don't follow. Has some later evidence come to light that disproves what he has written?

He was a church-goer I believe, but that doesn't mean he was a Christian of course! It seems he was a sceptic just as I was before I read his book. I was a church-goer too until my mid teens when I got into science and dismissed Christianity for the next 25 years or so. Most of his evidence is from the gospels but he does also refer to Jewish texts and archeological evidence.

Yes the book is all about the resurrection because this is the crux of the Christian faith – no resurrection, no Christianity. End of.

I can't recall that he describes those who deny the historical existence of Jesus as an absurd cult because it was many years ago that I read the book (approx 40 years!). I would have to dig it out and check that for myself I guess. I don't suppose you have a reference to whereabouts in the book it is? BTW where did you read that if you haven't read the book? It does seem rather extreme language, however you will find that most historians accept that there was an historical Jesus.

https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Who_Moved_The_Stone.html?id=w3lGAgAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&gboemv=1&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

Hopefully the link works. Chapter 1.

[Gofer Blue]

Re: Hitler.

https://books.google.co.uk/books/abo...page&q&f=false

Hopefully the link works. Chapter 1.

Thanks for the link. Unfortunately I keep getting a message saying that I have exceeded the viewing limit or words to that effect, so I can't read it! Morison seems to be fond the word absurd as according to a word search of the eBook (a facility which I was able to access) he used it 11 times in the book!

I dug out my paperback copy of the book I have (1972 reprint version) and this starts at page 9* (there is a preface and index before this) and the reference to the absurd cult appears on page 10. Here Morison is referring to the German critics who came to prominence in the late 1800's and denied the historical Jesus, but whose thinking has since ceased to carry weight**.

*The link places the quote on page 7 of the eBook.
**This is backed up by this reference: https://www.quora.com/Do-modern-hist...-Jesus-existed

So basically nothing to get excited about I think.