Review of Religion and Horror
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Sean Patrick Tracy
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Review of Religion and Horror
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Religion and Horror" by William Camp.]
Religion and Horror: How the American Religious Press Viewed the Death Camps and Holocaust Survivors? by William D. Camp is an expository writing that explores the differing responses of American and European Christian communities to the Holocaust and the establishment of the state of Israel. With the knowledge collected from extensive research into contemporary religious publications, the author explains how different Christian groups, such as Protestants, Catholics, conservatives, and liberals, responded to one of the most horrific events of the 20th century and its aftermath.
Divided into three major parts, the first part of the book talks about the conservative understanding and viewpoints of the Roman Catholic and American religious communities of the 1940s. Their perspective is characterized by a cold response toward reports of the Holocaust and failure to consider it as wartime propaganda in the initial times. Specifically, the Pope and the Catholic Church, for example, focused more on fighting communism and protecting Catholic refugees than taking care of the plight faced by Jews. In the second part, the book shifts to the viewpoints of the more liberal and Protestant conservatives, the ones that seemed to reflect a sincere understanding of the Jewish victims. Their empathy towards the Jewish victims is evident in their willingness to take into consideration the reality of the Holocaust and seek governmental intervention. The protestant leaders and journals kept records of the horrors while they became obvious and beyond doubt, especially following the discovery of extermination camps by the Allied forces. The book includes discussions on how some prominent figures, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman, were affected by the appeals; this led to actions like the Displaced Persons Act of 1948, which allowed tens of thousands of Holocaust survivors to enter the United States. In the third analysis given by the book, the author provides the differing reactions of denominations to both the Holocaust and the subsequent refugee crisis. In particular, there are divisions among the Protestant Community on Jewish statehood.
Overall, the author seeks to use this book to illustrate the challenges of reconciling religious beliefs with humanitarian obligations. The book calls for an empathetic method in resolving global crises, offering the recipe necessary to transcend racial and ideological barricades in building a harmonious world, which would be paralleled to what is termed the fundamental tenets of Christianity, which are love, assistance, and the absence of prejudices.
I commend the author's honesty in providing a critical yet balanced analysis of the various viewpoints of religions; he did this without omitting the complexities and contradictions they had in their differing views. The message’s authenticity and depth are proven by how the author uses some primary sources, like Catholic and Protestant magazines and publications from the 1940s. Furthermore, the author uses his recount of Charles Clayton Morrison’s pacifist stance in “The Christian Century” and the Catholic Church's fixation on the threat of communism over the plight of the Jews to illustrate the said contrasting viewpoints and responses.
I'd rate the book 5 out of 5 stars because I don't have anything to point out as a flaw in it, from the literary to the contextual quality of the book. I love the fact that the book is well-researched, and it provides a balanced analysis for readers, irrespective of whether they are in support of the Holocaust or not and the eventual statehood of Israel. Also, the book has been professionally edited.
I would recommend this book to audiences who love to read books on religious studies, history, and the interplay between faith and politics. Specifically, those who seek a nuanced understanding of how religious beliefs influenced American and European Christian responses to one of the darkest periods in modern history would find this book informative. The book's thought-provoking quality would appeal to scholars, students, and anyone interested in the moral and ethical challenges faced by religious communities during the Holocaust.
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Religion and Horror
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Religion and Horror: How the American Religious Press Viewed the Death Camps and Holocaust Survivors? by William D. Camp is an expository writing that explores the differing responses of American and European Christian communities to the Holocaust and the establishment of the state of Israel. With the knowledge collected from extensive research into contemporary religious publications, the author explains how different Christian groups, such as Protestants, Catholics, conservatives, and liberals, responded to one of the most horrific events of the 20th century and its aftermath.
Divided into three major parts, the first part of the book talks about the conservative understanding and viewpoints of the Roman Catholic and American religious communities of the 1940s. Their perspective is characterized by a cold response toward reports of the Holocaust and failure to consider it as wartime propaganda in the initial times. Specifically, the Pope and the Catholic Church, for example, focused more on fighting communism and protecting Catholic refugees than taking care of the plight faced by Jews. In the second part, the book shifts to the viewpoints of the more liberal and Protestant conservatives, the ones that seemed to reflect a sincere understanding of the Jewish victims. Their empathy towards the Jewish victims is evident in their willingness to take into consideration the reality of the Holocaust and seek governmental intervention. The protestant leaders and journals kept records of the horrors while they became obvious and beyond doubt, especially following the discovery of extermination camps by the Allied forces. The book includes discussions on how some prominent figures, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman, were affected by the appeals; this led to actions like the Displaced Persons Act of 1948, which allowed tens of thousands of Holocaust survivors to enter the United States. In the third analysis given by the book, the author provides the differing reactions of denominations to both the Holocaust and the subsequent refugee crisis. In particular, there are divisions among the Protestant Community on Jewish statehood.
Overall, the author seeks to use this book to illustrate the challenges of reconciling religious beliefs with humanitarian obligations. The book calls for an empathetic method in resolving global crises, offering the recipe necessary to transcend racial and ideological barricades in building a harmonious world, which would be paralleled to what is termed the fundamental tenets of Christianity, which are love, assistance, and the absence of prejudices.
I commend the author's honesty in providing a critical yet balanced analysis of the various viewpoints of religions; he did this without omitting the complexities and contradictions they had in their differing views. The message’s authenticity and depth are proven by how the author uses some primary sources, like Catholic and Protestant magazines and publications from the 1940s. Furthermore, the author uses his recount of Charles Clayton Morrison’s pacifist stance in “The Christian Century” and the Catholic Church's fixation on the threat of communism over the plight of the Jews to illustrate the said contrasting viewpoints and responses.
I'd rate the book 5 out of 5 stars because I don't have anything to point out as a flaw in it, from the literary to the contextual quality of the book. I love the fact that the book is well-researched, and it provides a balanced analysis for readers, irrespective of whether they are in support of the Holocaust or not and the eventual statehood of Israel. Also, the book has been professionally edited.
I would recommend this book to audiences who love to read books on religious studies, history, and the interplay between faith and politics. Specifically, those who seek a nuanced understanding of how religious beliefs influenced American and European Christian responses to one of the darkest periods in modern history would find this book informative. The book's thought-provoking quality would appeal to scholars, students, and anyone interested in the moral and ethical challenges faced by religious communities during the Holocaust.
******
Religion and Horror
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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The Bible does advocate peace and love, but it is also adamant that there are times when a more forceful approach is required. I believe that this was one of those times. I’m glad that the book was well researched and that you enjoyed reading it. Thanks!
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