What about Hitler?: Wrestling with Jesus's Call to Nonviolence in an Evil World

by Robert W. Brimlow

Must Christians always turn the other cheek and resist violence? Is it ever justifiable for Christians to retaliate in the face of evil? Philosopher Robert Brimlow struggles with these questions in What about Hitler? The author skillfully integrates meditations on scriptural passages, personal reflections on his own challenges to live nonviolently, and a hard-hitting philosophical examination of pacifism and just-war doctrine.

Both Christian pacifists and defenders of just-war theory will appreciate this book. In addition, What about Hitler? will appeal to those interested in Christian ethics and discipleship, including students, pastors, and laity.

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction, Christianity, Religion, Christian, Philosophy

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book. Despite the fact that it is a part of an "Everyday Life" series, it is a little dense. The first few chapters are just war theory and ethics, which is a very specific way of understanding. But I think if you push through that, the end result is worth it.

Evil surrounds us in this world, and I think I will return to Brimlow's writing for encouragement. "We [as Christians] must live faithfully; we must be humble in our faith and truthful in what we say and do; we must repay evil with good; and we must be peacemakers. This may also mean as a result that the evildoers will kill us. Then, we shall also die."

[Ben Torno · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was initially going to give this a lower rating, but it grew on me.

The first half of the book is Brimlow's warmed-over critique of the Just War doctrine. His negative arguments weren't all that compelling, even coming from someone sympathetic to Brimlow's position. They struck me as the sort of arguments that would make Ed Feser cover his ears and start howling. Poor natural law theorists - no one ever understands their distinctions.

It got better, though, when Brimlow started interacting with Orwell and Bonhoeffer. I think he defined the issue(s) at stake quite well, and his analysis of Bonhoeffer seemed reasonable - claiming him neither as friend nor foe.

Interspersed throughout the book are Brimlow's confessions and meditations a la Augustine. A nice touch, but I really didn't much care for these, and they didn't add much insight. This is a typical Brazos Press book. You get exactly what you expect.

[Tynan Brooks]

Not all that I hoped for. Brimlow is right in pointing to the absurdity of the pacifist position, an absurdity that we are nonetheless called to by Christ. His critiques of just war theory are directionally correct if a bit broad, and his meditations center prayer in a helpful way. Where it fails, I think, is that it doesn't seem like it would satisfy those who ask the book's titular question. I don't know that I needed something more "practical", but I wish it had elaborated more on what the Christians of 1942 should have done, concretely, given pacifism.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not for sure what I would want from a book like this but in the end I feel like it was challenging and true.

[Danae Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a number of mixed feelings about this book. I liked the way the author had the prayers and the personal stories at the beginning of each chapter, but there were a number of times where I didn't see how those things tied in with what the author was then talking about considering just war theory or non/violence. There were a number of great reflections (such as how the Nazis could be considered to have been justified in their war, using just war theory), but I found myself having to re-read bits of it over and over again. I kept thinking that if this was an 'every day' book, as the series is called, I'm not sure how many every day people would be reading it. I found John Howard Yoder's 'What Would You Do?' easier to read and more instructive. I was a bit taken aback to realize that the 'Christian Practice' part (this book is part of the 'Christian Practice of Everyday Life Series') was something like the last 15-20 pages and not really anything concrete.

With all that being said, there were a number of things that struck me while I read the book that I really appreciated. His thoughts on death, the problem with just war theory in relation to the Nazis and Osama Bin Laden, among other things.

[Raleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me that the what about Hitler question, is pretty irrelevant for pacifists and followers of Jesus. The church should have dealt with the matter before it became too out of hand. Jesus taught us that it is our duty to bring peace into the world, and I feel that christians did a poor job of that in the early-mid 20th century. Some churches aided Nazi Germany and even supported them financially. This is embarrassing.

One of the books strong points is the way that it shows how just war theory can justify any war and can even be used to justify Germany's invasion of France as well as the bombs we dropped on Japan. The author shows how this is obviously absurd, revealing the inevitable fallacy of just war theory.

[Bill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book made some great points as well as done challenging ones that I will need much more time to think about. I especially liked how he showed that just war theory falls woefully short because it could be employed just as easily by the Nazis or Al Qaeda to provide justification for their actions. I liked the books prayers and personal reflections, but I do not feel they tied in with what he was trying to say philosophically. Good writing but jumbled and disconnected. 2.9 Martinie glasses

[Rance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very convicting, not popular among most American Christians; yet it is Biblically true. Must read with an open mind. Very difficult to accept and takes time and Biblical study to come to accept true servanthood, Jesus discipleship, and completely and totally giving our life in ALL aspects to following Jesus’ principles.

[Pete · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a different book than I expected, so maybe that's my fault. Reading philosophy is hard work. However, the author guided us back to being followers of Christ, counting the cost. He must also have had fun layout out the scripture meditations and anecdotes. He was honest about his frustrations with the scripture passages.

[Tasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

good points made, but terribly written.

[Rick Lee Lee James · Rating 5 out of 5]

To anyone who is striving to be a pacifist in the name of Jesus

[Brenda Funk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I have ever read on this topic.