TLDR
Dinesh D’Souza responds to atheists’ claims that Christian regimes’ crimes cannot be compared to atheist regimes’ crimes in the 20th century. He argues that atheist regimes killed significantly more people, and their crimes were committed in the name of atheism. He also refutes the claim that Hitler was a lifelong Christian, citing evidence that Hitler and his government were openly anti-religious and hostile to Christianity.
Atheist Regimes and the Slaughter of the Innocent
A Response to Atheist Assertions
Dinesh D’Souza’s recent article in the Christian Science Monitor sparked a heated response from atheists. In this article, he addresses some of their claims and sets the record straight.
Comparing Crimes
Atheists argued that Christian regimes’ crimes in the past cannot be compared to atheist regimes’ crimes in the 20th century due to population differences and technological advancements. However, D’Souza points out that the Spanish Inquisition killed between 5,000 to 10,000 people over two centuries, while atheist regimes killed an estimated 100 million people in a few decades. This significant difference in numbers cannot be ignored.
Atheism and Belief
Atheists claimed that Stalin and Mao’s crimes cannot be blamed on atheism since atheism is an absence of belief, not a belief itself. D’Souza argues that if Christian regimes are held accountable for their crimes committed in the name of Christianity, then atheist regimes should be held accountable for their crimes committed in the name of atheism. Stalin and Mao’s atrocities were committed in the name of a Communist ideology that was explicitly atheistic.
Hitler’s Beliefs
Atheists insisted that Hitler was a lifelong Christian, citing his Catholic upbringing and occasional use of Christian rhetoric. However, D’Souza points out that Hitler vehemently rejected traditional Christianity and launched a ruthless drive to subdue and weaken Christianity once in power. His leading advisers were atheists hostile to religion, and his personal views were deeply anti-Christian.
Conclusion
Atheist regimes’ crimes cannot be ignored or downplayed. Their actions were committed in the name of atheism, and their hostility to religion was part of their ideology. History cannot be rewritten to suit modern atheists’ claims. The facts remain: atheist regimes killed millions, and their crimes were committed in the name of atheism.