Other Christian peoples, when
they have to go to war, feel the contradiction that exists between
their conduct and the teachings of the Gospel, and excuse themselves by
showing the cruel necessity which impels them. Germany declares that war
is acceptable to God. I have heard German sermons proving that Jesus was
in favor of Militarism.
"Teutonic pride, the conviction that its race is providentially destined
to dominate the world, brings into working unity their Protestants,
Catholics and Jews.
"Far above their differences of dogma is that God of the State which
is German--the Warrior God to whom William is probably referring as 'my
worthy Ally.' Religions always tend toward universality. Their aim is to
place humanity in relationship with God, and to sustain these relations
among mankind. Prussia has retrograded to barbarism, creating for its
personal use a second Jehovah, a divinity hostile to the greater part of
the human race who makes his own the grudges and ambitions of the German
people."
Tchernoff then explained in his own way the creation of this Teutonic
God, ambitious, cruel and vengeful. The Germans were comparatively
recent Christians. Their Christianity was not more than six centuries
old. When the Crusades were drawing to a close, the Prussians were still
living in paganism. Pride of race, impelling them to war, had revived
these dead divinities.
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