I was always fascinated by Nazi Germany; not only by the pageantry and propaganda which encircled it, but also with it's eventual deserved comeuppance and destruction. I had read of the failed attempts on Hitler's life on the part of his own officers to include the plot of July 20th, 1944, on which Colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg attempted to assassinate him by means of a bomb at his Prussian headquarters "The Wolf's Lair." Prior to seeing the new Tom Cruise movie, however, I was not aware that these attempts on Hitler's life were all part of an unyielding resistance within the German Officer Corps; nor that they were successive attempts planned by a close-nit compilation of conspirators within the German Home Army Reserve. Another "news to me" moment was the complicity of the Berlin Police Department in the attempt on the part of the conspirators to take over the city and the government.
Despite the fact that I am a Thespian and believe that, if community theatre troupes can have a dialect coach and use accents on tiny stages all over the country then major motion pictures ought to be able to do the same, "Valkyrie," was enjoyable. When I learned that 200 people had been executed in connection with the conspiracy and that, if the plot had succeeded, approximately 16,000,000 lives may have been saved by the War's early end, I felt compelled...

Since the ULC does not offer the title "Saint," among it's religious titles I, as a minister of the Church, wish to make the following declaration and ask, if it be honored, that it be confirmed by my fellow ministers:

Claus Von Stauffenberg, Ludwig Beck, Friedrich Olbricht, Henning Von Tresckow, Wolf-Heinrich Von Helldorf, and their companions in the assassination plot against and subsequent attempts on Adolf Hitler's life are hereby canonized Saints of the Church of Jesus Christ in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May they be numbered among the Saints of Heaven and counted among the White-Robed Martyrs that gave their lives for Christ. Amen and amen.

Hmm...good point.

"Forgive your brother 70 x 7 times; Accept all, shun none; Eat and drink with anyone; Do unto others as you would have them do unto you; Judge not, lest ye be judged."
~RevMikeInMI~

When the minds of men fall short of finding God's good will
within, evil inhabits the spirit of their thinking like a disease that seeks
and prowls to kill steal and destroy what is created to glorify God.

Are we to be infected with this evil by advocating glory for
schemes to stop the breath of a living soul, just because a man's spirit
holds his soul hostage?

Are Saints declared and proclaimed by men?
Or, are they created to be revealed by the Spirit of The Creator, as
an image of the Creator's Power, Love and Sound Mind?

"Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord; I will repay my creations who have
trespassed against what I've created."
The tragedy of Hitler's war is unmistakeable but, let's not be mistaken
about the tragedy that falls upon the minds of all warring men...
such a tragedy was also God's sacrifice of Hitler's soul.

Remembering Hitler's disturbing rise and assault on the spirit of humanity
should have brought to an end, all of mankind's wars but alas, when
the head of bodies and/or countries are sick, the whole body will
continue to suffer.
For now, the spirits of men continue to justify transgressing
God's only law of love, and of peace, and of unity in the spirit of life.

No life giving miracles are intended by schemes of division or murder.
As for the millions of lives lost in that collective insanity, their sacrifice
has asured them a transitional reward that we can not fathom and
we should grieve them if necessary.

Any man who considers himself spiritual, can hear what the spirit says
about sin being "confusion within spirit" and the preciousness of men's living soul.

I must agree with KOLT. What and who is man to judge any other? Shall we have compassion on those who, not by their own free will, have been abused by torturous parents? Or who have been damaged spiritually,emotionally, mentally or physically by oppressive governments and institutions of men? Hitler was an out-of-balance soul that also suffered at the hands of others. How can anyone judge the effects of inflicting pain on another? Or what the end result of it might be? Even the rottenest apple in the barrel serves a purpose in God's plan. And though I may only see it as infecting the rest, I am unable to see the worm that caused its destruction. If it were not for a kind heart of another, I may have as easily been a product of my own horrendous environment. But I lived to see another day and to serve God just one more time......"But for the Grace of God, there go I."
It would also do us well to remember there is "artistic license" for dramatic effects in movies. Moses parted the Red Sea, not Charlton Heston, Mel Gibson was not present at the Crucifixon, and Tom Cruise was not there as an officer for Hitler. How does history record these events? And how much is embellished to sway the minds of the masses to the other side? History is just that...his/her "story" and is usually full of subjective opinions.....God's Peace....To`na Wanagi

I thought of the embellishment on the part of movie makers of the story of the conspirators but, after careful reading and searching out of the truth I found that this was not the case; indeed, the actions of those brave men and women involved in the plot was cut down by the filmmakers. Those involved in the conspiracy really did debate the moral and ethical implications of both their thoughts and actions; they resolved that, though they were attempting to secure the death of another, that they were acting in the best interests of morality and the world at large. They learned of and investigated the goings on in the Nazi death camps, they recognized that Germany had no right to invade and conquer other countries, they saw the evil inherent in the "Final Solution" of "The Jewish Question," and believed that it was nothing more than criminal genocide. Through all these considerations, they resolved that, even though they were plotting the death of their dictator, they were acting in Christian duty. As Ciaphas said to the San Hedrin of Jesus: "It is better that one man should die for the entire nation than that the entire nation should be destroyed for the sake of one man..."
We cannot share the same faith, I understand that; nevertheless, in my own faith, I believe that God gives those who minister in the name of Christ the power to forgive sin just as Jesus said to His disciples: "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them;" and "Whatsoever you shall loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven, and whatsoever you shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven." My own faith makes me believe in the priesthood of all believers, I cannot change that; nor can I ignore what I believe to be the Holy Spirit's revelation to me of the exultation of these brave men and women in the realms of Heaven; nor the fact that the simple memorials to them which now stand in Germany fall utterly short of the debt paid by them with the endangerment of and ultimate giving of their lives in their attempt to overthrow and stamp out the evil of the actions of their leaders.
I do, however, see how their actions may be seen by others as nothing more than the acts of attempted murderers and traitors to their country; but, in my own heart, my faith tells me that they tried to save the lives of millions by their actions and that they should be named Saints of both the Catholic and Protestant Churches to which they belonged. I can only pray that God give the same eyes of faith and revelation to those who believe these sainted persons were sinners by their actions that He has given to me and, believing without question my right and God-given power as a servant of Jesus Christ to recognize and proclaim that which, in faith, I believe to be true:
Claus Von Stauffenberg, Ludwig Beck, Friedrich Olbricht, Henning Von Tresckow, Wolf-Heinrich Von Helldorf and their many companions and compatriots are Saints and Martyrs of God's Holy Church; both on Earth, and in Heaven. They gave their lives in faith, ethicism, and morality attempting to stamp out the evil they saw around them... "Which is easier to say: 'your sins are forgiven' or 'rise and walk'?" I declare their sins forgiven, for they walked in faith unto their own deaths! Again I say: Amen and amen!

Apparently, judging what you convey in your word, you believe Jesus of Nazareth would have plotted to murder a human being? Is this correct? Is it not your word that says the end justifies the means? I understand why you believe as you do, however, belief is not the same as sure knowledge. It is for sure, Jesus of Nazareth would not have plotted the physical murder of another human being. To do so is sin against God and is to do evil.

The weapons of "our" warfare are not of the physical, but of the Spirit. Mankind has murdered one another for centuries because of the evil in his mind, and the many believe they do the will of God beause they have "believed" as they do. Murder of other humans beings has never stopped by the beliefs and teachings of the religions. In this day, religion is implicated in many murders of innocent people.

It is the sin of the people who have "believed" false teachings that causes them to do evil. To murder another human being in the physical is evil and not of God. To call a murderer a "saint" is to say Jesus of Nazareth was wrong in all he taught.

God has His plan to eradictae evil from the minds of mankind. This way was taught by Jesus of Nazareth. It is called "salvation by God." No person is able to "forgive sins" except God for this "forgiving" is the act of giving for the replacement of evil with truth and righteousness which only God is able to do. A Son of God is able to give truth which when received, removes the belief in false teachings of mankind which is sin. However, salvation is by God alone.

In the love of God,

DW Suiter

Jesus would have given his life; that's what Jesus would have done. 200 people gave their lives; that's what Jesus would have wanted done... I believe that Adolf Hitler deserved capital punishment; let there be no gray or grey areas about that. As a Christian, had I lived at the time and knew what the conspirators knew, yes; I would have gladly not only supported the effort, but been willing to execute the actual deed myself. Let there be no mistake: I believe that Adolf Hitler deserved to die for his inhumanity to man and, WITH A ROMAN COLLAR ON, I would have swung the axe, released the trap in the gallows, released the blade on the Guillotine, thrown the switch on the electric chair, dropped the capsules into the gas can, depressed the plunger on the syringe, lit the fire, duct-taped him to the bomb, pulled the trigger, or anything else that may have been asked of me. I would have proclaimed him evil incarnate and sworn and attested to his deserved death in the very name of my God; whom I call Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit... and I would have said AMEN after the doctor pronounced him dead.

and the Priests, Scribes, Pharisees, and Saduccees all held it against Jesus when He said that man COULD forgive sin; but I don't ask you to share my faith.

The question is; "Would Jesus of Nazareth have taken a life; murdered a person; as you declare you would?"

Your belief in "capital punishment" is belief in killing the physical body of a human being. Do you believe this is the will of God?

Jesus of Nazareth, being "God," forgave sins. Mankind cannot forgive sins. Only God. Only God removes sins of mankind and thereby "saves" mankind.

Mankind's "capital punishment" has murdered a lot of innocent people. Evil breeds evil. It is evil in the eyes and judgment of God to murder another one of mankind.

I wonder why it is, God offers salvation to those such as Hitler, and mankind desires to murder these God loves and offers salvation to. Do you believe then, Saul of Tarsus should have been murdered/killed for the deaths of those he persecuted? Is it not possible Hitler could have also eventually "seen the light" and come to God to be transformed as Saul of Tarsus was? But if a person is murdered, then how can they be saved by God?

Religionists have murdered millions of people, "believing" they were pleasing God by doing the will of God. Should these be murdered in return? Religionists continue to murder in this day and hour, because of their religious beliefs. Is this the will of God? To murder because of one's religious beliefs? Of all the religions, denominations, and sects, which one if any possesses sure knowledge of the truth of God? Is not religion a "belief system?" And this "belief" is in what? Certainly not truth for is this were so, all religions would hold the same beliefs. They do not.

No person knows the perfect will of God nor the "law" of God which are the principles of God unless and until they have been taught these by God. Jesus of Nazareth knew the perfect will of God and was taught all truth by God. Jesus of Nazareth would never "murder" nor advocate murdering another one of mankind.

In the love of God,

DW Suiter

The quote above is reminiscent of the same propaganda used against the Native Americans and the resulting genocide by our own government based on "knowing what is right, and 'Christian', for our heathen and savage red brothers". The white populace was fed a series of embellished lies on the savagery of Indian people, creating fear in the hearts of every woman and child by telling stories of horror so they could not sleep at night, and stimulating their men to vicious actions against our people, accounting it as righteousness. As you say they "recognized that Germany had no right to invade and conquer other countries", that even though they were plotting the extermination of their dictator, they justified their actions as doing their "Christian duty". This was the exact same reasoning of our own nation as they began to plot their crusade against the Native People of this land, of forced conversion under the threat of death or deposition. And to our own shame did not recognize them as citizens or allow Indigenous people the right to vote until 1965. Yet these were the very people who gave their lives in the same war you speak of, and were the heroic code-talkers of that era, quite possibly being the catalyst that turned the corner of the war in our favor.

Institutions of mankind that base their righteousness upon the violent, justifiable actions against others is no more than a good study in bovine scatology. As I have done frequently, I will quote Aldous Huxley's forward to "A Brave New World", to whit; "The greatest triumphs of propaganda have been accomplished, not by doing something, but by refraining from doing. Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is silence about truth." Jesus was not silent about Truth, and was in fact, Truth itself. While we cannot deny the horrors of mankind's history, the Sword of Truth should be our weapon, not guns and bombs. To act in violence against another is in direct opposition to what Jesus has commanded us. Peter was admonished for coming to the aid of Jesus, using his sword to smite the soldier while protecting Jesus. Jesus, the man, might well have been construed by the Jews to be their "first century Hitler". Jesus was deemed a troublemaker and a threat to the social order and religions of His time. The Jews conspired to murder Him and they succeeded. Was this then, a righteous act of Judas Isacariot? The Judas's, the Benedict Arnolds, the traitors of numerous tribes of indigenous people, quite frequently act in self-righteousness and are sometimes hailed as heroes. But in truth, they are no more than assassins, murderers who will recieve the murderers reward, 13 pieces of silver and infamy.
Shall I, as a Native American, hold the sins of the Europeans and all their ancestors and descendents against them and raise my war-axe against them? Or is it better to learn from our violent history, that the pen is mightier than the sword? And that the voice of the oppressed will be heard by God through a positive dialogue that will lead to a greater understanding of where it all went wrong, and result in bringing us to peace with one another. But if I murder my adversary, I have not loved my enemy, and I have lost the opportunity to understand the soul-sickness that afflicted him. I choose to love my enemies, forgive my adversaries, and by example, lead them to another Way. Vengeance belongs to God and has no place in my life or my heart.....God's Peace and Love....To`na Wanagi

Can one really compare the death of one to the deaths of thousands? Of hundreds of thousands? Of millions? Of tens of millions? Then there's the question of the psychological torture that those who died under the Nazis endured; the terror, the abject anxiety, the pain of knowing that one's family has been killed or will be killed, the long train rides to the death camps, the terrible realization that, although you packed a suitcase for yourself and each of your children, it was for naught; watching those suitcases thrown on a pile and skelatol remnants of human beings opening them and separating their contents into other gigantic piles of clothing, being pushed naked into the gas chambers, compressed against naked strangers, or marched into pits surrounded by soldiers with machine guns, seeing carts and trucks covered with withered and rotting corpses, knowing you and yours will soon be numbered among them.
If God forgave Adolf Hitler and his henchmen, then I will be glad to embrace them on the other side; on THIS side, they killed millions. Country after country fell to them, and in each new conquered country the "undesirables" were packed up, bag and baggage, and trucked and trained off to their deaths. To Himmler and Hitler, they were nothing but numbers on paper; and those numbers were required to be high. The higher the numbers, the happier the henchmen.
The two biggest killers in history were Hitler and Stalin; when the numbers reach the heights reached by these men they become not mere murderers, but manifestations of the Antichrist. Though I advocate forgiving sinners, of which I am one, I cannot advocate allowing evil incarnate free reign to make war on the principles of Christianity and attempt to exterminate entire races. Those who fight against such evil in any capacity from hiding those marked for extermination to placing a bomb under a conference table at which stands evil in flesh and bone are Saints to me; Saints indeed.

If you do not believe that man can forgive sin, then why are you a part of the Universal Life Church which bestows the power of absolution of sin on its ministers?

Your assumptions of what the Church bestows are incorrect, and it is inappropriate to challenge the right of others to belong to the Church. Members are free to believe -- or not -- in whatever they choose.

[quote="RevMikeInMIhe two biggest killers in history were Hitler and Stalin; when the numbers reach the heights reached by these men they become not mere murderers, but manifestations of the Antichrist. .[/quote]


When the Europeans first landed on this continent there were an estimated 50 + million Native Americans in what is now known as the continental U.S... Today, there remains just over 3 million, barely qualifying as a minority. Who is the greatest killer of humanity?

Or, maybe it should be, "what" is the greatest killer?..... the human traits called ego, pride, egocentricity, the desire to rule over others, for power and control, the power of life or death used as an instrument of fear and intimidation. I would suggest if you have this desire to kill the killers of mankind, you go to Zimbabwe or Darfur and take care of the genocidal maniacs over there. That is, if it is truly a righteous thing to do, and it is "doing that which is right" as the ulc creed dictates.

As to the "absolution" remark, it applies only to those who believe in that doctrine. What of the other faiths, or non-faiths, the atheists and pagans, who also belong to the ulc? Or those who may belong to a Christian denomination who also don't buy into that practice?. Remember, it was only by the grace of God that the current Pope became a Pope and not one of Hitler's henchmen as he was one of Hitler's Youth. It could easily have gone the other way.....God's Peace....To`na Wanagi

The massacre of Native Americans by invaders from Europe is just as bad as the Holocaust. One man was not responsible; generations of men were responsible. When the blame can be narrowed down to one man, his ideologies, his racism, his fanaticism, his hatred, his megalomania, his delusions, his paranoia, and his ability to use totalitarianism to make others kill all he sees as "subhuman," then that man ought to be declared anti-Christian and Antichrist.
Stalin was more indiscriminate in his pathologically murderous mind; he believed that all who didn't want to be Communists should be killed, whether for their religion, political views, "unusefulness," unwillingness to live and work where they were told to for the "objective purpose of the masses."
The Native American Holocaust happened over long periods of time but these men compressed all that murder into a decade or two by making use of modern transportation and factory-like precision in their death assembly lines. All the evil of all the men responsible for the genocide of Native Americans was compressed into but a few years and the death squads of Hitler and Stalin.
I lived in Germany for three years while in the Army Chaplain Corps and, I assure you, I do not believe the descendants of Nazis are responsible for the Jewish Holocaust, nor do I believe the descendants of native killers and slave traders and owners should be held accountable for the sins of their fathers.
I am saying that those who fight against such horrible times WHEN THEY ARE OCCURRING deserve to be remembered just as much as those whose who died as a result of the genocide they attempted to expose and eliminate.
All world leaders who are found to be responsible for genocide should be arrested, subject to tribunal for crimes against humanity, and punishment should be sentenced upon them should they be found guilty. If death is the punishment sentenced upon them by those who indicted, tried, and convicted them, then death is the punishment they should receive.

Dear Rev. Mike,

While I do agree that people who do righteous deeds in the name of God should be recognized and honored, I still have issues with canonization. To single out any human being over another with such recognition is to say that by our word is the judgment of God. Personally, I can’t agree with that. Top honors of recognition is good enough for me, and in a world of “mind your own business, burry your head, indifference, turn a blind eye, don’t get involved, jump on the band wagon, or me first” type mentalities, we need to spotlight the uncommon selflessness examples of others. Not just so they will not be forgotten, but to serve as a beacon of hope in this dark world, that such love still exists and that by the grace of God, anyone can be that shinning new light. With all the reports of crime in our streets, political unrest and indifference, reports of homelessness, starvation, abuse, tragedy and war, we need to be reminded now more than ever, that God is still with and working through His people. After all, what does fanfare and parades do other than glorify the act of a person or persons? It does little to honor God who made it so in the first place.
Perhaps the high honor we could bestow upon our brothers and sisters would be to mark a day on our calendars as “The day of So-in-so”. We reflect on the marked event, pray and give thanks to God for making it so and being with us and loving us. Send blessings to the one God had worked through. Just an idea!

May God bless you and keep you strong in His service.

Rev. Campbell.

Thank you Rev Campbell,

For directing the Light back on the nature and will of God; the good will toward "all" mankind. And remembering to love one another. Even the "least" of these of God. Remembering God is not a respector of persons, but respects those who love God and do the will of God. Remembering with God, the least here, shall be first in the order of God. And those whom mankind names as "greatest" shall be the least in the order of God. For the ways of man are not the ways of God.

In the love of God,

DW Suiter

The Feast Day of Saints Claus Von Stauffenberg, Ludwig Beck, Friedrich Olbricht, Henning Von Tresckow, Wolf-Heinrich Von Helldorf and their many companions and compatriots should be celebrated on July 20th or the Sunday nearest July 20th on the calendar.

In any group of humans, a surprisingly high number will take the opportunity for sadistic attacks on others if the law does not prevent them. A higher number can be led to do evil, all too often with the support of religion, and only a few will resist evil no matter what pressure; social, legal or religious, is put upon them. This is the human condition. The long and savage history of war, world conquest and exploitation has proven this to be true of us all, and Europeans have been at the forefront of this horror. If you want just one example, look at the history of the Belgian Congo.

Is this a mandate of the Roman Catholic Church or your personal opinion? And of course, this applies to those of the Roman Catholic religion, correct?

I have read the RCC has named over 5,000 "saints." Is this correct? I am curious as to exactly what is a "saint?" And how does one qualify to be a "saint?"

In the love of God,

DW Suiter

I renounced the Roman Catholic faith after witnessing the appalling lack of action on the part of the Church at the height of the priest sexual abuse scandal. I signed and attested to my renunciation on the original copy of my declaration of faith in June of 2002 and was ordained with the Universal Life Church in March of 2003.
The requirements for the Roman Catholic Church's canonizing of saints are:
Heroic Christian virtue displayed by the deceased's life and/or death;
Answered prayer to the deceased;
Miracles attributed to the deceased.

The Canonization of those brave servants of righteousness certainly has my support!

Just curios but for sainthood don't they need to work three separate miracles, and die. Well they have two of them so one miracle sorta in which they failed, and they died. Personally the underground resistance was fighting for thier life, and worked many more miracles even if they were bloody.