The Ambiguity of Evil: Liberal Religion and the Third Reich

The period of German National Socialism remains one of the most challenging chapters of twentieth century history. The moral failures that led to the tragedy continue to confound both the casual student of history, as well as the accomplished scholar. A multitude of volumes has been published seeking to make sense of the events. Each generation of authors struggles toward new levels of analysis and deeper insight. This book provides a fresh perspective by telling the story of a small, liberal religious congregation and its efforts to navigate Germany's treacherous political and ethical landscape in the 1930s and 1940s. Drawing on congregational records from this period, his own family story, as well as the work of historians and theologians from both Germany and the United States, the author invites the attentive reader to decide to what extent the issues and events described are unique to twentieth century Germany, and to what extent they provide relevant lessons for citizens of the world today.