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Art world Quote by Oliver Markus

“Take the Holocaust for example: Why did God allow Hitler to kill millions of innocent Jews? Because God didn't want to step on Hitler's toes and interfere with his free will? That's a pretty lame excuse. What about the free will of all those Jews who died? I'm pretty sure that getting gassed to…” quote by Oliver Markus
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““Take the Holocaust for example: Why did God allow Hitler to kill millions of innocent Jews? Because God didn't want to step on Hitler's toes and interfere with his free will? That's a pretty lame excuse. What about the free will of all those Jews who died? I'm pretty sure that getting gassed to death was obviously not their choice. So, was the Holocaust part of God's great plan? Is that why he allowed it to happen? Is that why God didn't answer the prayers of all those Jews who begged him to make Hitler drop dead? Why didn't God just make Hitler have a heart attack before he could start World War 2? Why didn't he simply prevent Hitler from being born? How could a God who is supposed to be all good all the time allow something like the Holocaust? Or did God not just LET it happen? Maybe God MADE the Holocaust happen, because everything that happens, happens for a good reason? Are our minds simply too tiny, too inferior, to understand God's divine plan? Are we just too stupid to see the greater good that came out of the Holocaust? If that were true, and everything that happens, including the Holocaust, is part of God's perfect plan, then that means that Hitler really wasn't a bad man at all. He was actually doing God's work. And if Hitler did exactly what he was supposed to do in God's great plan, then Hitler obviously didn't have free will, but was just God's puppet. So that means Hitler was a good guy. A man of God. Sorry, but there is no religion in the world that could sell me on believing THAT bullshit.””

Oliver Markus

About This Quote

The quote questions the problem of reconciling a benevolent, omnipotent deity with the existence of extreme evil, suggesting that attributing such atrocities to divine will is a flawed and morally untenable explanation.

In simple terms: It questions how a good, all-powerful God could allow the Holocaust.

Key Takeaway

Consider the limits of human understanding of divine intent.

Themes

theodicy free will evil faith philosophy

Mood

conflicted skeptical thoughtful

Type

philosophical critical theological

When to use this quote

  • personal reflection
  • theological debate
  • ethical discussion
  • historical analysis
  • moral philosophy

Key Concepts

theodicy free will problem of evil divine sovereignty

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does it mean to hold a deity responsible for human actions?
  • How can we address suffering without resorting to simplistic divine explanations?
A Different Perspective

The argument oversimplifies complex theological and historical issues, ignoring human agency and systemic factors.

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