Christianity, the other, and the Holocaust

The author argues that Christianity establishes a robust system of rewards and incentives that fosters cultural uniformity, leading to the marginalization and removal of those who resist. Through cultural studies, Steele examines how Christianity has created conditions rooted in a theology of violence, which has historically involved millions of perpetrators and bystanders in acts of extreme violence against the Other. Jews, as the original Disconfirming Other, often became primary targets within this framework. When the Nazis rose to power, a pre-existing system of definitions and incentives was already in place. This work calls for a critical reassessment of the cultural practices and values that have evolved within Christianity, providing insight into the behavior of Nazi perpetrators and bystanders during the Holocaust. It positions the Holocaust as a culmination of a long history of violent responses by Christianity toward those outside its fold, asserting that while the Holocaust was not a uniquely Christian event, it was influenced by earlier Christian history. Steele's analysis highlights historical factors contributing to bystander apathy and reveals a moral framework that empowered Holocaust perpetrators. Ultimately, the book contends that the Nazis did not innovate in their actions regarding the Shoah; rather, a persistent drive for cultural hegemony significantly contributed to the attempted annihilation of the Jew