What does it take to be a leader, to lead massive amounts of people into a revolution, a new philosophy, or new world order? All of the infamous leaders in history share the same characteristics. However, one of the most prevalent characteristics is Charisma. Every leader from politics to religion has had charisma and has used it to their greatest advantage to affect a desired outcome. Regardless of who the leader was, charisma played an important role in their ability to move large amounts of people to act upon their own personal agendas.

Charisma is defined as a personal quality of leadership arousing popular loyalty or enthusiasm. Charisma was believed to be "divine gifts" that were bestowed upon men to aid them in becoming leaders of their people. These divine gifts helped the common public to see their leaders as invincible, immortal, and wise. Led by God's omnipotent hand, these leaders were seen as the paths to righteousness, greatness, and glory. Some of the most remarkable gifts lie in supernatural realms. These were prophecy, healing, unquestioning faith, and the power of exorcism. Other commonplace gifts were knowledge, wisdom, teaching, and oration. There are three basic parts to a charismatic leader's appeal. He (and occasionally she) offers a strategic vision, offers himself as a special agent of change--thereby encouraging followers to have faith in him--and empowers them. It is in this avenue that Jesus Christ and Adolf Hitler meet eye to eye.

Oh yes. Your collective gasps can be heard in unison. Hitler and Christ in the same category? But, it is not as far fetched as it sounds. If you strip away the myth from the men, you can see where these two leaders have very much in common in leadership qualities and the results of their actions. How can this be, you say? Let's start with the first fundamental aspect of charisma: the vision. The vision of a charismatic leader is usually a convincing view of the present situation as intolerable and the new improved vision as the best alternative. Consider the eras that Christ and Hitler lived in and the turmoil prevalent in their societies. Hitler's Germany was devastated by WWI and was in a state of social and economic depression as a result. Likewise, the Jews in Christ's time were ruled yet again by a foreign power--Rome--and needless to say they weren't seen as the "chosen anything" by the Roman Empire. Each society had lost their power and their confidence in their abilities to rule and govern themselves effectively and saw themselves enslaved to an oppressive ruler. Both leaders called for substantial changes in their societies in favor of a new established order. Hitler saw his connection with Christ as well when he saw himself in the role of Germany's savior, both promising to take away his people's guilt, to rid them of corrupt Judaism, to die for them, and both believed to be chosen by providence (divine guidance) to lead their people into an age of glory and power. Which leads to the second basic principle of charismatic power: the leader presented as the special agent of change whom encourages others to have undying faith in them.

How does one go about convincing large groups of people that you are the true leader, the one who is going to lead them into prosperity and greatness? Proof is needed to convince the population that one is indeed qualified to lead the charge, so to speak. Hitler and Christ both offered these proofs to the masses and it was gladly swallowed. The first evidence of the divine leader is convincing others of one's divinity. This is done through incredible feats, prophesies come true, and a willingness to die. Hitler and Christ both foretold of great events to come and their many followers incontrovertibly believed them to be fulfilled. These so-called prophetic events seemingly coming to fruition only firmly established the certainty of their divinity. Surely, they must have a direct link to God if their predictions are coming true. Hitler was seen by some of his followers to have a halo above his head when speaking in public, thereby speaking for his holiness.

Secondly, you have incredible feats, or miracles if you prefer. The myths surrounding both enigmatic leaders depict them as healers. Hitler was called the physician of his people and a German doctor published an article entitled "Adolf Hitler as the Physician of the German People," in a medical newsletter written for the public. When the war began, propaganda said Hitler healed wounded German soldiers. Hitler consistently accredited Germany's problems to microbes, maggots, and infections--all of course due to the existence of the Jews. He saw himself as others did--the cure to Germany's disease--and it was firmly believed that he did perform miracles by the people of Germany, even by some of those closest to him. Comparatively, Christ, as most of you may well know, allegedly performed miracles himself, also told by those closest to him. The Bible (the only known source of Jesus' life and existence) is fraught with incredible tales of healing the sick and wounded, raising the dead, and a multitude of other far-fetched deeds. All of which were circulated throughout the land with incredible zeal and a willingness to believe.

Thirdly, the willingness to die for your cause or your beliefs is a powerful tool to use in verification of your divinity. Hitler continually proclaimed his willingness to die and kill Germany as well to propel his nation into greatness. If Germany had to die to achieve their rightful place as world leaders, it was a noble sacrifice. Similarly, Christ also talked of his death and that the only way for Jerusalem to conquer death was to die itself (after which they would live eternally in heaven). "If you accept me as your savior you will obtain salvation and glory, if not you will die" is indicative of the "either/or" reasoning that such fatalistic leaders use to induce their audience into panic and hysteria--so much so that they will act unfailingly and without doubts out of fear of the consequences.

The last basic aspect of a charismatic leader is the empowerment of the people. Under Hitler's rule and influence, Germany and its people became an awesome force to be reckoned with. Their power seemed insurmountable and as the Nazi war machine gained victories, so did the confidence in their own abilities to rule even when faced with loss. Christ, as well, empowered the people, although his influence took a considerably longer time to coalesce. Christ's disadvantage was that he lived in a time where communications, technology, and knowledge were limited. Hitler had the power of science, mass communications, and war technology behind him to spread his influence much faster than in Christ's time, so the empowerment of the people took different amounts of time to come to pass, but happened nonetheless.

Okay, fine. Christ and Hitler were both charismatic leaders, but their outcomes were infinitely different. Hitler spread hate, death, and intolerance and Christ spread truth, love, and peace. They were entirely different men. But were they? The outcome of Hitler's warped world view and his followers left over 40 million people dead (men, women, and children) including: Jews, Blacks, handicapped people, the mentally ill, homosexuals, various political groups, Atheists, Germans, Poles, Slavs, Russians, Greeks and the soldiers fighting the war all within a 10-12 year period. Christ and the religion in his name is responsible for millions of deaths perpetuated through the Inquisitions spanning approximately 10 countries, the Crusades into the Middle East to exorcise the evil infidels, the decimation of native peoples wherever the Christian stepped foot, deaths through slavery, the persecution and deaths of people of differing ethnic backgrounds, beliefs, and sexual orientation throughout history, not to mention the "lesser" crimes of rape, imprisonment, and cultural cleansing through conversion. Christ himself spoke of hating your mother, your father, your brothers and sisters. He spoke of the death of those who did not believe in his divinity. Christ and his flock had over 1,900 years to perfect their murderous ways under the guise of truth and love (for Christians). Hitler had 1,900 years of cruelty to drawn upon for his distorted plan of action also under the guise of truth and love (for Aryans). The gas chambers and concentration camps implemented by the monstrous Nazis are akin to the torture chambers and brutal punishments carried out by the "peace-loving" Christians during the Burning Times.

But all that has changed. Christians don't do those things anymore. Those crimes were perpetrated by ignorant people who weren't living by the word of God. Really? Have Christians stopped their barbaric ways? Let's think about the killings of abortion doctors, killings and beatings of homosexuals, blacks, women, witches, and Atheists that still go on today. The continued assault on our government system in attempts to create a Christian state. Yes, these statistics are small in comparison with the astronomical figures of Christian deeds past. But, is it because of the inherent goodness in Christianity or did we learn something from the very monster himself in 1945? Isn't it because the world finally stood up and took notice of what genocide, murder, rape, and persecution really is and has taken extensive measures to stop it? Isn't it because we now have laws against hate crimes with severe penalties acting as a deterrent against these horrendous deeds?

Have Christians really stopped hating? What about the propaganda that is continuously pouring out of the Religious Right every day denouncing anyone who does not follow their world view--propaganda which blames the "downfall" of humanity on Atheists, homosexuals, women, Buddhists, Jews, and Hindus? Just today 5 Christians said to me out of the blue in a public parking lot, "Why don't you Atheists just die and let us good Christians alone?" This is typical of everyday conversation through e-mail, television, and personal confrontations experienced by myself, my family and millions of other Atheists and non-theists alike. As you will note, many hate groups such as the Nazis, Skinheads, and the Church of the Creator all base their beliefs on Christianity and what is written in the Bible. The similarities between Hitler's regime and Christ's are astounding and unavoidable.

Hasn't some good come out of Christianity? It hasn't been all bad as that. Yes, some good has come from some Christian individuals such as establishing charities, hospitals, and relief agencies. There are Christian individuals that I have witnessed doing something noble and grand for their fellow human beings. But Hitler also did kind things for people as well. He did establish charities for the German people, he gave to soldiers and their families experiencing hardships, and he was known to love children. There were Nazi soldiers who refused to kill Jews and asked to be reassigned or relieved from their duties. There were Germans who hid Jews and other persecuted peoples at the risk of their own lives, but do these good deeds by individuals wash clean the whole of Nazism and the devastation it wrought? No...neither can the good deeds of individual Christians wash clean Christianity's own bloody past and present.