sable, that genocide came about not from the nazi's, but from hitler. he told the german people that the reason they were in the state they were in was because of the jews. Propaganda soon spread against the jews, making them look like monsters, desensitizing them, and making it to where the german people and the Nazi party to grow agaisnt the jews. at first they were put in concentration camps, much like we did with the japanese during the same time. the only difference is hitler during the war, came up with a new way to deal with the jews and this was the death camps. it was not the Nazi's who persecuted the jews, nor the germans. but it was hitler's ideaology that was infringed on the nazi party. originally the nazi party was a good thing. the nazi party never had any intentions of persecuting jews. it was when hitler came to power when this started happening. remember, a LOT happened that lead to the war. if hitler never came to power, it is very unlikely WW2, atleast on the german front would have never happened.
so when you say the Nazi's persecuted the jews, it isnt entirely as seems. the soldiers and officer did what they were told. if they didnt, they would be taken out by the SS. many of the soldiers at the concentration camps only did what they did because they thought it was the right thing to do. this is exactly why the German people would help .
now i am in no way of saying nazi's are good. they are and were very misunderstood. if hitler had never came to power, the original nazi campaign may have even helped germany for the good. hitler was an evil, maniacal, and manipulative monster.
and now to the religion issue. religion is a way for the masses of people to explain phenomenon and give people faith. without some kind of faith in someones life, particularly speaking about the masses, society could not function. if there was no mystery for what happens to us in the afterlife, while keeping the moral compass pointing true north. religion is a way for people to follow a set of codes or rules i.e. ten commandments, eating Kosher, and all of the many stupid catholic rules. duck they cant do shit.
this is my view on religion, i believe in a god and that alot of these "rules" were made by man. catholicism, by having a "pope" can use the authority of god to change these religous principals and its a way to have a more distinct hierarchical order within the church i.e bishops, arch bishops, haha alter boys
pine.