Thanks all who answered for your thoughts and insights.

Thanks, Lovada- I hadn't considered that he only pretended to believe in a Christian God. Good answer.

...however, the bigger question is whether people who behave horribly but truly believe Jesus is their personal savior are still granted entrance to heaven. I already know Christian perspective on "good people" who don't accept Jesus. Really I only used those names to illustrate my question. Thanks again!

Thank you, Kathy- I appreciate your insight and sharing your experience. Hitler is the go-to example of inhumanity, but I also question "Christians" who show intollerance, sometimes quite openly, actively even supporting intollerance financially (fighting Prop 8 in CA for example- money that could have aided the poor and hungry)... so I don't know where a "Christian" needs to fall on this scale to still be admitted to Heaven, by Christian beliefs. I'm concluding there are as many Christian beliefs as their are Christians. Hitler probably never confessed his sins, probably never considered them sins, but is this not the case in lesser extremes for many of the faith? I do think Lovada (above) has a good point, too- maybe Hitler pretended to have Christian beliefs.

Exactly as I understand it- thanks for the explaination, El.

Adolf Hitler was not a Christian. He was a devout Roman Catholic.

Some people still believe in the easter bunny, tooth fairy and santa claus.

well said

Pink Poodle, Hitler was not a believer... he did not believe in God... he believed in himself. The rules to entering Heaven is that you must believe that God is, and that He sent His son to die for the remission of our sins and was raised from the grave and is alive now at the right hand of God. You don't believe that, you don't enter into heaven...
None of us have the right or are in any position to judge another man's place in eternity but our own... I don't want to see anyone miss the chance to be in Heaven, however, it's not for me to decide the fate of the world but each one of us, individually.

guess we should wonder where we r going individually

Thanks, Elishua I appreciate your comment.

This is what God had to say about Israel, the Jewish people and persecution of his people, it doesnt align with Hitlers agenda and actions which was his smokescreen.
Genesis 12:3 will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
Psalm 122:6 "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
May all who love this city prosper."
Psalm 122:9 "For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem."
Ezekiel 37:21 This is what the Sovereign LORD says:
I will take the Israelites out of the nations where
they have gone. I will gather them from all
around and bring them back into their own land.”
Isaiah 11:12 he will assemble the scattered people of Judah
from the four quarters of the earth."
Isaiah 58:10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonda

I believe if you really have the love of God in your heart which is the result of accepting Jesus in our hearts, then you wont be persuing and endeavoring in horrible activities. Thats not to say some that have played around with witchcraft and satanic things then change their mind and want to follow christ wont have trouble shedding the demons they allowed in their life, those people need to cling even closer to Christ and ask God to help them rid their souls of those demonic things and replace them with the things of God that they need. I hope this answers the question better. Satin works very hard to fool people even in the churches and syagogs, what better place to wreck havoc then in God's own house if you have a satanic agenda?

Hitler was not Christian, he spoke about being a christian to gain popularity and trust, so he then could further his horrible agendas. No True Christian would persecute anyone like he did, especially not the Jewish since the Bible clearly states that they are His choosen people and it is every Christians duty to protect them and Israel.

Hitler was born a Jew....never embraced the religion....Nor Christianity.....Never, to my knowledge, repented of his sin, nor asked forgiveness....my money says he's a "Crispy Critter."

Aren't then most of us related to a Slavic Slant?

Dear Mac,
I'm not sure what you mean. My background is Germanic, although my almond shaped blue eyes are supposed to be a genetic leftover from Genghis Khan. The Nazis hated Slavs as much as they hated Jews or Gypsies and tried to eliminate them, too.

Dear Mac,
Not true. Hitler was born into the Catholic faith. His father, who was illegitimate, is supposed to have been the child of the Jewish man that his grandmother worked for as a maid. This was never proven. Given that his grandmother was not Jewish and he was not raised as a Jew, under the Nuremburg Laws, he would not have been considered Jewish as Judaism is matriarchical in how it is passed down. There are also rumors linking him to a Slavic heritage which was equally disparaged by the racial purists of Nazi Germany.

Dear Clinton and Chellie,
Adolf Hitler was born into the Roman Catholic church, but he wasn't a regular communicant. In fact, he was fancinated with the occult, which was in vogue at that time, too.

Dear PinkPoodle,
When I was a teenager, I went through a Born-Again phase. I was told that Gandhi was not in Heaven because he was not a Christian. I could never reconcile this because I knew too many people at that church who were mean or lied or just didn't act kindly or humbly and they were intolerant. I left that church, and Born Again Christianity. I really think that God judges people for their actions and their intensions and recognizes "Godly" behavior when He sees it. Shouting "Amen" and Hallelujah" loudly and thumping your Bible are not necessarily "Godly" behavior and will be judged accordingly. Hitler was a Christian, and is supposed to have recognized the commandments placed on Christians. He claimed to be acting under God's authority when he persecuted the Jews and the others. I cannot believe there is a place in Heaven for him unless he did so huge acts of confession and pleas for forgiveness in those last moments. As a Catholic, we are taught that one need merely confess our sins and ask for forgiveness to receive it.

Dear PinkPoodle,
That kind of hate, even if it is coached in religious language is not true "Christian" behavior, so I agree with Lovada on that point. There were a lot of people who agreed with Hitler or at least tolerated a lot of the persecution, so even if they were professing Christians, they were not acting it. If they never confessed, then they will be punished for their behavior, but they are supposed to be able to attain Heaven. I too doubt that Hitler ever confessed or asked for forgiveness. By all rights, he should be in Hell. But I still expect to see Gandhi in Heaven.

No, Hitler was not a Christian. Hitler rejected the God of the Bible. Besides, no true Christian would murder people. Jesus said that a tree is recognized by it's fruit. Those who are born-again, will not live a sinful lifestyle, though Christians still mess up once in a while, a Christian would never murder.

Hitler may claim to be Christian, but we all know he did not practiced it most of his life.

But,...... do we know if he repented before he died?

As far as Ghandi or you or ANYONE,

only God knows for sure if you are saved.

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I can appreciate your thoughtfilled answer. The issue I have with it is the issue of Righteousness. Not the righteousness that comes from our good works. These we will be judged on yes----Some will use their good works to try to get into heaven----others let them be for rewards----These ones will be depending on Salvation for their entrance into heaven---the Righteousness provided by Jesus Christ---given freely ---and not gained by good works. The ones who try to get into heaven by their good works----well I don't want to be those people-----I have found out early that I can never be good enough---no matter how hard i try------I thank Jesus Christ every day for his mercy on me---to provide me righteousness that I did not deserve

Hitler obviously was not Christian. You aren't a Christian just cuz you take on the title---that is along the lines of taking the Lord's name in vain. You are a Christian because you have a new spirit in you---the Spirit of Christ. You are a Christian because you love the Lord your God with all your heart soul and strength--and YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. Sorry===but Hitler didn't do ANY of that.

I regards to Heaven and Hell, that is solely dependant on what one does with his or her life.

PinkPoodle,
I think many people profess to be Christian and are not and from reading history Hitler was into occult practices, and trying even to manipulate Christianity as a power he could control. The guy was a madman to say the least. The truth about Christianity is that no one can enter into Heaven unless they are perfect. This is why Jesus (who was absolutely sinless) died for our sins (as a sacrifice on our behalf) so we wouldn't have to face God's judgment, but you have to believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and trust Him to be your savior. They say that Jeffrey Dahmer (an infamous murderer) received Christ while he was in prison, which later he died. If this is true his sins would be wiped away clean since God the Father would see Dahmer clothed in Christ's own righteousness. If Hitler "were" a true believing Christian he could be forgiven. Gandhi, who did not believe on our Lord Jesus Christ unto salvation would still be in his sin and would still be under God's judgment.
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." John 3:36 NKJV

Michelle,
Great answer! :)

Lovada,
I really liked your answer, and you are right on. :)