Religion

Religion is a major, underlying theme of Ken Follett's novel, "Winter of the World." Religion affects many of the characters, and influences major events and decisions in the novel. Religion appears in the novel in both positive and negative ways, and each religion in the novel experiences similar and different events.

Negatively, religion is used by Hitler to secure German unity. Hitler does this by lying to the Centre Party, dominated by Catholics, telling them that the Church will be respected in Nazi Germany. Hitler, indeed, preys on the Christian faith of people in order to unite them behind him, finding religion meshed with the state to be useful. Positively, it is the Christian faith of many that encourages them to take a stand against the Nazis, realizing a great rift between Christian morality and Nazi philosophy and practices.

For the Jews, commitment to their faith means persecution...