The Baylor Center for Jewish Studies hosted a Holocaust seminar last week, and the program focused on how Christians might understand the Holocaust. Baylor is a Baptist university. The event featured a screening of the film Final Solution as well as a panel discussion afterwards.

After the movie, Dr. Marc Ellis, director of the Center for Jewish Studies; Dr. Hulitt Gloer, professor of preaching and Christian scripture at George W. Truett Theological Seminary; and Dr. Lai Ling Ngan, associate professor of Christian scripture at George W. Truett Theological Seminary, will participate in a discussion with students about various topics related to the content of the movie.

Ellis said he plans to speak about a world without Jews.

“That was the ultimate plan of the Nazis: to eliminate the Jews,” he said. “I just want them to think, what would every day be like?”

Ellis said these questions are not just for Jews, but for Christians as well.

“What would it mean to be a Christian if there were no Jews?” he said. “What does that mean for Baylor?”

Ellis explained why the history of the Holocaust is important for all students, including Christians, to know.

“Both Christians and Nazis share disturbing similarities in their understanding of Jews,” he said. “The difference is that Christians felt the Jews had killed Christ and had rejected the new covenant.”

He said that because of this, Christians believed that the Jews were condemned to wander and suffer until they saw the light.

Ngan said she thinks it is important that Christians are made aware of the events that took place during the Holocaust. “If we don’t, it will happen again,” she said.