Essay on Faith and Reason within the Holocaust - 1715 Words

Faith and Reason within the Holocaust One of the greatest horrors of the 20th Century was the extermination of over 6 million Jews and 5 million others during the Holocaust. In the face of this atrocity many have wondered how such a tragedy transcended in a supposed civilized European society. What role did religious institutions play in the prevention or lack of prevention of the horrors inflicted by the Nazis? How did the German government create, within a reasoning public, acceptance and even support for the extermination of a people who previously were considered equals? The inhumanity of the Holocaust was procured with effective use of propaganda on the German people who were willing to support anyone who could return†¦show more content†¦Historically, the hostility against Jews was present in the ancient, medieval, and modern world following World War I. From the crusades to the Age of Enlightenment, hatred for the Jews was common amongst the diversity of European culture. The only action that was unprecedented was the death camps. Adolf Hitler is often seen as responsible for the Holocaust. Many believe that without Hitler, there would not have been a Holocaust. Adolf Hitler was primarily motivated by the lust for power and domination. To acquire this power, he needed to find a way to unite the disparaged people of Germany. He used the historical dislike and mistrust of Jews and blamed the problems of Germany on them. He accused the Jews of wanting to overrun German society and destroy the German state: The Jew, whether consciously or unconsciously, whether he wishes it or not, undermines the platform on which alone a nation can stand.[2] With this preface, the only way for Germany to survive and thrive was to get rid of the Jews. The actual execution of the genocidal plan of Nazi Germany relied on efficiency. In this regard, Heinrich Himmler is identified as the architect of the Holocaust. In his lifeShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of Night874 Words   |  4 PagesPeriod 1 â€Å"Faith is Lost in the Night† The horrible accounts of the holocaust are vividly captured by Elie Wiesel in Night, an award winning work by a Holocaust survivor. It describes his time in the Holocaust and helps the reader fully understand the pain he went through. In the text, Elie continuously mentions how he is losing his faith to god. It is evident that he has nearly, if not completely lost his faith during the events of the holocaust. In the memoir, Night, Elie Wiesel’s faith changesRead MoreThe Holocaust : A Despicable Time1724 Words   |  7 Pagesin the Holocaust reacted differently; some by rising above with strength and determination while others exiled their faith to the shadows forever. Throughout history, several different reactions have been accounted for but some do not take the time to think of why survivors reacted in the manner that they did. By doing this, many people will gain greater insight on just how devastating the Holocaust was, even though some chose to make light out of dar kness. Therefore, though the Holocaust is a despicableRead MoreThe Holocaust in Night by Ellie Wiesel Essay example553 Words   |  3 PagesThe Holocaust was not only a way for the Nazis to purge the Jews, it was also a movement for a new way of thinking, that as long as the person in front of you holds a military-grade firearm there is nothing you can do to change your fate. In the memoir Night, Elie Wiesel recounts his journey through life in nazi concentration camps. Elie struggles with his faith and morality as he and his father witness the horrors of the Holocaust. Night reveals that it’s in human nature to hope for survival throughRead MoreThe Holocaust Of Auschwitz, Buchenwald, And Treblinka1514 Words   |  7 PagesAuschwitz, Buchenwald, and Treblinka are just a few of the names that evoke nightmares of the Holocaust. The death and suffering at concentration camps like these were greater than any before endured. Elie Wiesel had been one of the most devout Jewish chi ldren prior to the start of the Holocaust. However, the Holocaust created a void in the souls of many of those that survived, one of which was Elie. During his experience in the concentration camps, Elie waited for God to intervene and save his peopleRead More`` Night `` By Elie Wiesel1321 Words   |  6 PagesNobel Laureate warned years ago, to forget a holocaust is to kill twice.† After experiencing the tragedies that occurred during the Holocaust, Eliezer Wiesel narrated â€Å"Night†. Eliezer wrote â€Å"Night† in an attempt to prevent something similar to the Holocaust from happening again, by showing the audience what the consequences are that come from becoming a bystander. Elie illustrated numerous themes by narrating the state of turmoil he was in during the Holocaust. In Night, Eliezer provided insight intoRead MoreThe Holocaust : A Horrible Time Of Our Human History1369 Words   |  6 PagesWhile examining the works of Elie Wiesel and Primo Levi it be comes apparent that the holocaust was a horrendous time in our human history. However, although both writers went through similar experiences during this time; both seem to reflect and dwell on things differently such as their point of view and lives in the camps as well as the different themes they focus on. In this analysis the stories of the two authors will be compared and as stated above will also focus on how they recount theirRead MoreConstantines Sword Essay953 Words   |  4 Pagesthe priesthood. He was not in the priesthood long, but he always kept his Catholic faith. With this he decided to write Constantines Sword; The Church and The Jews. James Carroll brings you his personal story of how he learned what it is to suffer, what brought him in and out of priesthood, and how the Catholics and Jew are related pertaining to the events between 1933 and 1945, also known as the Holocaust. James Carroll took two trips to Auschwitz; the concentration camp while writingRead MoreTheme Of Torture In Night By Elie Wiesel724 Words   |  3 Pagesthis was a reality for Elie Wiesel, author of the award winning book Night. The book is a wonderful insight to the events of the holocaust. It is filled with grueling instances of survival, family, and even the inhumanity of man, however another kind of torture that is slightly less obvious is constantly referenced throughout this autobiography, and that is the loss of faith. Although this theme may seem less prevalent, it is in my opinion the most important one in all areas including importance toRead More Loss of Faith and Religion in Ellie Wiesel’s Night Essay1737 Words   |  7 PagesThe Holocaust survivor Abel Herzberg has said, â€Å" There were not six million Jews murdered; there was one murder, six million times.† The Holocaust is one of the most horrific events in the history of mankind, consisting of the genocide of Jews, homosexuals, gypsies, mentally handicapped and many others during World War II. Adolf Hitler was the leader of Nazi Germany, and his army of Nazis and SS troops carried out the terrible proceedings of the Holocaust. Elie Wiesel is a Jewish survivor of theRead More`` Night `` By Elie Wiesel1341 Words   |  6 Pages Robert Shapiro, an American civil litigator once said, â€Å"To me, the Holocaust stands alone as the most horrible human event in modern civilization,† The Holocaust, a genocide led by Adolf Hitler, killed six million jews, and dramatically affected the whole world. The memoir â€Å"Night,† written by Elie Wiesel describes the brutality Wiesel experienced during the Holocaust, and how life changing it was. Although some may believe the memoir written by Elie Wiesel was titled â€Å"Night† because he was forced