Example Of Essay On Questioning The Existence Of God In The Dark Years Of Human History

[Professor]

In the dark years of the holocaust, the world was silent including the God whom the Jews of Sighet, Transylvania depended for life. Eliezer Wiesel broke his silence regarding his accounts of the life they have suffered in the concentration camps in Auschwitz. Included in the accounts of Elie Wiesel of their deportation from Sighet when he was 15 years old to a ghetto to another until they reach Auschwitz was his decreasing belief of God’s existence. This was despite the fact that he was an avid student of God’s scriptures back in Sighet. While many of the Jews in the concentration camps hold on to their belief that God will save them, Elie started to doubt if what they have believed in was true because he witnessed in his very own eyes the mass murders, brutality even against his father.
In his novel, Wiesel states, “Never shall I forget those moments that murdered my God an my soul and turned my dreams into ashes. Never shall I forget those things, even were I condemned to live as God himself” (34). This message from the novel shows the dark night that Wiesel was undergoing during their first night in the concentration camp when they finally realized that their race is being condemned. This was when he and his family were separated. It was during this time that he saw the black smoke from the chimney from where his fellows are being burned. It was that time that Wiesel thought that God has abandoned them.
In the later part of the novel, Wiesel’s faith further deteriorated. There was a time that he heard of a co-prisoner who was praying and it further tickled his accusation and rebellion against God. Wiesel narrates: “Blessed be God’s name. Why? But why would I bless him? Every fiber in me rebelled. Because He caused thousands of children to burn in His mass graves?Praised by thy Holy Name, for having chosen us to be slaughtered in Thine altar?” (67) At this part of the novel, Wiesel was firm that God has turned its back on them when they needed Him the most. He was already cynical that God can help them through prayers. It dawned on him that their only hope is their strength to be able to survive Auschwitz. At this point, Wiesel does not doubt anymore whether or not God hears their prayers. He is already accusing God of what they have become.
His accusation that God has chosen them to suffer made him stronger than God himself. He felt that humanity was lost. During the day of fasting, Wiesel stated that he did not fast because he needed to survive and not die of severe hunger. Another reason is that he had no reason to fast as he did not believe in God anymore.
Wiesel’s lost faith in God in the dark years of human history is a normal reaction to oppression. He was a hard believer in Sighet who loves to learn about the Scripture in a daily basis. He believed that prayers will eventually save them from doom. The mass killings, brutality and the darkest of oppression led his faith to deteriorate. He rebelled and accused God of abandonment. Wiesel’s faith actually did not die. He may have expressed his anger and accusation. His rebellion only showed that he still believed that someone more powerful than man is out there but chose not to help them. His notion that they are abandoned was his driving force to hate God. In fact, in an article published in NPR Books, Wiesel said, “After all, God is God because he remembers” (NPR Books, “A God Who Remembers”).

Works Cited

Wiesel, Eliezer. “Night.” Translated by Marion Wiesel. Hill and Wang, 2006. Print.
“A God Who Remembers.” NPR Books. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.
“Loss of Faith in Night by Elie Wiesel.” 123HelpMe.com. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.