Etty Hillesum & Religion & Holocaust Research Paper

Etty Hillesum & Religion & Holocaust - Research Paper Example The theory that it was God's fault, Etty explained, was an easy way out. Man created this world (1940's) and its atrocities, because of lack of faith in God. Her faith and belief in God helped many get through the horrible times before being transferred to Auschwitz. She did feel life was absurd though there were things each individual person could gain. Religion was not wishful thinking. She had a special religious vocation which was beyond the understanding of the times and a little bit more comprehensible today. "Fear created the first Gods". Perhaps, Etty considered that fear also took spirituality away from most. "Moreover, life itself contradicts the most basic of human aspirations: to live without suffering and cruelty because most are not prepared in "healing the soul". Life require work on the soul. This sound trite as a phrase but it was her aspiration in turning suffering and cruelty into an experience where some benefit could begotten. She made a transition in 1943, as sh e actually felt it was not fair that she did not share the suffering of others and volunteered to be transferred.. There are different explanations of the Holocaust but non like Etty Hillesum. Her diaries written from 1941-1943 give an incredible outlook to how one young women dealt with the atrocities from looking within. She shared her inspirations with others. She inspired many. Ester Hillesum was born in the Netherlands January 15, 1914. She died in Auschwitz November 30 1943. One of the most influential person in her short life taught her the value of looking within for the necessary answers of one's problems . Julias Spier, a psycho-chirologist, studied with Carl Jung the technique of analyzing the lines of the hand. Etty met him in 1941 at a conference and then in therapy. He showed her the value of writing as a part of her therapy. In her letters, she refers to him as .S. Etty became his good friend and secretary. She continued writing her diaries for 3 years. They are writt en in the forms of letters representing a spiritual journey. She wished to become a journalist 'if she made it after the war'. S woke the God in her. She saw that God was omnipresent in all aspects of life. She had two tendencies in her letters: to write of the God within her; and to write of the God of creation and creatures. Towards the end of the diary she converges these two thoughts. "For once you have begun to walk with God, you need only keep on walking with Him and all of life becomes on long stroll ...such a marvellous feeling....(14/07/1942). She continued writing about God until the end of her life. God is within man. Because God could do nothing with what man was doing at this time in life (WWII), she said it was time for man to help God. Take care of his presence. Don't just offer him your tears and sadness but make his time he has with you as agreeable as possible. Hatred and anger are the easy route to take though you have every right to do so. Any element of moral in dignation touches the soul. One element of hatred, one atom more of hatred added to this world renders it even more disagreeable. Life is absurd, but man still has libre-arbitre over his proper soul. "This hatred and animosity which exist in others is also in us. I don't see any other solution other than cleaning our souls of this rot. We cannot improve the outside world without having made progress within ourselves. There is one lesson that can be learned from the war, the need to look within". A lite comparison done in 2011 would be going to a cancer waiting room, seeing everyone with sour faces. Bring a box of chocolates, or tell a joke for