God on Trial

[DeepBlueSea]

Not sure whether this is the right place to post this but I think users in this subtopic might be more receptive to this idea and active in contributing to the discussion.

So, I watched this film/docudrama called “God on Trial” (2008). It is about a group of Jews in the Auschwitz concentration camp, waiting to be sent to the gas chamber, started the proceeding on whether God broke the covenant with the Jews, resulting them to suffer under Hitler. The proceeding had both sides that argued for and against God, on whether God was guilty or not for breaking the Covenant.

Even though the film is set in Jewish context, me as a new member of the Catholic Church found the dialogs very relate-able. Basically, the for and against arguments throughout the film pretty much encapsulated the conflicts and doubts going inside my head: I want to believe but there are also nagging reasons that rationalize the otherwise.

The exchange of arguments between a group of devoted Jewish men vs the men of reasons, even more poignantly highlighted by an internal father vs son conflict, was so engaging that compelled me to find out more about whoever wrote this piece of gems. I was so surprised that the screenwriter, Frank Cottrell Boyce, is a devoted Catholic. It might be a strange coincident but all the literary works that move me deeply so happened to have Catholic underpinnings, e.g. the Lord of the Rings.

Has anyone who has watched the film share your thoughts on the arguments as presented from both sides in the film. Do you think that the ending is illogical?

p/s I took the liberty to put up the link whereby you can watch the film on youtube. enjoy!

pp/s this is so exciting. I am sure the atheists will have lots of things to say. but please be civil and constructive and keep to the context and the spirit of the discussion.

 

[Origen52]

Thank you so much for the link and making this movie known. I look forward to watching it.

 

[RocketRM]

Thanks for posting the link! I watched it last night. Extremely emotional movie - especially the story of the father and his 3 sons.

I’ll hold off on further comments because I’m still taking it in. Would love to hear from others especially our Jewish friends on their thoughts.

 

[tonyrey]

The unique history of the Jews is powerful evidence that they were the Chosen People but they interpret the Old Testament without grasping the significance of Jesus because they do not believe He is the Messiah. That is why they cannot understand why God has apparently failed to keep His promises:

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

But those who hate him he will repay to their face by destruction; he will not be slow to repay to their face those who hate him. Therefore, take care to follow the commands, decrees and laws I give you today.

Deut. 7:6 -11

How could God possibly permit the Holocaust and leave the Nazis unpunished?

 

[DeepBlueSea]

Extremely emotional movie - especially the story of the father and his 3 sons.

That’s right. The father and son relationships in the movie are all very moving.

I especially like the scene where the devout jewish father volunteered to die in place of his son (who renounced his jewish heritage) because he was ready to die as he was at peace with God.

I’ll hold off on further comments because I’m still taking it in. Would love to hear from others especially our Jewish friends on their thoughts.

Yeah, I’m still taking it in too. This film meant a lot to me because the dialogs resonate with how I feel inside. But it’s hard for me to articulate what is the take-home message from the film. Being at peace with God, even in the face of trial, because the universe is unfolding as it should be?

There is poem called Desiderata by Max Erhman that has this paragraph that goes:

And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labours and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.

 

[DeepBlueSea]

Found the transcript of the film here.

 

[Origen52]

Once again, thank you. I watched the film the same day you posted the link and found it overwhelming, both emotionally and intellectually. The script will give me a chance to reflect on the themes presented.

My strongest impression is that ultimately everyone needs God. The final scene when the men being gassed gather in prayer, brings home the fact that the only strength in moments of terror comes from God.