Saturday, March 3, 2007
Life and religion
- How do Gerda’s religious beliefs change during the course of the book? Why, during the final march through Czechoslovakia, does Gerda stop praying?
- Has religion provided solace and strength to you during difficult times of your life?
- What might be some consequences for giving up a religion you have believed in your entire life?
- Gerda writes, “Why? Why did we walk like meek sheep to the slaughterhouse? Why did we not fight back?” (p. 89). What answer does she give? Does that answer seem sufficient to you? What other reasons might you give?
- Gerda writes, “Throughout my years in the camps, and against insuperable odds, I knew of no one who committed suicide,” (p. 250). Why do you think these people, who suffered great loss and pain, did not resort to suicide, when many individuals take their lives for seemingly lesser reasons?
- Gerda writes: “Survival is both an exalted privilege and a painful burden,” (p. 247). What does she mean by this? Do you agree?