The Trial of God

I disagree with "A WeRead User" who felt that it was sacreligious. As a Christian (a pastor and philosopher by trade and vocation), I find this play disturbing yet refreshing, perhaps even refreshing because its disturbing. I ask this: Is Psalm 88 any less sacreligious? Was Christ crying "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" that much different from Berish? If so, by its sacrilege,...more

I disagree with "A WeRead User" who felt that it was sacreligious. As a Christian (a pastor and philosopher by trade and vocation), I find this play disturbing yet refreshing, perhaps even refreshing because its disturbing. I ask this: Is Psalm 88 any less sacreligious? Was Christ crying "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" that much different from Berish? If so, by its sacrilege, like this play, it displays an authenticity before God far greater than the trite stock answers in cheesy devotional books that tell you the lie that one cannot admit to feelings of confusion, doubt, even hurt and anger at God, that there is always a rational explanation etc. Ironically, the one with the pat answers turned out to be the most evil (Satan himself). Thankfully Weisel had the guts (and, I would argue the faith) to be honest: inexplicable evil has no explanation! Yet Weisel ends with even more profundity (and perplexity) that this. It would seem that when we put God on trial, we put ourselves on trial. Ulimtately the trial of God will go on even if ours does not.   hide

Powerful play based on an equally powerful true story. The characters are deeply dynamic and the dialogue is moving. Wiesel did an amazing job using art to capture humanity. I highly recommend for anyone considering justice, faith, evil, and meaning in this chaotic world. The story is open-ended and leaves the responsibility to subsequent generations to continue the play.

o.m.g.

a truly compelling play, masked in Wiesel's actual experience of a Talmudic trial he witnessed in Aushwitz. Sorrowful, pithy, and filled with depth.