As we were walking out, Denita and could not help but ask ourselves "Why." How could this have happened in one of the most civilized and decent countries on the planet, leaders in science and philosophy, highly educated, wealthy and Christianized for centuries? The atrocities committed here were on a scale that simply defies comprehension. I do not believe the roots of this inhumanity lie in a certain people or race. Nor do I think it was due to a unique set of historical circumstances. I think what we see is a window into man's inner nature.
There have been many theories to explain man's intrinsic nature. The modern, New Age view is that our Inner Self is pure and lovely, but it has been sullied by civilization and the socialization process. If we want peace and enlightenment, we should look deep inside of us. The Christian view is that man is inherently selfish and self-centered, and we need another nature, a spiritual one. Jesus once told the Pharisees, "If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children ........" (Matt 7:11). Paul weighs in on the issue in Galatians 5:19: "Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these."
I subscribe to the Christian view. The nature that was programmed into man, what Paul calls the flesh, was designed for survival and reproduction on this earth. And it is well suited for that purpose, as witnessed by the 7 billion human beings now living. But it is plastic, easily moulded, and people can be persuaded to do almost anything. The Israelis were astounded to learn how normal and indeed bland Adolf Eichmann appeared! They expected a monster, but in fact he was just a man.
This was the "bathroom" in the Crematoria building where prisoners were sealed in and then gassed.
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