Book Discussion
Back in World War two, many people would take in Jewish people for hiding. The German officers would often punish people for taking people in, even if they weren't Jewish. Punishments included: Getting beaten, going to a death camp, or both. Some people got away with it though. If you were living during this time period, and a woman with a starving baby and two younger children showed up at your door to see if they could go into hiding, what would you do? (Think about the possible consequences you would face, and think about what would happen to the family if they couldn't hide in your home.)
-In the book, people found out that Corrie was taking Jewish people into hiding. She was beaten and got sent into a concentration camp. But she had been helping the Jewish race for a long time before she got in trouble. I man knocked on her door and said that his wife got in trouble for hiding, and he needed money to get her out of the Germans hands. Then he mentioned how corrie hid Jews, she never thought much of it, but she said she would give him the money to save his wife. The man came back for the money and he began beating her and searched her home for the hiding spot. If she wouldn't have said she would help out, then she wouldn't have gotten in trouble. I think if I were asked to take someone in, I would feel really terrible and selfish saying no. Mostly because that family could be in danger at any time. That's a living nightmare.
Soon after the Ten Booms were captured, they were all put in a large building awaiting transfer. While there a police/ Gestapo saw Caspar, and was angered that he was arrested. So the Gestapo asked Caspar if he would promise not to cause anymore trouble. But, Caspar replied, "If I go home today, tomorrow I will open my door again to any man in need who knocks." First, who is he talking about when he said "man in need," and why do you think he replied this way?
-First, he is mainly referring to the Jews and the rebel group. He answered this way because his personality and traits force him to do so. He is so kind-hearted to do anything different and does not feed off of anything he gains but feeds off the fact that he can help someone.
In the book, Betsie often thought of the persecutors as needing help in addition to the prisoners. But, Corrie seemingly could not accept this idea until the very end of the book. Why do you think Betsie could love at this degree while Corrie could not?
-Symbolically, Betsie has a similar personality to Jesus, or what would be considered a near perfect human being. She is unlike many others because of her almost natural instinct to love all other even before herself oftentimes while most humans naturally think of themselves first, or even just a small group of others. She is also like Jesus because of her "sacrifice" to save others. While not exactly being crucified and killed by others, she still oftentimes took risks that could cause punishment to her such as her willingness to lead the prayer times in the barracks. Also, she was similar to Jesus in a prophetical sense because of her constant spreading of God's word to everyone. She was even excited when she was put into the sick ward because she saw it as another place to spread God's healing word to those that needed it most.
-In the book, people found out that Corrie was taking Jewish people into hiding. She was beaten and got sent into a concentration camp. But she had been helping the Jewish race for a long time before she got in trouble. I man knocked on her door and said that his wife got in trouble for hiding, and he needed money to get her out of the Germans hands. Then he mentioned how corrie hid Jews, she never thought much of it, but she said she would give him the money to save his wife. The man came back for the money and he began beating her and searched her home for the hiding spot. If she wouldn't have said she would help out, then she wouldn't have gotten in trouble. I think if I were asked to take someone in, I would feel really terrible and selfish saying no. Mostly because that family could be in danger at any time. That's a living nightmare.
Soon after the Ten Booms were captured, they were all put in a large building awaiting transfer. While there a police/ Gestapo saw Caspar, and was angered that he was arrested. So the Gestapo asked Caspar if he would promise not to cause anymore trouble. But, Caspar replied, "If I go home today, tomorrow I will open my door again to any man in need who knocks." First, who is he talking about when he said "man in need," and why do you think he replied this way?
-First, he is mainly referring to the Jews and the rebel group. He answered this way because his personality and traits force him to do so. He is so kind-hearted to do anything different and does not feed off of anything he gains but feeds off the fact that he can help someone.
In the book, Betsie often thought of the persecutors as needing help in addition to the prisoners. But, Corrie seemingly could not accept this idea until the very end of the book. Why do you think Betsie could love at this degree while Corrie could not?
-Symbolically, Betsie has a similar personality to Jesus, or what would be considered a near perfect human being. She is unlike many others because of her almost natural instinct to love all other even before herself oftentimes while most humans naturally think of themselves first, or even just a small group of others. She is also like Jesus because of her "sacrifice" to save others. While not exactly being crucified and killed by others, she still oftentimes took risks that could cause punishment to her such as her willingness to lead the prayer times in the barracks. Also, she was similar to Jesus in a prophetical sense because of her constant spreading of God's word to everyone. She was even excited when she was put into the sick ward because she saw it as another place to spread God's healing word to those that needed it most.