I am talking about My Enemy's Cradle. I loved it. I read it. Today. All 360 pages.
Some of my favorite books ever are The Hiding Place, Night, and Schindler's List. Two are biographical, one is fictional, all three are exceptional. Now add My Enemy's Cradle to that list.
Why does my short list have these four books on it? Why are my favorite books the ones about the worst in humanity? Because they are also about the best in humanity. They are about how the human spirit wills itself to live. To flourish. To prove all of Hell wrong.
The premise of the book is this:
A Dutch/Polish Jewess is sent by her father to safety in Holland. She looks only Dutch, and amazingly like her cousin- almost like twins.
The cousin finds out that she is pregnant with a German officer's baby. When the officer doesn't return her love, and in the face of dishonor to her family, she kills herself in a botched home abortion.
At the same time, the young girl is in danger of the advancing Nazi regime. And looks just like her cousin. The one who was pregnant. And was scheduled to enter a special home for the safe incubation of German bred babies.
Now, all she needs is to get pregnant....
Here's my question:
Is fornication a sin if it is done to protect a life? Do the ends justify the means in a situation where lives are at stake. Is it OK to lie, cheat, steal, murder?
9 comments:
I have a hard time answering this one myself. I like to think that i would be strong enough to say that the ends never justify the means if the means go against principal- but I have never been in a situation like this.
I certainly would never be able to hold the means against anyone else.
You are too funny...answering your own question, and make me laugh SO INCREDIBLY HARD first thing this morning at your comment on my blog.
Thanks for giving me a great start to the day, and this book looks awesome!
Intriguing questions! I may need to check out this book. That was such a tragic time in our history...and I think there was a lot of "ends justifying the means" going on, which is one reason Corrie Ten Boom's story shines so brightly. She refused to compromise her values. She trusted in God. Period.
Thanks for visiting my blog...oh and I haven't read Twilight either...
Have you read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn? I think you might like it.
I think I'll go get this book from the Library. Hope it's there. Thanks for the recommendation.....
And no, no matter the ends or justification, a sin is a sin is a sin. There is no justification, only redemption and sacntification through Jesus Christ. But I know that you already know that. Ultimatly to make those decisions ourselves we are limiting the plan that Jesus has for us. The only protection we have in life is a death with absolute surity of where we are going. That's it.
However, as you said we are not here to judge those who make those decisions because as I said, a sin is a sin is a sin. And I sin.
I'll go pick up the book today, right after I leave the theatre from seeing TWILIGHT!!
Nope, the ends never justify the means. Never, Never, Never. Well said Tricia. I did not even have to expound on it. At this point in my life, I do not think I could read it. But am glad you did.
Gasp! You still haven't read Twilight?!!!
Having said that, I loved "The Hiding Place" and am loving listening to theme on your blog right now.
To answer your question, I don't think anything can justify a sin. But I do believe in God's grace and forgiveness!
I guess I would say differently. That sometimes people are put into horrible situations. And in order to live. Or to protect their children. That they have to do what they have to do.
And I am so with you on LOVING to read these books. I am going to have to look for this one right away. And I have one for you to read:"The true story of Hansel and Gretel" by Louise Murphy. Also, have you read "Stones from the River" by Ursula Hegi? Both are fantastic...and in your favorite genre...
I'm confussed....Did the baby live then and the cousin is triing to protect the baby?
No, Son, (I can tell it is you by your spelling!)the baby died, too. The Jewish girl gets pregnant so she can take her cousin's place in order to "hide in plain sight".
Post a Comment