Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Americas Negative Challenges Essay - 629 Words

Addiction. Obesity. Bigotry. Three words that carry such intensity, pain, and negativity able to stand alone without any support also, unfortunately, describe some of the negative characteristics of Americans, and my own family members, today. While I love my family unconditionally, certain members lead less than admirable lives exhibiting bad judgment, laziness, and narrow-mindedness. One would, ordinarily, be safe to assume that these characteristics no longer exist in such an advanced society that has fought for freedom and equality since its founding merely 300 years prior. One would also be wrong in that assumption since this is, unfortunately, not the case. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, illegal†¦show more content†¦Further, fast food restaurants have also become the large cause of another adverse trend in America, obesity. While obesity has leveled off in the past year, USA Today reports 34.9% of Americans were obese in 2012, meaning thirty five pounds over the target weight for their height. Of these numbers, middle-aged African-American women ranked the highest with over 50% followed closely by Hispanics and Caucasians with Asians being the lowest at just over 11%. A sedentary lifestyle of playing video games, watching endless hours of television, or interacting with various social media networks via internet has also contributed to the increased numbers of obesity in America. Consumers spent over $20 billion in video game consoles, games, and accessories in 2012 according to the Entertainment Software Association. Another staggering report shows a 64% increase of social networking use among i nternet users within the last seven years (Brenner). Bigotry, racism, and prejudice may outwardly appear or sound different, though they all harbor resentment and abhorrence of another whether based on skin color, religious belief, and/or sexual preference. The 1860s saw abolition of slavery, mid-1900s gave an end to segregation, and 2004 gave same-sex couples in Massachusetts the right to marry. Although sounding great, â€Å"52 percent of non-Hispanic whites expressed anti-HispanicShow MoreRelatedThe Distortion of Image in Americas Top Model Essay1227 Words   |  5 Pagessuch as America’s Next Top Model can have a strong influence in today’s society. America’s Next Top Model is a popular modeling and competition show that aims towards a group of people, particularly women. These aspiring models have to face weekly challenges while living together in order to compete for a modeling contract. Given that many viewers enjoy watching the show, it has become a serious issue affecting our culture. In general, many re ality television shows, particularly the America’s Next TopRead MoreObesity: Improving Health Outcomes520 Words   |  3 Pagesindicators that needs serious attention. Obesity has reached epidemic levels globally; being a significant threat to our own nation’s health. Adolescent obesity rates have more than tripled, as the adult obesity rate has doubled since 1980’s (Trust for Americas Health, 2011a). It was interesting to learn of particular statistics and trends concerning adolescent obesity in our nation. Geographic location, racial and ethnic status, and socioeconomic status (SES) all impact the disparities in obesity amongRead MoreAmerican Religion And The American Of American Culture And Spirit By Harold Koh And Ted Bromund1658 Words   |  7 Pagessides and we should try to reduce the double standards by following better angles of national nature. In the article-America’s Jekyll-and-Hyde Exceptionalism of Harold Hongju Koh, there are three questions being raised in the beginning including American exceptionalism definition, distinguishing method between negative and over-looked positive faces, and response to the most negative aspects of American exceptionalism after Sep 11. And in the article-American Exceptinalism and its Enemies by Ted BromundRead MoreThe Pursuit For World Domination1305 Words   |  6 Pagesrealistic notion advocated by American leaders, specifically, then-Governor and future President, Theodore Roosevelt. Many outspoken political commentators opposed this notion and believed world domination was excessive and unnecessary and was not in America’s best interest. One of these political commentators was none other than the revered Mark Twain, who, in his 1901 satirical piece, â€Å"To the Person Sitting in Darkness†, attempts to expose the downsides of American expansionism. Twain accomp lishes thisRead MoreThe United States Constitution And The Constitution Of Russia1409 Words   |  6 Pages Upon consideration, one would imagine that the United States of America’s constitution and the constitution of Russia would not be very similar. Due to the fact that the two nations are around 5,000 miles apart or even the fact that the Unites States Constitution was ratified on September 17, 1787, and Russia’s Constitution was ratified on December 12, 1993, a 206 year difference. Despite these facts, if one were to dig deeper into the Russian’s constitution, the many resemblances within the UnitedRead MoreAligning Objectives For Types Of Strategy834 Words   |  4 Pagespreviously applied to the 1st Gulf War in 1991. Given this limiting factor, air power strategists could not systematically eliminate strategically relevant targets to quickly change the calculus for Milosevic. Thus, it this author’s opinion that this challenge should not be repe ated and leaders within NATO, including US, should outline how best to coordinate targets in the future. Within the context of Operation Iraqi Freedom, without the limiting factor of coordination with other entities, like NATO,Read MoreThe Civil War Has Changed The Country987 Words   |  4 Pages1). This is because the Civil War was an establishment of our nation’s beliefs and freedoms; fought to preserve the Union, this war shaped what America was and would become. The Civil War changed the notion of what liberty was, the transition from negative freedom to positive freedom is an influential aspect of American idealism. The ideal of liberty that emerged from the Civil War, was that the liberty came from the power of freedom (McPherson, 1991). Future wars were fought on the notion of protectingRead MoreThe Impact Of Affordable Care Act1258 Words   |  6 PagesAffordable Care Act (ACA), in-order for improvements to be made with the current Americans public health system. The U.S Public Health is the lowest rated health care provider compared to all countries that are economically as powerful as America. America’s Public Health Reform is a reflection of the ACA that was implemented by President Obama. Since the implementation of the ACA American people seem to be even more under served and face more healthcare disparities than any other modern economicallyRead MoreAfrican American Women Have A Long History Of Being Political Activists958 Words   |  4 PagesAfrican American women) was not welcomed in America’s public domain. In fact, it deviated from acceptable gender roles. Women on the public stage receiving spotlight for their resistance against social norms that oppressed women and African Americans were not acceptable in a patriarchic society. A woman’s place was in the â€Å"private sphere† and not in the public. And any woman who challenged the notions of a woman’s â€Å"proper place† was casted i n a negative manner. Historically, perceptions of womanhoodRead MoreDiversity in the Classroom Essay888 Words   |  4 Pagesadvantages of diversity in classrooms promote positive images for United States of America in terms of the status quo, and it promotes rich experiences for students and teachers. In terms of status quo, diversity in classrooms challenges America’s status quo. It challenges America’s status quo by breaking the standards of American classroom traditions. Back in the days, the typical American classroom were taught by white women and white men, filled with white students. They all came from the same background

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Concept of Blasphemy in Islam - 2663 Words

Blasphemy in Islam Blasphemy in Islam is any irreverent behaviour towards holy personages, religious artifacts, customs, and beliefs. Hindutva Terrorism Tuesday, February 01, 2011 Islam and Blasphemy Blasphemy in Islam is any irreverent behaviour towards holy personages, religious artifacts, customs, and beliefs. Blasphemers Islamic legal authorities agree that a blasphemer can be Muslim or non-Muslim. To be convicted of blasphemy, an individual must be an adult, of sound mind, and not under duress. Some jurisdictions do not punish individuals who commit blasphemy accidentally. The Maliki School of Jurisprudence permits the exoneration of accused individuals who are converts to Islam. Blasphemy against holy personages†¦show more content†¦A blasphemer, who violates the right of God can seek forgiveness through repentance. The Holy Quran speaks of punishment in relation only to those who make war and mischief in opposition to Almighty God and Holy Prophet (PBUH): The punishment of those who wage war against Almighty God and His Messenger, and strive with might and main for mischief through the land is: execution, or crucifixion, or the cutting off of hands and feet from opposite sides, or exile from the land: that is their disgrace in this world, and a heavy punishment is theirs in the Hereafter (Surah Maida: 33) Blasphemy against Holy Prophet (PBUH) A blasphemer, who violates the right of Man must seek forgiveness from the person insulted. In the case of an insult to Holy Prophet (PBUH), the Muslim community is considered to be under an obligation to avenge the insult because the possibility of forgiveness expired upon the death of Holy Prophet (PBUH). In March 2009, Pakistan presented a resolution to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva which calls upon the world to formulate laws against the defamation of religion. Blasphemy laws in Pakistan 295-B Defiling, etc, of copy of the Holy Quran. Whoever will fully defiles, damages or desecrates a copy of the Holy Quran or of an extract therefrom or uses it in any derogatory manner or for any unlawful purpose shall be punishable for imprisonment forShow MoreRelatedGood And Evil Are Purely Relative Terms With The Meaning1222 Words   |  5 Pagesthe meaning depending on cultural context. There are some societies worldwide who have taboo acts, which if one commits it one has shown deep evil. I will consider the act of eating beef as evil in traditional Hindu culture and the view that mocking Islam is evil in traditional Muslim culture. Thus, in their unique cultural context, some acts that we may see as trivial are actually acts of deep evil for which society may sometimes deem violence as a suitable response. These views are deeply anchoredRead MoreComparison between Christianity and Islam919 Words   |  4 Pagescomparison of Islam and Christianity. Christianity and Islam have some similar beliefs. For instance, we both believe that there is one God who made and created the universe and is the one supreme ruler above all else. We agree that he is the source of all that is moral and just, and that he has final say in our afterlife. Even though we have some common beliefs there are many things that we disagree on. There is contrast between almost every important religious doctrine. In Islam, a man can haveRead MoreIslam Religion Of Peace Or War Essay1445 Words   |  6 PagesIslam a Religion of Peace or War Introduction: After the crisis of 9/11, the religion of Islam has raised a number of controversies. More specifically, the issue of Islam as a harmonious religion or not. In the last fifteen years, after 9/11, there has been multiple disputes among those believing Islam as a religion of peace, and those who believe otherwise. With any debate, numerous questions spring up to force the majority to believe their beliefs are the truth. Some of the questions orRead MoreIslam And Unitarian Universalism Are Completely Different Based On They Way The Religion1657 Words   |  7 Pages Under specific pretense, many believe that Islam and Unitarian Universalism are completely different based on they way the religion is structured. Unitarian Universalists believe that each individual is free to have his own beliefs in life. Muslims believe in following the path Allah has put them on, and wish to be guided correctly. In Unitarian Universalism, they believe that after death, no torment will come to them and their souls will be saved. However, they relate on the topics of the moralsRead MoreA Critical Analysis of Homi K. Bhabhas How Newness Enters The World: Postmodern space, postcolonial times and the trials of cultural translation1610 Words   |  7 PagesHe asserts, For Jameson, the possibility of becoming historical demands a containment of this disjunctive social time. (217) Bhabha elaborates upon the concept of liminal space with the help of the idea of blasphemy, as it comes out in Salman Rushdies Satanic Verses and underlines the controversy of the Rushdie Affair2. Bhabha says, Blasphemy is not merely a misrepresentation of the sacred by the secular; it is a moment when the subject-matter or the content of cultural tradition is being overwhelmedRead MoreTerrorism And The World s Leading Issues1577 Words   |  7 Pageshas led to the justification of terrorism, however while some Quranic verses could be interpreted as an outcry for violence, terrorists omit or ignore others that suggest forgiveness and mercy. Furthermore these fundamentalists misunderstand the concept of ‘Jihad’ or their religious duty and in so doing commit heinous acts of violence in the name of Allah. Many terrorist organisations misunderstand or twist the meaning of Jihad and the Qur’an in order to suit their political agendas. Among theseRead MoreThe Cheese and the Worms Book Review Essay1686 Words   |  7 Pagesthat When confronted about these ideas, Menocchio, strangely, responds in different ways and uses different, seemingly incompatible excuses. In some parts, he claims that these beliefs came from his mind alone, and that, while he is a blasphemer, blasphemy is good and useful. It is what he is meant for in a sense, like how a carpenter is meant to work with wood. He also, in some instances, claimed that he was being plagued by a devil and begged for forgiveness. These words were not his own, but heRead MoreThe Death Penalty through the Lenses of Communication and Religion744 Words   |  3 Pagesopinion is very important. Therefore, the ratio of Islam and other religions to death: In Scripture there is no single, literal demands to abolish the death penalty. His torically, both the East and West of the Christian world secular justice reserves the right to take the life of the most dangerous criminals. However, preaching the Gospel of mercy led to the very formulation of the question of the abolition of the death penalty. In the Basic Social Concept of for example the Russian Orthodox Church thereRead MoreIslam : A Threat Of America And The Western World2353 Words   |  10 Pages Islam: A Threat to America and the Western World This paper discusses the threat that Islam poses to America and the western world. Islam is a very large religion that has increasingly widespread influence on the world. Countries that are ruled by theocracies of Islam are some of the weakest and violent countries on Earth. Countries who are enveloped by Islam tend to have the highest percentage of extremists as well. This paper also discusses the history of Islam, its founding, what it it teachesRead MoreJesus Muhammad Paper 1724 Words   |  7 Pagesprominent names in Christianity and Islam. These men were born in separate times. However, they served very similar purposes during their lives. Together, they have influenced the lives of more people in the last two thousand years than any others. Both are considered the main pillars of their respective religions and are highly regarded figures amongst their followers. Jesus was responsible for the promotion of Christianity, while Muhammad helped to spread the word of Islam. Bot h Jesus and Muhammad became

Monday, December 9, 2019

Psychological Development of Criminal Behavior MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Psychological Development of Criminal Behavior. Answer: Introduction: Etiological factors are defined as set of causes that gives rise to a health condition or a disease in a human being (Springer, 2017). Etiological factors that are to be considered with regard to the criminal considered for the study i.e. James Holmes are segregated into three broad categories, which include social, mental illness and biological issues. The five etiological factors that James Holmes has been observed to possess entail personality disorder, ADHD, Major Depression Disorder (MDD), deindividaution, and temperament issues (Mugsy.org, 2000). In this context, James Holmes was convicted for mass shooting and was found to have a problem of personality disorder. James Holmes killed 12 individuals and injured 70 people in a movie theatre. After 22 hours of court sessions, a psychiatrist was appointed to test the criminal, which in this case is James Holmes. It was observed that the convict was found to be mentally ill and legally sane. Hence, he was diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder. This mental illness is described with few unusual or an eccentric close relationship. People suffering from this personality disorder do not have any understanding on how relationship works. In addition, they also lack proper knowledge on the impact of their behavior on other individuals (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2017). Thus, James Holms failed to understand the effect of mass shooting, as he was suffering from schizotypal personality disorder, which depicts a lack of emotion towards other people. The schizoid personality disorder focuses on a lack of interpersonal relationship along with a lack of desire for developing one. This shows limited interaction with other individual, which can often lead to comobrid axis a disorder including anxiety issues in a human being. Thus, the depersonalization, which is mostly experienced by the individuals through schizoid personality disorder due to a lack of emotional engagement and human contact, may lead to develop psychotic behaviour. This often leads an individual to develop negative symptoms along with interpersonal deficits (Esterberg, Goulding Walker, 2010). In this, context, James Holmes having a little interaction with others led him to develop negative traits through anxiety issues, which resulted in him to outburst in the movie theatre. His lack of getting along with the society invoked his lack of interpersonal activities. In addition, James Holmes also depicted characteristics such as constricted behaviour, which made it difficult for him to relate with other individuals. The convict was sentenced to death penalty though he was mentally ill and legally rational, which did not prevent his actions to mass shooting. James Holmes suffering from mental illness was found to be socially awkward along with being violent which led him to have paranoid thoughts before the mass murder (Wikipedia, 2017b). James Holmes also had the problem of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which made him take psychiatric drugs including anti-depression such as sertraline, a generic version of Zoloft and anxiety drugs entailing clonazepam (Citizens Commission on Human Rights International, 2017). Based on the understanding, the mental state of James Holmes was not stable even before his actions, which led to rampage shooting. Thus, it can be inferred that James Holmes had a personality disorder due to which he was not in a stable state of mind. Major Depression Disorder (MDD) or depression is a mental problem, which is mostly characterized by loss of interest, low mood and activities without any clear cause. The reason for the MDD is often believed to be integration of psychological, genetic and environmental factors (Malhotra, Kaur, Madan, Kumar, Patil, Hans, Bhatia, 2014). In this context, James Holmes was found to kill people because of his depression problems. It was observed that he had developed suicidal along with homicide feelings due to catatonic depression (The Associated Press, 2015). James Homes further lacked self-awareness or often referred as deindividuated, who are unknown regarding the consequences of a violent action, which led to mass shooting (Radar Online, 2015). Temperament refers to the disparities in the behavioral tendencies (Saudino, 2005). Constant changes in the behavior of an individual can often lead to violent conducts. James Holmess behavior resembled a fictional character from the movie The Dark Knight Rises, as he dyed his hair like the villain, Joker and acted in an unusual way. It was a strange concoction of despairing anomie mingled with manic extroverted energy, during mass shooting in the movie theatre (Bogar, 2014). Anti-social behavior leading to a criminal act can be described with the help of theory related to psychosocial developmental. According to this theory, a person becomes anti-social due to isolation, which can lead to change in personal behavior. The theory mostly focuses on maintaining stable relationship (Fleming, 2004).In this context, it can be inferred that James Holmes being a loner developed problem of anxiety and faced personality disorders, which led to mass shooting without being self-aware. In addition, he also lacked the consequences of his actions along with behavior. Thus, the theory suffices the actions of James Holmes. Nonetheless, he was still liable for punishment, as he was found to be completely culpable even though he was diagnosed with personality disorder. On the other hand, the relationship between ADHD and criminal behavior is evident. It has been observed over the years that the prisoners suffering from the problem of ADHD are more aggressive and violent as compared to other individuals. Thus, people with this disorder are often liable to commit and be involved in more anti-social activities. Therefore, these individuals tend to less appreciate the overall consequences of their actions (Harpin Young, 2012). Hence, James Holmes suffering from ADHD issue got himself indulged in anti-social activities leading to take away 12 lives. James Holmes, in addition to having personality disorder was also suffering from ADHD, for which he was taking medication including the use of anti-depression issues. Apart from facing the problem of ADHD, James Holmes also had developed the issue of MDD due to depression, which provoked him to act irrationally. The problem of deindividaution is defined as a process, which focuses on reducing self assessment along with self-awareness in various situations, where recognizing individuals is more difficult. Consequently, from this perspective, the case of James Homes, he was found to be totally different from his normal self. During the time of shooting, James Holmes acted in an insane way and was compared to the joker from the Batman movie by the police officers, who arrested him. He acted rashly without considering whether his action was right or wrong regardless of the outcome. This factor led James Holmes to act violently. Therefore, it can be inferred that individuation theory significantly focuses on those individuals, who mostly act in the crowd. This theory further states that under such scenarios a person loses his/her individuality (Wikipedia, 2017a). Thus, the act of violence can also lead an individual to commit murder, as in case of James Holmes mass shooting in a movie theatre. With respect to criminal behavior, an individual with both low and high intelligence can commit crime influenced by the social setting. As per the psychological experts, criminal behavior mostly emerges out of low intelligence along with having a specific type of temperament. Hence, temperament is often regarded as an individual characteristic, which can be identified as an emotion responding to stimulus. Therefore, various components of temperament include mood, sociability, activity level, reactivity and affect with other individuals. It has often been observed that temperament can either make it easy or hard for an individual to get along with the other individuals. Fluctuation in temperament of an individual can often lead to aggressive and violent behaviour (SAGE, 2016). Therefore, in this context, it can be inferred, the certain fluctuation in the behaviour of James Holmes led him to indulge himself in criminal activity of killing 12 people and injuring 70 individuals. References Bogar, M. (2014). Soul-making and the Colorado shooting: James Holmes as the joker, trickster, savior. Mythological Studies Journal, 5, 21-30. Citizens Commission on Human Rights International. (2017). Another mass shooting, another psychiatric drug? Federal investigation long overdue. Retrieved May 5, 2017, from https://www.cchrint.org/2012/07/20/the-aurora-colorado-tragedy-another-senseless-shooting-another-psychotropic-drug/ Esterberg, A. L., Goulding, S. M. Walker, E. F. (2010). A personality disorders: schizotypal, schizoid and paranoid personality disorders in childhood and adolescence. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 32(4), 515-58. Fleming, J. S. (2004). Eriksons psychosocial developmental stages. Erikson and Personal Identity: A Biographical Profile, 1-24. Malhotra, S., Kaur, N., Madan, P., Kumar, P., Patil, Hans, C, Bhatia, M. S. (2014). Depression and Inflammatory Markers: The Clinical Correlation, 17(1), 117-124. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2017). Schizotypal personality disorder. Retrieved May 5, 2017, from, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizotypal-personality-disorder/home/ovc-20198939 Mugsy.org. (2000). Mental health and behaviour disorders. Retrieved May 5, 2017, from https://www.mugsy.org/asa_faq/definitions/mh.shtml Radar Online. (2015). Batman killer turns whining coward. Retrieved May 5, 2017, from https://crime653.rssing.com/chan-5813766/all_p30.html SAGE. (2016). Psychosocial theories: individual traits and criminal behavior. Criminology: An Interdisciplinary Approach, 169-198. Saudino, K. J. (2005). Behavioral genetics and child temperament. Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics: JDBP, 26(3), 214-223. Springer. (2017). Etiological factors. Chapter 2, 21-33. The Associated Press. (2015). The Latest: Holmes says depression drove him to kill. Retrieved from https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-the-latest-glitch-delays-video-in-theater-2015may29-story.html Wikipedia. (2017a). Individuation. Retrieved May 5, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individuation Wikipedia. (2017b). James Holmes (mass murderer). Retrieved May 5, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Holmes_ (mass_murderer

Monday, December 2, 2019

Night Essays - Holocaust Literature, Night, Elie Wiesel,

Night ?Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, which has turned my life into one long night, seven times cursed and seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the little faces of the children, whose bodies I saw turned into wreaths of smoke beneath a silent blue sky. Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever. Never shall I forget that nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget these things, even if I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never.? -Elie Wiesel The Holocaust-the mass murder of European Jews by the Nazis during World War II. It was the unthinkable, the horrific murder of 6 million Jews and millions of civilians of different ethnic and racial backgrouds. It was average men entering the German army and turned into Nazis, cold-blooded killers. It was the connotation of Holocaust which became Night, by Elie Wiesel. This paints a picture, full of vivid imagery and truth, about the genocide of his own people. Elie witnesses the starvation, brutal beating, and eventual death of his friends, family, and fellow Jews. Wiesel, himself, survived Auschwitz, Buna, Buchenwald, and Gleiwitz, all German concentration camps, where atrocities such as cremation and murder hung thickly in the air like a heavy cologne. Born September 30, 1928, Eliezer Wiesel led a life representative of many Jewish children. Growing up in a small village in Romania, his world revolved around family, religious study, community, and God. Yet his family, community, and his innocent faith were destroyed upon the deportation of his village in 1944. One of the main topics in this book is how Elie, a boy of strong religious faith, along with many of his fellow jews, lose their faith in God due to the horrific effects of the concentration camps. Elie Wiesel lived his early childhood in the town of Transylvania, in Hungary, during the early 1940s. At a young age, Elie took a strong interest in Jewish religion, while he spent most of his time studying the Talmud. Eventually he makes aquaintances with Moshe the Beadle who takes Elie under his wing, and also instructs him more in depth of the ways of the Talmud and cabbala. Elie is taught to question God for answers through Moshe's instruction. Moshe is sent away to a concentration camp, and upon his return, Elie finds that he has changed dramatically. This is a foreshadowing of what will become of Elie's faith in the strength and power of God. ?Moshe had changed...He no longer talked to me of God or the cabbala, but only of what he had seen.?(4) The first evidence of Elie's loss of faith, is while he questions God during the selection process. This process is concerned with separating the young, strong, and healthy Jews, from the old, weak, sickly, and/or infants. The Jews were separated from their loved ones who were immediately sent to the crematory or burned in large fire pits. Elie says goodbye to his mother and sister, unknowing that it will be the last time that he will ever see them again. Many of his fellow Jews began to pray and recite the Kaddish, a Jewish prayer for the dead, with hopes to console their own grievances for the loss they had suffered. However, Elie questions, ?Why should I bless His name? The Eternal, Lord of the Universe, the All-Powerful and Terrible, was silent. What had I to thank Him for(31) Elie witnesses a load of children being dumped into a pit of flames which he labels as the ?Angel of Death,? and at this point, the diminishing effects of the first night of camp life are already taking a toll on Elie's religious faith and personal self-worth. The final deterioration of Elie's idea of God, where he renounces all belief in His existence, is during the funeral of 3 Jewish males who were hanged the day before. One of whom was a child, so mere in weight, whom struggled amidst the others for over an hour before death came to take him. Here the reader can sense the collosal loss that Elie is overcome by, having spent the majority of his childhood seeking salvation only to come to realize it was all