Faith is an important component of belief. A belief develops only when one has a strong faith upon a certain concept. Different people hold different beliefs; therefore, the question of a true believer arises. Eroc Hoffer identifies the true believer as an individual who relies solely on the knowledge obtained from scriptures and draws conclusions from the scripture rather than personal observations or experiences. The true believer also does not relent to face the society’s cruelty. This paper focuses on the actions of Simone Weil using Hoffer’s definition of a True Believer to establish whether Weil qualifies as a true believer.
Hoffer identifies a true believer as one who denies his or her own existence. Based on this definition, Weil qualifies as a true believer (Hoffer 81). She presented interests in serving the soldiers at the battlefront where she would walk along with them providing nursing care. Weil did not consider the challenges at the battlefield, she suggested that the soldiers parachute her to the battlefield. She denied her need for security and protection to serve along the soldiers. As a woman, Weil should have held different ideas about the war. One may expect her to have stood against the war for causes of humanity. However, she decided to deny her existence to accomplish his beliefs. She also exhibited personal denial when she decided to forfeit her meals and go on a hunger strike. She decided to go in a self-inflicted hunger to suffer together with the unemployed. Her actions fall along the definition presented by Hoffer. She exhibits self-denial for suffering from the people around her. She assumes that the persecutions of fellow believers and dedicates herself for suffering with them.
Hoffer also presents the true believer in the context of their involvement in mass movements (Hoffer 76). He implies that a difference exists between a true believer and a fanatic. Explained further, Hoffer claims that a fanatic claims attention and bases their judgment on their experiences. While the true believer bases their judgment on the scripture and interprets the scripture to derive meaning for life. Weil presents the same description of a believer. She associates herself with the mass movements in the French war. She also interprets her suffering as a closer pull towards God. According to her interpretation of the scriptures through her suffering, she managed to establish a relationship with God. She believed that people find difficulty in listening to people going through affliction. According to Weil, people have difficulty in understanding that those under affliction find compassion in the eyes of God. She believed in the compassion for those who go through affliction. This presents Weil as a true believer in terms of suffering to receive compassion.
According to Hoffer, the true believer achieves a personal doctrine through association with mass movements (Hoffer 86). The doctrine enables the believer to deny their existence and handle the uncertainties and displeasures in the world. The true believer considers the doctrine as the absolute truth. They consider their doctrine as the solution to every problem that exists in the world. In a similar way, Weil practiced the doctrine of self-denial and infliction of pain on herself. She held the belief that, through self-denial, she would solve the problems in France. She presented the belief that she had to suffer to present a solution to the problems that existed.
Hoffer claims that a fanatic should not participate in the mass movements as they may cause splits in the mass movements (Hoffer130). He implies that fanatics may turn the movement into heresies and schism, which would further threaten the existence of a mass movement. Similarly, Weil did not appreciate the involvement of fanatics in the mass movement. She identified them as people holding a negative view towards the cause of the mass movements. She held strong views about the Jews living in France. She joined the mass movement led by General de Gaulle and held a strong position immediately. She made her presence within the movement noticeable though she participated in it for a short period. She joined the movement citing the need for unity and alliance in the French movement to strengthen their existence. She appears as a true believer due to her involvement in movements that sought to liberate the existence the French.
According to Hoffer, the true believer finds a greater importance in devotion rather than the object of devotion (Hoffer 133). This indicates that the general cause of devotion and participating in devotion for a cause has greater importance as compared to the object of devotion. Weil presented herself a believer in devotion. Weil did not live to enjoy the benefits of the mass movements. Weil did not enjoy the benefits of her cause for devotion. Furthermore, she devoted herself to work as a teacher to restore humanity. For this reason, Weil appears as a true believer in reference to Hoffer’s definition. A true believer will enjoy the process of devotion rather than the fruits.
Works Cited
Hoffer, Eric. The true believer: thoughts on the nature of mass movements. [1st ed. New York: Harper and Row, 1951. Print.
