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Bezig met laden... Saving Paradise: How Christianity Traded Love of This World for Crucifixion and Empiredoor Rebecca Ann Parker, Rita Nakashima Brock (Auteur)
Bezig met laden...
Meld je aan bij LibraryThing om erachter te komen of je dit boek goed zult vinden. Op dit moment geen Discussie gesprekken over dit boek. Very interesting account of the early Christians and when they did not use the crucifix as their symbol! Saving Paradise is a book that can't decide whether it wants to be church history or theology-based. Brock and Parker trace the ideas of salvation and paradise from the origins of Christianity through the present day - oftentimes stopping to reflect upon the brutality and corruption that have crept into Christianity's ethos of love. As we look back on the history of Christianity - the Inquisition, Crusades, martyrdoms, treatment of Native Americans - the authors seem to think that there's nothing to be said for this bloodshed except for 'Forgive them, Lord, they know not what they do.' And from there they advocate a more peaceable paradise, brought about by Christians who recognize the perversion of pure religion and seek to correct it. I'm not saying this is a bad message; I'm a huge fan of love and peace and everything. But it's bad theology and an extremely selective reading of history, to say that 'real' Christianity simply doesn't engage or condone violence. But I think they disregard and disrespect the reality of the crucifixion by so steadfastly distancing Christianity from violence. They seem to think that if Jesus had died in his sleep at age 100, surrounded by grandchildren, Christianity would be no different and perhaps even better off. But what does it mean for God to be Incarnate in a bloody and humiliating death? Paul calls the crucifixion a 'scandal' for good reason - it is shocking, a place where we would never expect to find God, yet that's precisely where God chooses to be presented. Why take away the overwhelming pathos of suffering and death in favor of this bland and selective reading of Jesus' ministry? For every time that Christians hear 'Follow me, for my yoke is easy and my burden light," they should also recognize that Jesus' yoke and burden were the cross that he had to carry to his own execution. The crucifix may become for Christians an embodiment of recognition of the full humanity of suffering - that if they can mourn Jesus' humiliation and death, they should be able to mourn each and every injustice against humanity. And by that, perhaps the violent and critical origins of Christianity can be partially redeemed for compassionate Christians like Brock and Parker. But to simply skim over the entire Passion and falsely bemoan the violence that 'corrupted' Christianity later just does a disservice to the challenging complexity of Jesus' ministry and God's Incarnation. I've only gotten through the prologue and I already know it's going to be one of those "aha" books. Check out the website for the book, particularly the photo pages. http://savingparadise.net/ geen besprekingen | voeg een bespreking toe
Onderscheidingen
One of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2008 During their first millennium, Christians filled their sanctuaries with images of Christ as a living presence-as a shepherd, teacher, healer, or an enthroned god. He is serene and surrounded by lush scenes, depictions of this world as paradise. Yet once he appeared as crucified, dying was virtually all Jesus seemed able to do, and paradise disappeared from the earth. Saving Paradise turns a fascinating new lens on Christianity, from its first centuries to the present day, asking how its early vision of beauty evolved into a vision of torture, and what changes in society and theology marked that evolution. It also retrieves, for today, a life-affirming Christianity that the world sorely needs. Geen bibliotheekbeschrijvingen gevonden. |
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Google Books — Bezig met laden... GenresDewey Decimale Classificatie (DDC)230.09Religions Christian doctrinal theology Christianity, Christian theology Doctrinal Dogmatics - Theology Biography And HistoryLC-classificatieWaarderingGemiddelde:
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