What Does the Resurrection Mean for Her?
March 24, 2008, 5:44 am
Posted by Cathleen Kaveny
As I went through Easter weekend, I was haunted by this story.
It struck me as a type of crucifixion (cruciare–to torture or torment).
And I found myself pondering the question in the title of the post.
Everything, one hopes.
It is a truly ghastly, horrific story–yet it is tragically not at all unique in human history (read anything on the Holocaust or things that happened in Stalin’s Russia, Pol Pot’s Cambodia, and much of the ancient world, the precolumbian Americas, etc.). Thus it is just one more example of why the Resurrection was needed in the first place, and why its message remains unavoidably relevant 2,000 years later–people can and will sin, in ways small or immense and even in ways unimangeably evil. That has not changed. But the Resurrection means that man’s sinfullness does not have to be the whole story–and that also has not changed.
I don’t understand what effect the Resurrection has had–at least in this world–for those who don’t know of it or don’t believe in it. The kinds of horrors that occurred before the Resurrection continued after the Resurrection.
If we are a Easter people then we will make a difference in this world also inasmuch as we can. Many Christians have made a difference in people’s lives. Jesus made help for the downtrodden the centerpiece of his gospel. Something awful did happen to the Christian name in the fourth century where veneration of martyrs replaced the imitation of them. From then on to be Christian was more of an opportunity than a life of dedication. Bishops now sought the emperor’s favor to remain in their parishes whereas before they would give up their power and their lives for the faith. A few “Fathers of the Church” were victims or perpetrators of that abuse. This has been “uninterrupted” since then; becoming a bishop is more of a power position than one of service.
The Iraqi war was waged by the country who has the most ‘practicing’ Christians. The bishops did not support the war but their protest was more of a whimper. The US treats its own veterans terribly. http://www.bodyofwar.com/ Certainly, the unkindest cut of all.
There are many great Christians today but they are rarely in leadership positions. The holocaust took place in a country where the numbers of Christians was overwhelming. Those who insist on fidelity to the gospel are quieted by the Vatican.
http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=10686
When a solid organization comes forth with a reform platform (VOTF) we do not get behind it.
We stay with the trappings, then we wonder why there is no change.
We create or tolerate the world that continues to prey on the weak. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/24/us/24land.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Yes, the Resurrection means that the hungry and downtrodden will be filled with good things. But too many Christians are more concerned about preserving doctrine than helping the downtrodden.
http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=10686
The pope’s schedule does not include Alton, Fayetteville or even Boston.
I’m dead-set against the death penalty, but this story makes it possible to have a temporary change of mind.
Dear Bill,
Thanks for the links, although the final link (the one from America Magazine) requires a subscription. I did notice it was written by Roger Haight. I’m not sure what the article says (since I can’t read it), but I did read Haight’s book Symbol of God, and while I didn’t see the heresy he was accused of, I felt like shouting to the book, “please, come out and say whether you believe Jesus is God and stop dancing around the issue.” Anyway, you seem to imply that the Haight article poses a constrast between preserving doctrine and helping the downtrodden, but I don’t think preserving doctrine and helping the downtrodden are necessarily mutually exclusive.
Sean,
The early church had a lot of diversity and basically they agreed to disagree with some exceptions. Those exceptions we now give undue credence. Jesus set the priority when he said to make peace with your neighbor before offering your gift at the altar. The old axiom. “Words fly but example attracts.” (Requests for the Latin will be attended to)
I don’t know how to respond to Cathleen’s question without sounding like you’re throwing platitudes around.
We must hope the woman had some notion that Christ was with her. And believe that such suffering merits an eternity more glorious than we can imagine.
But those things are out of our hands.
The only thing that’s in our hands is to love our neighbors as God instructed and to be more vigilant about them and their tormentors.
It’s hard to imagine no one–a neighbor, mailman, policeman, social services person–had suspicions about what was going on in that house. I find it easier to believe that people waved away what they knew at some level was happening because they didn’t want to “make things worse,” “get involved,” or “worry about someone getting even.”
My big mouth has usually been a curse, but several times, shooting it off on behalf of some kid or older person (or a poor doggie) has led to improved treatment.
I understand Jimmy Mac’s gut reaction, but the tormentors themselves have the right to earn and suffer repentance.
“It’s hard to imagine no one–a neighbor, mailman, policeman, social services person–had suspicions about what was going on in that house. ”
This story is so clear and we can see the evil of it. In sexual abuse it is rarely clear. Yet untold children suffer it and mostly from relatives. People still will not face up to it. Modern guidelines urge all who have contact with children to present the problem to them before it occurs. Yet denial comes so easily because of the delicacy of the matter. Sadly those closest to the child constitute the majority of abusers. http://www.allaboutcounseling.com/sexual_abuse.htm