as i fade away in my thoughts concerning the current state of atonement theology i would like to leave with these words from peter rollins in his book “how (not) to speak of God”
For the contemporary Christian it is all but impossible to reflect upon the curcifixion without simultaneously bringing to mind the resurrection. While separate temporal events, they are so irrevocably intertwined in our minds that to consider one without the other, if even possible, would seem to be tantamount to falling foul of a fundamental trespass against the radical singularity of the (two) event(s). In short, to consider the crucifixion in isolation from the resurrection would amount to fracturing the radical unity of the Easter narrative: for the crucifixion without resurrection would seem to signal the death of faith. Consequently the Easter story, if it is to be understood at all, is to be understood as an irreducibly complex singularity—to tear one part away from the whole would be to effectively destroy both the parts and the whole….
To imagine that the horror of the cross is exhausted in the physical pain or profound injustice that it symbolizes is to misunderstand the true horror of this symbol. While the image of suffering is truly harrowing, it is not the only or even the central horror of this central event. Such reflectiosn can still offer the believer a safe, cathartic horror that is wrapped in the nderstanding that everything works out well in the end. In contrast to this, the true horror of the cross allows no such shelter, for if considered in itself, it signals the seeming abandonment of God by God and the possible victory of an all-embracing nihilism. (p.77-78)
Related posts:
- questions: re-thinking the focus of atonement theology. (pt. 2)
- questions: re-thinking the focus of atonement theology.
- resurrection.
- questions: the gospel.
- 9.11.01
uh, excuse me senor monts! We need to hang out before you runaway to Naperville! I’m here for most of May and if you and Tracy don’t talk to me soon I will barge into your house one day!