A good read for Good Friday tomorrow

[chri'stina 190]

I found this article very interesting, think what you may about it. Saw it posted by someone online and I liked it. Good to share for this Easter weekend!! -Stina

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http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/a-symbol-...235.html?page=2

CRITICS of Christianity would have us believe there is nothing true or good about Good Friday, but you can be sure the symbol of the cross will continue to provide solace for millions throughout the world.

In recent years the Easter slogan that "Jesus died for the sins of the world" has been ridiculed beyond belief. Richard Dawkins, former Oxford University professor and author of The God Delusion, scoffs that "it is vicious, sado-masochistic and repellent". And, in a daring piece of historical commentary, he insists it was not even taught by Jesus himself, but was invented later by the apostle Paul. We should therefore "dismiss the idea as barking mad. If God wanted to forgive our sins, why not just forgive them?"

Others go further, questioning the events themselves. "History again bears witness," says Michel Onfray, author of The Atheist Manifesto, "at that time Jews were not crucified but stoned to death." And even if such an improbable crucifixion had taken place, "there was no question of bodies being laid to rest in tombs".

Let's start with something easy: the history. The claim that crucifixion victims were never buried is an exaggeration. What Onfray doesn't know is that things were frequently different in Palestine. "The Jews are so careful about funeral rites," says the first-century writer Josephus, "that even malefactors who have been sentenced to crucifixion are taken down and buried before sunset."

More striking is Onfray's inexplicable blunder about Jews not being crucified. As any student of Roman history knows, it would be closer to the mark to say that Jews were among the most crucified people in antiquity. Thousands of Jewish crucifixions are known to us from first-century sources. And the only archaeological remains of ancient crucifixion were discovered in 1968 in a Jewish tomb.

Leaving aside the utterly improbable scenario that the Gospel writers might have invented the story about their beloved master meeting the most shameful of ancient deaths, the specific testimony of Josephus about Jesus is unavoidable: "Pilate, because of an accusation made by the leading men among us, condemned him to the cross." Jesus' death by crucifixion is about as close to a "certainty" as an ancient historian hopes for. The fact that Onfray, a professor of philosophy, can so obviously misrepresent reality in service of his atheism tells us that more than intellect drives this resurgent scepticism. Continued...

But what of Dawkins' aesthetic complaints about a "death for sins"? First, he is wrong to say Paul invented the idea. Sacrificial atonement was central to Judaism right up until AD70, when the Romans destroyed the Jerusalem temple. Jesus' statement at the Last Supper, widely accepted as one of the most reliably preserved statements in earliest Christianity, reflects this sacrificial theme: "This is my body given for you. This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." The evidence suggests that Jesus himself thought of his impending death as a sacrifice for sins.

Was Jesus "barking mad"? Why indeed doesn't God simply forgive sins without atonement? The answer of the first Christians is clear. It is for the same reason that we would be outraged if a judge let a convicted criminal off the hook simply because it turned out he was his friend. Love and justice both matter in the Christian conception of God. And lest we think of this as some kind of cosmic child abuse — a father punishing a son for someone else's wrongs — we should remember that from the beginning Christians insisted that Jesus was not a third party at all; he was in fact God.

We may not like this idea either, but if we're going to dismiss the Christian idea of atonement, we should do so on its own terms, as an entire package. The first Christians said that God, the wronged party, entered the world and himself bore the punishment wrong-doers deserve. It was as if the judge paid the fine that was another's due. There is nothing "sadomasochistic" about this. The idea belongs to the noble tradition of self-sacrifice for the good of others.

Coincidentally, as I was preparing a lecture on Jesus' death a couple of years ago, I read a news story that warrants retelling. Melbourne woman Kimberley Dear enrolled for skydiving lessons while on holidays in the US. Her excitement turned to terror as the plane she was flying in lost power and started careering towards the ground. Her instructor, 22-year-old Robert Cook, responded instantly. He calmly talked her through what would happen next: "As the plane is about to hit the ground, make sure you're on top of me so that I'll take the force of the impact." They crashed. Several died, including Robert Cook. Kimberley survived and from hospital reported that in the final seconds she felt Mr Cook swivel his body into position as he pushed her head against his shoulder to cushion the blow.

I have never been a fan of attempts to illustrate the meaning of Jesus' death with modern stories. There is a danger of trivialising one or the other. But when I read about Robert Cook I could not help but think of the noble tradition of self-sacrifice and of Jesus' words at his Last Supper. Understood this way, it is no wonder that the "cross", once an instrument of brutality, became a symbol of love for millions.

Dr John Dickson is the director of the Centre for Public Christianity and a senior research fellow of the Department of Ancient History, Macquarie University.

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[chri'stina 190]

Cute, AJ.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

That bonus one is comic gold!

[chri'stina 190]

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Happy Easter to you and your family, sister Stina! Ignore the heathens.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Ignore the heathens.

[Nagishkaw 510]

0i vey!

[chri'stina 190]

Happy Easter to you and your family, sister Stina! Ignore the heathens.

lol

Well thank you, Steven, you are nice lol...the same to you and your family!

And to all who celebrate this weekend!

Edited April 9, 2009 by Parivar CSK

[jundp 191]

We have celebrated this Holy Week also as Global Solidarity Week at my school. It's been a very interesting (and eye-opening) experience. Tomorrow we end with Stations of the Cross and then the kids get out for spring break. As much as they are excited about break, their chocolate (most give up chocolate for Lent) and freedom from school, they've been very expressive this week in their faith. It's a nice thing to see in young people.

I know many people see the Catholic Church as been evil, heathens, idol-worshippers. They bring up a very bloody and violent past. They point out that our new pope is often not with the times. They poke fun at priests and at those who believe that abortion is murder...But I have to say that during Holy Week I am often reminded of why I practice this religion. Why I believe as strongly as I do. It has as much to do with solidarity with others in my faith (and by this I mean all Christians, Muslims, Jews, etc...we all worship the same God) as it does with my personal walk.

That's probably far more information about my faith than I have ever disclosed here and some will be bothered by it. I'm ok with that. Heck, I've stayed away, even most Sundays, for the last 40 days :-)

[Donna A 4]

happy good friday and easter everyone!!!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Happy Easter to you and your family, sister Stina! Ignore the heathens.

lol

Well thank you, Steven, you are nice lol...the same to you and your family!

And to all who celebrate this weekend!

Thanks, Stina!

I hope AJ has a lot of sunscreen and fans...he's gonna need it where he's heading.

[chri'stina 190]

jundp...I think it was very nice of you to share that! Thanks!!

Happy Easter to you and your family, sister Stina! Ignore the heathens.

lol

Well thank you, Steven, you are nice lol...the same to you and your family!

And to all who celebrate this weekend!

Thanks, Stina!

I hope AJ has a lot of sunscreen and fans...he's gonna need it where he's heading.

Amen to that!

[jundp 191]

jundp...I think it was very nice of you to share that! Thanks!!

Thanks, Stina Moment of weakness. I generally don't share things like that because I don't feel like hearing ####### about my religion. But then again, it IS Easter week, so what's a little ridicule....

[amberdima 6]

BLASPHEMER!