Saturday, February 03, 2007

Christianity as Rebellion Against the Gods

I will take the easy way out again today and quote someone else's ideas, though this source is pretty impeccable. Can you guess who wrote this?

"In its theology of the history of religions, Christianity does not simply take the side of the religious person, take the side of the conservative who keeps to the rules of play in his inherited institution; the Christian rejection of the gods signifies much rather a choice to be on the side of the rebel, who for the sake of his conscience dares to break free from what is accustomed: this revolutionary trait in Christianity has perhaps far too long been hidden beneath various conservative models."

(N.B. the context here is whether it is better to allow each person to keep his or her own inherited religion; but the strength of the language, in my opinion, can be transferred to the Christian who makes an idol of inherited forms)

I will post the answer tomorrow. But let's have some guesses from the crowd!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Father Peter:

Although I'm uncertain how one can be "pretty" impeccable, my guess would be former Vatican II peritus, Joseph Ratzinger.

DFB

Pilgrim Path said...

I think the word "rebel" gives it away as being written by Thomas Merton.

Pilgrim Path said...

I think the word "rebel" gives it away as being written by Thomas Merton.

Anonymous said...

I too was thinking Merton. However, your comment regarding the original context makes me think otherwise.

Imprimatur

This blog is published with ecclesiastical approval.


If I, who seem to be your right hand and am called Presbyter and seem to
preach the Word of God, If I do something against the discipline of the Church
and the Rule of the Gospel so that I become a scandal to you, The Church, then
may the whole Church, in unanimous resolve, cut me, its right hand, off, and
throw me away.


Origen of Alexandria
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