The Myth of Redemptive Violence

For March 22,

It is with some genuine trepidation that I approach this topic. No other that I know will be more troubling for many Christians. No other topic is likely to so strongly stir passions, invoke despair or call so clearly on the anger intrinsic to our being.

Recently I mentioned to my beloved cousin, Catherine, that I did not accept the idea of substitutionary atonement. I do not believe the that Jesus died as a sacrifice necessary to save us from our sin.

Catherine asked, "Then why did he die?"

Why, indeed.

Jesus died because he was killed. He was killed by the establishment that refuses to encounter the presence of God in man. He was killed because he cast his net so broadly, because he called for justice, peace and inclusion, because he dared to tell the oppressed that their sins were forgiven. He was killed because he confronted an established power structure built on an inherent human trait: the love of power that uses fear and violence to control others and itself.

This trait is with us yet. It, along with our capcity for self-deception, is our original sin. But for many, it is sacred.

From the LtQ2 literature:
"The most potent religion in Western culture is not Christianity, but a belief in the redemptive power of violence. Although Jesus inaugurated a new order based on partnership, equality,
compassion and non-violence, his example and teachings have been eclipsed by an emphasis on a human unworthiness that demands and defends the need for Jesus’ violent, suffering, atoning death."

Walter Brueggemann points out that, “We are going to deal theologically with the problem of violence forever because it is intrinsic to our inheritance. The question for God for all of us who follow this God is whether we can resist that stuff that is intrinsically present in our existence.”

"Tennyson wrote that despite any love we may profess of God, despite our claims to revere love as Creation’s final law, we, and nature along with us, are 'red in tooth and claw.' After countless generations of ruthless competition for survival, it’s our nature as human beings to carry within us the primal urge to act out in violent ways. We are a violent species" – and we have folded that violence into out religion as a means of our salvation.

Myths are not 'true' or 'false'; they are alive or dead.
"In 1966, John Lennon was vilified for claiming that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus. While he was probably right, he could have also said that the Myth of Redemptive Violence is more popular than Jesus. From even the most cursory evaluation, it’s clear that the Myth of
Redemptive Violence is not only alive and well, but has completely eclipsed Jesus’ teachings, example, and the basic principles of Christianity. In fact, the Myth of Redemptive Violence managed to infiltrate the writings and teachings of Christianity from such an early date, that many people are unable to separate one from the other."

But if we reject the myth of redemptive violence and discard the notion that Jesus died for our sins, where are we? How are our sins forgiven? Who redeems our souls? From whence comes our eternal salvation?

As always, you're warmly welcomed to the Adult forum.