November 21: Modern Christian views / Jesus’ relationship to culture
Assignment
Read Jaroslav Pelikan, Jesus through the Centuries, chapters 15 (The Teacher of Common Sense), 16 (The Poet of the Spirit), and 17 (The Liberator).
- Each of these portraits of Jesus reflects some aspect of modern Western culture. Write down a short list of things in our present culture (songs, phrases, images, movies, philosophies…) that still reflect some of the modern values and ideals reflected in these three portraits of Jesus.
- Does Jesus always just reflect culture? Thinking back on all the readings we have done this term, do you think that Jesus serves as a mirror in which people look at themselves, and find reflected the values and master narratives of their own culture? Or do people use him to challenge culture, or resist it, or transform it, or escape it?
Write a conclusion for your gospel discussing the relationship that the Jesus of your gospel has to your culture and/or to the culture of your gospel’s audience. This is not to be part of your gospel itself, but another commentarial essay like the introduction, this one serving as a closing reflection. Or you could add these reflections to your introduction. Compare your Jesus’ relationship to culture with that of several of the other Jesus’s we studied this semester. Please also be prepared to articulate and define that relationship in class.
Notes from class
We found that the modern Enlightenment view of Jesus as a teacher of universal morality is still very common, and the more postmodern view of Jesus as a liberator is still around among Christians and scholars but not in popular culture, but the Romantic view of Jesus as someone who especially sensed his own connectedness to God and nature has largely disappeared. One thing all these views of Jesus had in common is that they deny Jesus is unique (no divinity, no special revelation, no miracles) and treat him instead as just one human being who happens to exemplify a universal truth particularly well.
Recent Comments in this Document
December 12, 2017 at 12:47 am
As previously stated, it is an invitation for all, regardless of race, to believe in Jesus as the Savior of all mankind. The reader should see that all those around him/her have that same opportunity as they do to come to the knowledge of Jesus’ divine power to save.
See in context
December 12, 2017 at 12:45 am
Here, I attempt to show the reader that Thomas is believing because Jesus is present with him. That belief goes away the same time Jesus goes away. Thomas is holding onto this idea that if Jesus goes away, His power and divinity disappear as well.
See in context
December 12, 2017 at 12:43 am
Traditional site of Thomas’ martyrdom
See in context
December 12, 2017 at 12:42 am
Robert Frykenberg notes, “What had begun with the Thomas Tradition–belief that the Apostle brought the Gospel to India in AD 52–remains extremely strong, whatever the historicity of this tradition may be. Thomas Christians continue to respond to sceptics that the evidence for Thomas coming to India is as strong as the evidence for Peter coming to Rome. The presence of the Gospel in India, from this perspective, antedates any canon, creed, or council in the West” (Christianity in India: From Beginnings to the Present).
See in context
December 12, 2017 at 12:37 am
See Matthew 28:19
See in context
December 12, 2017 at 12:27 am
This is not to be seen as Jesus chastising Thomas. It should be seen as an internal struggle. Thomas is asking himself, “Why did I not believe?” “What is wrong with me?”
See in context
December 12, 2017 at 12:25 am
As discussed in the opening comments, this is directed towards those who desire tangible evidence of Jesus’ divinity. It brings the concept of faith in the picture. I agree with the definition of faith given in Hebrews 11:1 which reads, “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
See in context
December 12, 2017 at 12:21 am
This final chapter on the resurrection of Jesus is addressed to those who hold atheist or agnostic views. These two traditions are generally thought of wanting tangible evidence or proven by science. Therefore, I felt it was key to use Thomas who lacked faith and wanted tangible evidence that Jesus indeed lived again. It also shows that even the most stubborn of people stuck in their ways can accept Jesus as the Savior of all mankind. With the desire for tangible evidence it also brings in the concept of faith and its importance.
The latter portion of this chapter reiterates the message of the previous chapter. Jesus is the Savior of the world regardless of race. For this purpose it was important to include Thomas’ travels to the subcontinent of India.
See in context
December 12, 2017 at 12:12 am
Although brief, this verse should give purpose to Jesus’ death. If this had not been included the reader would question why Jesus had died. He had to have a purpose in dying or a reason or it would simply imply the Pharisees finally caught up to Jesus.
See in context
December 12, 2017 at 12:08 am
I speculate that this was done in secret as the Roman soldier is wary of the penalty of such an act. I am not familiar with Roman law but I think the consequences would be heavy should he be caught conversing with the Jews.
See in context