Original scientific paper
CARNIVOROUS LAMBS? About Christian Religion and Violence in Modern World
Miroslav Volf
; Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena /Evangelic Theological Faculty, Osijek
Abstract
Faced with the question whether Christianity stimulates violence
or not, the author first discusses the relationship between violence
and the process of civilization (violence remains the essential
component of contemporary societies), and then the role of
religions in modern society (the continuous relevance of religion
causes a variety of usages of religious symbols). Opposing the
Gilles Deleuze's interpretation of Jesus Christ in which he is an
example of unselfish love, but who is only preparing the path for
the terror of the Divine Master (the cosmic terror is done by the
vindicator: "Carnivorous lamb"), the author emphasizes that Christ
broke the vicious circle of violence absorbing it in himself. This
Christ's suffering is an active one bacause he overcame the evil
by doing the good. Only God has the right of jUdgment, so even
human non-violence, taught by Christ, is inseparably connected
with God's judgment. Practice of non-violence demands faith in
God's judgment and such faith is the best proof of the
incompatibility of violence with crucified Messiah.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
33039
URI
Publication date:
1.3.1994.
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