Easter and Barth
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Posted by
Andrew
"God is his [sic] own decision" - Karl Barth. Barth means that in freedom, God defines who God is. What does easter (the death and resurrection of Christ) tell us about who God is?
"God is his [sic] own decision" - Karl Barth. Barth means that in freedom, God defines who God is. What does easter (the death and resurrection of Christ) tell us about who God is?
1:53 PM
G'day Andrew,
Why the [sic] after "his"?
One of the things Easter tells us is that he [sic] is a judge and forgiving, loving and hating, self-sacrificing and self-glorifying...all at the same time.
Alistair
10:22 PM
I believe it indicates that how the quote is written was it's original spelling and the not a grammatical error like it sounds.
I never really understand what that picture in the post is supposed to symbolise. He looks angry and I never imagine Jesus to be angry whilst also speaking the words he did on the cross. Or is it supposed to be torment?
9:06 AM
Hi Ali, thanks for the heads up about the comments. I used sic to push some buttons. Where Barth has he I might have used God's.
BAndy, I didn't see it as an image of Jesus being angry (but that adds a new perspective for me). I see it as an image that speaks of agony in a way I can't describe. I'll post a little more on the image to help...
1:02 PM
Hi Andrew, thanks for your response.
To clarify: you would use "God's" instead of "his" because:
(a) your believe God should not be labeled "he" or "she" exclusively,
(b) your believe God should never be referred to in gender specific terms,
(c) your personal belief is that God is to be referred to in the masculine gender but you wish to cater for those who might not agree, or
(d) your personal belief is that God is to be referred to in the masculine gender and you are stirring.
Alistair.
2:29 PM
Maybe i should have written "her" instead of "God's" :) My answer is probably a mix of a) and d). I wanted to see who was still out there reading the blog after such a long break and I thought that might be a sly but juicy way of finding out!
3:08 PM
Ah, I see. Sly, indeed.
I thought that (a) might be the case, and I confess my heart sank when I read the quote. Needless to say, I don't agree with you.
Yes, I still check in on your blog irregularly.
Alistair.
5:44 PM
P.S. "irregularly" doesn't mean infrequently. Sometimes I check it out often, sometimes not for months.
Just so you know the viewing habits of at least one of your readers! :)
Alistair
9:06 AM
Hi Ali, I was aware when I was writing it that a few of my mates would disagree with me (and some probably quite strongly). I still find Stephen May's class that we did together quite a significant influence on me on this topic. To help me understand where you're coming from, do you think God is a male?
12:23 PM
I have enough trouble figuring out whether the 'he' should be in capitals or not...
I don't think God has a gender, but have internalised the idea of an almighty Santa who spies on us and does good for the good etc. It's taken a long time to recognise that was the image I had.
12:32 PM
Actually, while I heard abot Stephen May's class, I never took it. I think I might have taken NZ history instead... However, I am aware of some of the arguments for not referring to God exclusively as a male.
I don't know that I would say God is male per se, but I do believe it abundantly clear that God refers to himself as male. It seems only polite to do so as well.
Alistair.
12:38 PM
Let me also add, (since the above doesn't seem to be strong enough to me), that since God refers to himself as male, I believe that he is also revealing something about himself through that - not that he is male as we understand it, but that in the biblical interplay between male and female, he is in the masculine role with regards to his creation.
That should get someone going!
Alistair
12:57 PM
so.... God's on top then????
5:44 PM
No, anonymous. Interplay. Sheesh. No wonder you commented anonymously!
Alistair
6:36 PM
oops, sorry. sometimes i forget where i'm posting (sheepish look)
It was a serious question earlier though about when did God lose capital letters when referred to as 'he'?