Bad news and good news
Today I lectured on my new book "Christ and Empire" at John Wesley College in Pretoria, South Africa. The lecture was very well received but I felt a bit apologetic having to talk so much about the bad news of empire in a context that is so ready to hear good news.
Yet the truth is that we need to face the bad news before we can hear the good news again. Everything else is just pie in the sky. Unless we address the real problems of our world, we cannot get a grasp of the difference that the gospel makes. This is especially true for those of us who live and work in the U.S. and in Europe, in the "belly of the beast."
In "Christ and Empire" I discuss how Christian thinking about God and Jesus Christ has been influenced by empire for the past 2000 years. Even our most sacred and cherished doctrines are shaped by the logic of empire. It is only when we face this reality that we notice the other part of story: empire has never been able to take over completely. The real Christ keeps breaking through, even in empire theology. There is an alternative logic at work that takes shape in the Christian tradition, although we often fail to take notice. This is the good news that the book seeks to trace.
Regards,
Joerg Rieger
more on Christ and Empire
There are a multitude of eye-opening insights from Joerg Rieger. Here are one thing that stood out to me:
"It is hardly an accident that the life of Christ is not mentioned in the creeds; such 'accidents,' like Freudian slips of the tongue, always point to deeper repressions. The challenge to empire posed by the life of Christ would have been too great."(p.96) - As an Episcopalian, I've been saying the Nicene every week for as long as I can remember. I've never thought deeply about this profession of faith. The fact is that the Council of Nicea had significant debates about the nature of Jesus's divinity. Those theological discussion were important, but were easier conversations to have than how Jesus lived his life as a challenge to the powerful and wealthy. This dynamic continues to be recreated in so many of our churches where we focus on orthodoxy and theological questions rather than the attempting to live as Jesus lived. Jesus's statement that he is the way has been used as excuse for exclusionary theology, rather than a roadmap for how to live our lives.
Just now got mine
I'm behind, as usual. I just got my copy (from Amazon) today.
Expect more questions as I read further. I'm about halfway through the preface. :)
welcome Joerg
Joerg,
Just wanted to say welcome and i'm thoroughly enjoying your book.
For others,
"Christ and Empire" will be our February book of the month. I encourage folks to go out and get a copy so we can have a meaningful discussion with Joerg next month.
Feb.'s book of the month
I am getting it tomorrow. Looks good.
John