Defending God
FTEN, IT Seems, some of the most heated debates (on and off line) start from the assumption that Party A is “attacking” God/Jesus/HaShem/Allah/Something Holy and that Party B needs to leap to “Defend” the Almighty. Please note the obvious oxymoron of “Defending the Almighty”.
“Defending Marriage” is one of these. Defending Jesus in the Eucharist is another. Chillul HaShem is the technical term in Judaism. The Infamous Danish Cartoons, the Satanic Verses…
Christians, at least, are *supposed* to follow a God who doesn’t defend himself even against spitting, nails and lashes. I usually enjoy the ironic twist of Catholic Crusaders leaping with legal swords to defend an image of God nailed to a tree.
And after reading a lot of theology on God’s lack of human passions, I find the idea that the Almighty of Sinai could be “offended” to be ancient, tribal and humorous superstition.
Attacking your ideas about God (which are up for debate at all times) is not the same thing as attacking God. And if someone wants to attack God – directly, full on, hatred – then I think that’s between God and the Attacker. But, secretly, I think God can handle it.
Tags: argument, debate, theology | Category: orthoparadoxy
Discussion: You came too late to this party
Share:
Ha ha ha ha . . . I love it!
Yeah I’m pretty sure that God could “tak’em” he he he. But your point is well made – I think in a way it falls into the category of “Good News” – the Good News is – I’m not here to defend God. But to accept and celebrate that my ideas about God, about being in relationship with God, and about my relationships with the people of God, are always being challenged, reformed, revised, edited, and even on occasion deleted entirely. It’s the fun of the journey.
I think it was Karl Barth who said that the best theology needs no apologetics: it proves itself.
What you wrote is positively beautiful, Alexis. And thanks to Huw for bringing up that the incarnate God who didn’t defend himself through trial and crucifixion hardly needs any help from our paltry hands. If only we could mimic his example and imitate his humility…
Gregory,
Thanks for that.
Amen. I must admit, I do derive quite a bit of amusement from anti-theists who think their little ideas should be somehow shocking or offensive to Christians. My standard line is, “I believe in a God who is big enough to do without my defence.” The equivocation behind “big enough” is usually lost on them.