FIRST PAPER CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY

First Paper Christian Theology

Introduction

Atonement is a sort of reconciliation, and in Christian Science it is associated with the experience of humankind. In this respect Jesus Christ and his unity with God is exemplified. The discussion of violence and atonement must take the argument that has two parts. First, all examples of atonements are problematic violent proportions while, second, shows the construction for alternative motif. This alternative motif avoid all errors in the satisfaction of atonement, so it is non violent. The first part of argument does not deny that Jesus encountered violence. On the other hand, second constructive part is above atonement motif. It is a way to read the history of atonement including the narrative of Jesus Christ.

John Sander in his work “Atonement and Violence” defines the term of violence and non-violence broadly. Violence refers to damage and harm that definitely includes killing either in the murder, capital punishment, or war. On the other hand, it also includes systemic violence for instance, racism poverty, heterosexism and sexism. While nonviolence covers the actions from the classic Mennonite. It includes different social actions, civil disobedience, confrontation, and posing alternative actions that are not bodily harmful or cause injury (Sanders 2006, p.2).

Discussion

Atonement Motif

The history account of Atonement shows the some images of atonement. Each image attempts to explain “why Jesus died for us”. So, Christus Victor is the chief image of atonement belongs to the early church. The various forms represent the three rudiments of God, devil, and wicked humanity. The devil holds the souls of mankind and, thus, devil is the cause of the death of Jesus. It is easy to understand the satisfaction atonement theories in this image. Anselm comes up with the idea “Jesus' death was necessary in order to satisfy the offended honor of God” (Sanders 2006, p.3). The idea is that being God-man the death of Jesus was necessary so that God's honor could be satisfied because human sins had upset the God's honor. It was also to reinstate the order of the universe. Another image of atonement is moral power. In this respect, the death of Jesus is associated to a loving act of God. His death targets the sinful humanity.

Removing the Devil from Atonement

The idea of Jesus' death was ransom money to the devil was rejected by Anselm. He described that Satan does not have the right to force the ...