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Crucifixion 'repulsive,' says British clergyman
 Traditional thinking about the Christian crucifixion is repulsive and makes God look like a psychopath, a senior Church of England clergyman said in a programme to be broadcast on Wednesday. The Very Reverend Jeffrey John, the Dean of St Albans in southern England, was discussing the Christian theory of penal substitution, which argues that God sent Christ to Earth to be punished for the sins of mankind.Johns comments came in a BBC radio programme marking Lent, the period which Christians believe symbolises 40 days spent by Jesus in the wilderness before Easter, when he was resurrected after his crucifixion. Even at the age of 10, I thought this explanation was pretty repulsive as well as nonsensical, he said. What sort of God was this, getting so angry with the world and the people he created and then, to calm himself down, demanding the blood of his own son? And anyway, why should God forgive us through punishing somebody else? It was worse than illogical, it was insane. It made God sound like a psychopath. If any human being behaved like this, wed say he were a monster. Well, I havent changed my mind since. That explanation of the cross just doesnt work but sadly, its one thats still all too often preached. In 2003, John was nominated to be the Bishop of Reading in southern England but rejected the post amid controversy over his homosexuality. He was the first openly gay man to be nominated for such a senior role. Posted by: Fred 2007-04-05 |
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