The Existential Jesus
Just got The Existential Jesus by John Carroll and am really enjoying it so far. It grabbed me initially for three reasons. Firstly, it has been beautifully designed. Secondly, it has an intriguing title. And finally because Zygmunt Bauman described it as a ‘work of genius’.
The book itself concentrates on the earliest gospel (Mark) and offers an image of Jesus stripped of everything (family, friends and even faith). It is a carefully crafted work that blends thoughtful scholarship with literary flair to form a compelling read.
My primary interest however is that this book provides a useful framework for some of my theological reflections on the image of a God who doubts (which I shall be delving into with the upcoming ‘Insurrection’ tour). But for the mean time I will leave you with this thought…
If indeed our image of Jesus is one of a man largely at odds with the political, social and religious institutions of the day. And if he was an individual stripped of identity and riven with a profound existential doubt. Then might it not be the case that those who live in such a state today best embody what it means to dwell in Christ?
January 12th, 2010 at 11:01 am
Dang Pete. That’s a terrible question to live with. It does not feel like dwelling in Christ to be on the loosing end of life – watching hopes crumble, and dreams crash. Will we be at our best when the dogs lick our blood from the ground like Jezebel and Ahab?
Not disagreeing. Just scared.
January 12th, 2010 at 11:13 am
Hmmm, curious title, have not read… Mark’s Gospel has a thing for this tension between Jesus proximity to towns and spaces in the midst of time…. Part of the Greco Roman dillemma, how to reconcile time and space. I heard it said once, that to God, time is more important than space and history is more important than geography. Kierkegaard goes at this idea of infinity andfaitb as infinite resignation, based on the excelleration and collision of time into time- and where is eternity if not as close as my next breath; the profundity of existential questioning – as long as it doesn’t beco
e imbittered into something like nihlism.
January 12th, 2010 at 11:19 am
It does seem to me that self-identified Christians, who have climbed high on the ladder of “success” in the spheres of political, social and institutional religious life ~ as well as those who claim to posses absolute certainty in the things of faith ~ seem the least like Jesus. Just an observation that might dove tail with your question.
January 12th, 2010 at 11:36 am
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January 12th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Apart from the post, I’m tired of seeing Jesus construed as being white as is depicted on the cover of Carroll’s book. I more and more react with skepticism when encountering a book that displays ignorance on its front cover which causes an internal fight to be overcome just to pick it up. Does this not bother anyone else?
January 12th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Spencer the cover is a fragment from the famous painting by Angelo Caroselli entitled The Plague at Ashdod which depicts a plague that descends upon the Philistines after they captured the Ark of the Covenant. It is not Jesus! I think your accusation that the book and author display an ignorance by choosing a fragment from this great painting is ill-informed. The picture has been very carefully chosen I think.
January 12th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Pete I did some research on the painting and I see that you are correct. I would agree that the painting’s theme is a good choice for the book; lesson learned. However, it doesn’t go so far as to settle my dispute with Italian Baroque art (along with others) with its prominent display on behalf of religion; an issue that would be a digression from your initial post. Maybe next time
January 12th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
I should perhaps add that I think he has chosen the image because, in the painting, this child is calm and stands apart from the chaos and devastation. Both within the same frame as the suffering, inhabiting the same space, and yet simultaneously transcendent. I am not far enough into the book to say with any authority, however I think that the author may have seen, in the great painting, a metaphor that captured the psychological territory of the figure (Jesus) he is wrestling with. This is just my immediate reflections
January 12th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
An interesting topic Spencer and one we may indeed visit sometime! Thanks
January 12th, 2010 at 6:41 pm
Would love you to expand on the final paragraph of this post.
January 13th, 2010 at 8:54 am
“If indeed our image of Jesus is one of a man largely at odds with the political, social and religious institutions of the day…Then might it not be the case that those who live in such a state today best embody what it means to dwell in Christ?”
While this posture seems plainly obvious to me and you, for most it smacks of rebellion and sedition towards whatever religious institution is targeted. Can a community be built and sustained by being constantly at odds with its own premises? I think it can, but such a community will exist on the outskirts of the ecclesiastical bell curve. Most people need the security and reassurances embedded in political, social, and religious institutions.
I’m suspicious of all religious structures, yet hopeful enough to remain engaged on the social margins.
January 13th, 2010 at 11:58 am
You can listen to the author give his own insight into his book by going to these web sites (click on “download audio”:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/linguafranca/stories/2007/1936292.htm
and
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/religionreport/stories/2007/1864844.htm
I’ve read this book and it gives an AMAZING perspective on Jesus, and the church that Peter started, that perhaps only those outside of the church can provide. We Christians have unintentionally “forced” scripture to fit what the church IS. Maybe the church we have is not quite what Jesus had hoped for…
January 18th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
ok, youve convinced me… the next book i read after the one i’m on now is this one, it’s been sitting on my shelf now for a few months begging me to read it, but i’ve been putting it off…
no longer i say!
January 18th, 2010 at 8:40 pm
One last link – a fascinating article by the author, John Carroll, on Mark’s Jesus and the church:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/jesus-the-essence-of-being/story-e6frg8px-1111113048390