cjh@petsd.UUCP (Chris Henrich) (03/15/85)
[] In a discussion about "What does it mean that Christ died for us?" Frank Silbermann writes, > >Quite frankly, I think we have to reject the idea that when the man Jesus > >was dying in the cross, he was thinking individually of every one of the > >billions of people who God intended to save through him. This would require > >Jesus to have more than a conventional brain. Hence the idea is heretical. [Quoting Chuck Hedrick] > > Sounds reasonable to me. However, I think most Christians do indeed > assume that Jesus had more than a conventional brain. I assume you > are speaking for one of the more liberal denominations. Speaking *as* a Catholic, though not *for* any denomination, I have to admit that yeah, probably, a lot of Christians do assume that. But those who, having thought about the issue, still hold that assumption seem to me to be wandering toward Docetism. This is an unorthodox tendency that tries to deny the human-ness of Jesus Christ. The earlier Docetists tried to say that Jesus was some sort of a phantom (and so He didn't really suffer on the cross). Modern Docetism tends to picture Him as a super-human being, who (in First Century Palestine) knew what quasars are, who was going to kill President Kennedy, etc. Too much of this kind of glorification makes Christ seem so far from us that His life has nothing in common with ours. Jesus was human. The Bible, the creeds, and common sense agree on that point. I think that in taking human qualities, He also took (for His created nature) human limitations. His human qualities may have been those of an extraordinary person, but not those of an impossible person. You may say, if you like, that he was a very strong man, but it is unlikely that he could leap tall buildings in a single bound. (Satan suggested that he should try it... ) Peace, Chris -- Full-Name: Christopher J. Henrich UUCP: ..!(cornell | ariel | ukc | houxz)!vax135!petsd!cjh US Mail: MS 313; Perkin-Elmer; 106 Apple St; Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 Phone: (201) 870-5853
ellis@spar.UUCP (Michael Ellis) (03/19/85)
>> >Quite frankly, I think we have to reject the idea that when the man Jesus >> >was dying in the cross, he was thinking individually of every one of the >> >billions of people who God intended to save through him. This would >> >require Jesus to have more than a conventional brain. Hence the idea >> >is heretical. This does not necessarily follow at all! If God can make a `conventional' man walk on water or return from the dead, why couldn't God cause a `conventional' brain to think otherwise impossible thoughts? -michael