Saving Paradise
Ed Mendez
This was, on the surface, a book promotion organized by the UUA but clearly supported by the publishing house, Beacon Press. Nevertheless, based on the attendance alone, this was an eagerly awaited event. Scholars Rita Nakashima Brock & Rebecca Ann Parker read excerpts from their book, Saving Paradise; How Christianity Traded Love of This World for Crucifixion and Empire. The authors’ beautiful, deliberate reading voices & the excerpts astonished the audience. For example-
- For its first one thousand years, Christianity focused on the risen Christ and on realizing the promise of Paradise here on earth.
- Not until Charlemagne did the crucifixion and fear of punishment become the central message of Christianity. Although the church has its wide varieties of expression (Gnosticism, Arianism, a wide range of sacred writings, etc.), disputes, including heresies and burnings, most of these expressions were variants of, “Paradise is here on earth, but man will not see it.” To subdue the Saxons, Charlemagne had the message changed to serve his political purposes.
- Although crosses were common art in churches, the first crucifix, with a dead or dying Jesus depicted, did not appear until the 10th century. The first known, early crucifix is carved of wood and hangs on Cologne Cathedral.
- Once the power of the new message proved itself, it spread through the church and completely supplanted the centrality of Paradise as Christianity’s mission. With it went the meaning of the original Eucharist ritual and the emergence of “the blood & body of Christ.”
- In the words of Ms. Brock, “We are the orthodox Christians.”
There was not enough time for all the Q & A needed afterwards. Book selling & signing ended the session.
What can our church do?
Having read the book, I would say that even those of us who have avidly studied early Christianity, have much to learn from this eye-opening book. We can easily add the book to a long-term study/discussion group. More importantly, the various themes in the book can be added to our worship services to help enrich our search for truth.
My take:
Having read several of the authors’ books before, I was already a fan. Prior to the session, I had read the prologue and chapter one (I ordered early and got a huge discount plus home delivery). That much reading alone was pretty astonishing. After reading the book, I consider Saving Paradise to be essential reading for any UU, but especially, for our other-denomination Christian neighbors. You’ll see what I mean when you read the book for yourself. I am not ashamed to say that I was tearful upon completing the prologue. Later, flashes of anger replaced the tears. By the time I finished the book, I was, and remain hopeful and renewed (and I’m not even a Christian!). This is a “must read.”
Submitted by Ed Mendez |
