![]() In ancient times, practicing Christians attempted to cover the shame of the Crucifixion with a more benign, reassuring image. Over the centuries, interpretations of the life and - especially - the death of Jesus have changed, reflecting shifts in opinion. What then of Christian history, with its less than edifying incidents of bloodshed and bigotry? For Holland, the very "scandal" of Jesus' agonizing, humiliating death is proof of the singular nature of the Crucifixion's history-changing consequence. Christians like Bonhoeffer believe that Jesus, sharing in the divinity of God, shattered the chains of sin that had bound human beings to an unpredictable wheel of fortune. How could a loving God press the cup of "bitter dregs" to the lips of a person of faith and/or bestow "promised grace"? How can arbitrary acts of divine willfulness be squared with the Sermon on the Mount?įor Bonhoeffer (1906-1944), the crucifixion of Jesus of Nazareth is the definitive act of martyrdom. The year just past still lingers in our hearts, And evil times on us their burden weigh, O Lord, to shaken souls bestow your peace, Your promised grace, your solace, this bleak day.īut should you tend your cup of sorrow, To drink the bitter dregs at your command, We accept with thanks and without trembling, This offering from your gracious, loving hand.īut if joy be once again your gift bestowed, To this our world with sunlit skies so fair, May we always hearken to these days of old, And commit our lives to your loving care.Īs a devout Christian, Bonhoeffer seemingly contradicted himself. The Lutheran theologian had less than four months to live when he wrote a profoundly moving poem entitled " By the Powers for Good. Peter, 1601īonhoeffer was executed in April 1945 for his opposition to Hitler's genocidal madness. ![]() Peter, are founded.Ĭaravaggio, T he Crucifixion of St. This absorbing, unsparing book has enabled me to better grasp the concepts upon which great works of Christian art, like Caravaggio's masterpiece, The Crucifixion of St. Holland's cogent analysis and his brilliant retelling of the life-stories of saints and sinners motivated me to select Dominion for review in Art Eyewitness. Bonhoeffer, whose most famous book is entitled The Cost of Discipleship, is but one of Christianity's many martyrs.īy extension, Bonhoeffer's death calls to mind how the sacrifice of self is of fundamental importance to Christian art.ĭ ominion is not a coffee-table type art book and only indirectly deals with Christian art. In Holland's powerful account of Christian history, the price paid to secure Christian values and human justice is a paramount theme. As I read Tom Holland's Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World, my thoughts turned to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, theologian, philosopher and martyr.
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