Was Jesus a violent revolutionary, leading a band of armed disciples toward a heavenly war in Jerusalem? Simon Joseph, author of the new book The Nonviolent Messiah, answers no.
You can read my recent interview with Dr. Joseph here, and here.
-anthony
Does it even make sense to use the word 'revolutionary' in the context of the first century, given the connotation of the word as informed by the events of the last 100 years?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if part of the problem might be the terminology that we use to discuss these sorts of issues.
Thanks,
Matt
Matthew, what connotative baggage does "revolutionary" have now? What sort of semantic difference do you have in mind?
ReplyDeleteIt has often been said that Rome would punish would-be "insurrectionists" - does this term work for you?
-anthony
I suppose I associate the word 'revolutionary' with those people who seek to overthrow a corrupt, but indigenous, social order rather than one imposed by a foreign occupying force. I'd probably be more comfortable with a term like 'freedom fighter', although to me both of those terms carry an association with nationalism and the modern state.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that there was probably a wide spectrum of attitudes towards violence in first century Judea, and I worry that by using certain terminology, we might be excluding those who fall in grey area between pacifism and militarism.
Maybe I am just making mountains out of molehills...
Peace,
Matt