The Forgotten meaning of Good Friday
It is not often you get thought through explorations, but the BCC have outdone themselves on this one. In a programme now available in the UK through BBC Iplayer, is a programme seeking to explore the significance of Christ’s death on the Cross. They follow through the interpretation of this event from Gregory of the Desert Fathers right through to Moltmann and the horrors of the Second World War. I highly commend watching this, link here.
I like the way the programme explores the different focii of redemptive theology v incarnational theology through the experience of particular Christian communities in particular times. If only some churches gave this level of understanding, there may be less impoverished understandings of the faith!
My only criticism is that the programme has not explored the contribution from those coming from more liberationist perspectives, from the reflection of the poor and marginalised which goes further than the thinking of Moltmann. I am particularly taken by the work of the Roman Catholic Theologian James Alison, who through his experiences of marginalisation, explore the significance of the cross not only in sharing in the suffering of humanity, but further, that Jesus doesn’t die because the Creator God is Angry, but rather, dies for our anger, through the ultimate expression of the love of God. For more on James Alison follow the link here
