tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688923299603723106.post5996846083242532188..comments2024-02-19T17:20:19.386-08:00Comments on Edward Viljoen: Easter, A Story I Don’t Want To Pay Attention ToEdward Viljoenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03690298087138231747noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688923299603723106.post-17883522352732263512014-04-19T11:48:25.031-07:002014-04-19T11:48:25.031-07:00Thank you Jim~ We are looking forward to your vis...Thank you Jim~ We are looking forward to your visit in Santa Rosa.<br />Edward Viljoenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03690298087138231747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688923299603723106.post-22745311885876658852014-04-19T09:57:38.804-07:002014-04-19T09:57:38.804-07:00Beautiful, Edward. I find that Joseph Campbell sai...Beautiful, Edward. I find that Joseph Campbell said it well: <br />“What has always been basic to Easter, or resurrection, is crucifixion. If you want resurrection, you must have crucifixion. Too many interpretations of the Crucifixion have failed to emphasize that relationship and emphasize instead the calamity of the event. If you emphasize the calamity, you look for someone to blame, which is why people have blamed the Jews. But crucifixion is not a calamity if it leads to new life. Through Christ’s crucifixion we were unshelled, which enabled us to be born to resurrection. That is not a calamity. So, we must take a fresh look at this event if its symbolism is to be sensed.<br /><br />"If we think of the Crucifixion only in historical terms, we lose the symbol’s immediate reference to ourselves. Jesus left his mortal body on the cross, the sign of earth, to go to the Father, with whom he was one. We, similarly, are to identify with the eternal life within us. The symbol also tells us of God’s willing acceptance of the cross, that is to say, of his participation in the trials and sorrows of human life in the world, so that he is here within us, not by way of a fall or mistake, but with rapture and joy. Thus the cross has dual sense: one, of our going to the divine; the other, of the coming of the divine to us. It is a true crossing.<br /><br />"In the Christian tradition, Christ’s crucifixion is a major problem: Why could the savior not have just come? Why did he have to be crucified?<br /><br />“Well, various theological explanations have come down to us, but I think an adequate and proper one can be found in Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians, where he writes in chapter 2 that Christ did not think that God-hood was something to be held to—which is to say, neither should you—but rather, yielding, he took the form of a servant even to death on the cross. This is joyful affirmation of the sufferings of the world. The imitation of Christ, then, is participating in the suffering and joys of the world, all the while seeing through them the radiance of the divine presence. That’s operating from the heart cakra, where the two triangles are joined together.<br /><br />"That’s what I see in the Crucifixion. Of all the explanations I’ve read, it is the only one that makes, what I would call, respectable sense. The others are all concerned with a wrathful god who has to be appeased by the sacrifice of his son. What do you do with a thing like that? It is a translation of the sacrifice into a very crude image. The idea of God being entity that has to be appeased is just too nasty a concretion."<br /><br />Joseph Campbell in “A Joseph Campbell Companion: Reflections on the Art of Living.”Jim Lockardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17193894615932386161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688923299603723106.post-19410764240959596452014-04-19T09:36:39.621-07:002014-04-19T09:36:39.621-07:00Thank you Gisela, happy Easter!Thank you Gisela, happy Easter!Edward Viljoenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03690298087138231747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688923299603723106.post-14537868905115752962014-04-19T09:36:20.549-07:002014-04-19T09:36:20.549-07:00Happy Easter David!Happy Easter David!Edward Viljoenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03690298087138231747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688923299603723106.post-14212158869178655602012-04-08T22:35:51.915-07:002012-04-08T22:35:51.915-07:00*Deep breath*.... Thank you Edward. Beautiful wor...*Deep breath*.... Thank you Edward. Beautiful words, challenging thoughts. Love you.Giselahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08441470402074166949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688923299603723106.post-25306203969501226112012-04-07T16:15:04.783-07:002012-04-07T16:15:04.783-07:00Thanks David, I appreciate that... I'm working...Thanks David, I appreciate that... I'm working on it myself! I hope you have a beautiful Easter. Love, EdwardEdward Viljoenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03690298087138231747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688923299603723106.post-30630022255709466962012-04-07T13:59:41.664-07:002012-04-07T13:59:41.664-07:00This is so beautiful Edward. These same thoughts ...This is so beautiful Edward. These same thoughts have been germinating within me for some weeks as I looked and searched for ways to present an Easter message beyond formula. The irony that beckoned was that I needed a resurrection about the Resurrection - then diving even further, I needed a resurrection about crucifixion as well. As I read that back I wonder how else to explain other than I need to revisit those things that I have yet allowed to fully die, for only then will the next stage of experience be birthed. <br />I am grateful for you, your mind, your Spirit.<br />Love, DavidAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13244390385741904522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688923299603723106.post-56368828083929000462012-04-07T00:13:39.291-07:002012-04-07T00:13:39.291-07:00hmmmmm . . .you were GONE TO GOD ... when you wrot...hmmmmm . . .you were GONE TO GOD ... when you wrote this . . .very special messages of love "looked" deep :: to remember. . .so nice Edward . . .so drifted slow into IT; . . resting looking calm; for us to feel & enjoyBruce Hubbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04747476607315906855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688923299603723106.post-49146646342983381152012-04-05T13:45:19.681-07:002012-04-05T13:45:19.681-07:00This is wonderful. Thank you. It stimulates all ki...This is wonderful. Thank you. It stimulates all kinds of thoughts...like: as human beings we live in a world of duality, which in and of itself creates the conflicts you describe. I sometimes wonder if those elements of our vision are possible in a world of dualty. Suffering is that which I most find myself working to avoid, or become fearful of. Who likes pain? Who enjoys the grieving that comes with loss and letting go? And then I turn to those models of spiritual leadership that point to a way of living in the world that embodies happiness, peace, and joy. Such a journey we are on together. I am filled with excitement and gratitude that I get to share, if only minutely, this journey we are all on together with you and our Center. Much love and many blessings through this season, Pastor Ed...Rose-Is-Arborhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10830104430269136855noreply@blogger.com