Whether you go to church or not, everyone knows Christmas and Easter and its Christian roots: Christmas remembers Jesus birth and Resurrection is self-explanatory. You dont have to believe the stories to be part of the festivity. Daniel Dennet, an atheist philosopher, has little tolerance for religion but sings O Come All Ye Faithful by heart in Latin on Christmas Eve. But there is another important holy day in the Christian calendar which has not made the same leap into the secular world. Ascension day. Actually, Thursday (5/25) is Ascension day and the fact that most are clueless about it, including Christians, is evidence of its cultural irrelevance. Which is ironic because in the Apostles Creed, a basic statement of faith for Christianity, talks about ascension right smack in the middle with the Christmas and Easter story. In fact, the ascension story gives Christianity its unique texture, its missional energy and amazing adaptability, because it became an antidote to exceptionalism, the inward pressure of all institutions, and it might be the antidote for our day.
The basic story of ascension is that Jesus, after resurrection and spending 40 days with his closest friends, said farewell and disappeared. It sounds fishy to secularists, as it did to me when I was working through the Christian story for myself. It seems so convenient for the first followers to reply, Well Jesus disappeared, when seekers asked to seethe resurrected Jesus with their own eyes. But here is a historical anomaly: It was only after this story that the first followers became missionaries, going out sharing the story of Jesus as a story that mattered to everyone they met. This is because the story of ascensionrapidly scatteredthis new movement, for it neither had a tomb or a body to point to and say this is ground zero. With Jesus disappearing, Jerusalem could not claim for itself an exceptional status. Whether you believe or not. Youve got to appreciate this brilliant move.
Lamin Sanneh, a professor of world Christianity at Yale Divinity School and anexpert on Christian and Muslim history, credits this quality of non-exceptionalism that allowed Christianity to grow, adapt, and express itself within an ever-changing array of cultural and historical contexts. This non-exceptionalism is appreciated when contrasted to Islam, which remains a faith rooted in specific geographical places, Mecca and Medina, and to a single language, Arabic. Translations of the Quran into other languages are not considered genuine.
The danger of exceptionalism is that it leads to exceptions from criticism. Preservation becomes petrification.
Every institution gravitates towards exceptionalism because institutions think survival relies on special status. The danger of exceptionalism is that it leads to exceptions from criticism. Preservation becomes petrification.
James Comey, the recently fired FBI director, wrote his senior thesis contrasting the Christian political philosophy between Reinhold Niebuhr and Jerry Falwell. Falwell, creator of the Moral Majority in 1979, believed in American exceptionalism, the City on a Hill with Manifest Destiny to spread Democracy as its divine prerogative. John L. O'Sullivan coined it in his column in the New York Morning News on Dec. 27, 1845, to argue for the right for America to take Oregon saying Americas claim is by the right of our manifest destiny to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us. Exceptionalism is uncritical.
Comey sides with Niebuhr who says Christians have the obligation to love their country but always with a critical eyes because a society left to itself is immoral. There is no exceptionalism to Niebuhrs thinking of America or any society. Only that critical perspective can save an organization from crumbling on itself.
Comey, when he was the director, kept a document from the bureaus archives on his desk, an application by his predecessor, J. Edgar Hoover, to the Justice Department to wiretap Martin Luther King, Jr. Why? The entire application is five sentences long, it is without fact or substance, and it is predicated on the naked assertion that there is Communist influence in the racial situation, he explained in a speech at Georgetown University in February 2015. He required FBI agents to study this history with King then visit the King Memorial in Washington. The reason I do those things, he said, is to insure that we remember our mistakes and that we learn from them.
Samuel Son is a teaching pastor in Raleigh.
View original post here:
SON: Ascension over American exceptionalism - North State Journal (subscription)
- Ascension (TV Mini-Series 2014) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb [Last Updated On: June 14th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 14th, 2016]
- Ascension (miniseries) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2016]
- Ascension of Jesus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: June 19th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 19th, 2016]
- Ascension - Wikitravel [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2016]
- Ascension Of Jesus - Bible Story Summary [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2016]
- CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Ascension - NEW ADVENT [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2016]
- Ascension - Season 1 Reviews - Metacritic [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2016]
- Home - Ascension Parish [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2016]
- Ascension - Sal Rachele [Last Updated On: June 28th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 28th, 2016]
- Ascension [Last Updated On: June 28th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 28th, 2016]
- Welcome to our Parish! | Ascension Catholic Church [Last Updated On: June 28th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 28th, 2016]
- Ascension - Definition and Meaning, Bible Dictionary [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2016]
- Ascension - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2016]
- Coffee & Wine Bar | Ascension Coffee Roasters Dallas, Texas [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2016]
- Home - Ascension School [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2016]
- What is Ascension | Sandra Walter - Creative Evolution [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2016]
- Ascension News, Sports and Entertainment | The Advocate [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2016]
- Welcome to our Parish! | Ascension Catholic Church [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2016]
- Ascension - Guild Wars Wiki (GWW) [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2016]
- Ascension - SGCommand - Wikia [Last Updated On: June 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: June 29th, 2016]
- Ascension (TV Mini-Series 2014) - Full Cast & Crew - IMDb [Last Updated On: July 1st, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 1st, 2016]
- Ascension Ministries and Norm Franz. A Torah Based End ... [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2016]
- Ascension Energy Program [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2016]
- Ascension with Mother Earth and Current State of Affairs [Last Updated On: July 3rd, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 3rd, 2016]
- Ascension of Our Lord [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2016]
- Clerk of Court - Home [Last Updated On: July 18th, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 18th, 2016]
- 'Ascension': What Syfy Did Better Than Most TV Networks [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2016]
- Orgone Radionic Machine | Ascension Energy Program [Last Updated On: August 16th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 16th, 2016]
- Xcalibur Magnetic Field Generator | Ascension Energy Program [Last Updated On: August 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 29th, 2016]
- Ascension Symptoms & Signs of Spiritual Awakening [Last Updated On: August 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 29th, 2016]
- Ascension Catholic Community [Last Updated On: September 2nd, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 2nd, 2016]
- Crystal Ascension [Last Updated On: September 11th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 11th, 2016]
- Freedom Resource Center - Ascension_151#151 [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2016]
- Ascension (miniseries) - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2016]
- THE LORD OF ASCENSION - gotquestions.org [Last Updated On: October 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 29th, 2016]
- Ascension Parish | News from The Advocate | theadvocate.com [Last Updated On: October 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 29th, 2016]
- Ascension Church - Portland, OR [Last Updated On: October 29th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 29th, 2016]
- What is Ascension - The Secret Truth About [Last Updated On: November 4th, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 4th, 2016]
- Ascension of Jesus - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: December 2nd, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 2nd, 2016]
- Stankov's Universal Law Press The New General Theory of ... [Last Updated On: December 7th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 7th, 2016]
- The Plan and Process of Ascension - Spiritual Evolution [Last Updated On: December 7th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 7th, 2016]
- Ascension Wikipedia [Last Updated On: December 7th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 7th, 2016]
- Monastery of Ascension - RuneScape Wiki - Wikia [Last Updated On: December 26th, 2016] [Originally Added On: December 26th, 2016]
- Mythology of Stargate - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2017]
- What is Ascension? Energetic Synthesis [Last Updated On: January 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 8th, 2017]
- Right ascension - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: January 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 13th, 2017]
- Ascension (TV Mini-Series 2014 ) - IMDb [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2017] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2017]
- Latest Ascension Parish Crime Briefs - Donaldsonville Chief - Donaldsonville Chief [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Album Review: THE OMINOUS CIRCLE Appalling Ascension - Metal Injection.net [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Former Ascension coaches make HOF - Donaldsonville Chief [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- 2 killed in crash Sunday afternoon in Ascension Parish - KLFY [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Card Coming Together For Saturday's FIP: Ascension - FloSlam [Last Updated On: February 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 6th, 2017]
- Impairment suspected in Ascension Parish crash - Weekly Citizen [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Ascension opens first clinic under new unified name - St. Louis Business Journal [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Crime cameras go live in Ascension Parish with plans for more - WBRZ [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- TowerFall Ascension Review - TrueAchievements [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Ascension to move forward on street widening and intersection projects - WBRZ [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Mojo Rawley Works Dark Match, Ascension / Vaudevillians Note, The New England Patriots Celebrate With Their ... - Wrestlezone [Last Updated On: February 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 7th, 2017]
- Harry Kane Reflects on Tottenham's Ascension and Mauricio Pochettino's Influence - HotspurHQ [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Complete Construction Contractors owner arrested on counts of post-flood contractor fraud in Ascension - The Advocate [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Governor likely in Tamil Nadu today, but may bide time over Sasikala's ascension - Times of India [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Tour Ascension executive director among leadership academy graduates - Weekly Citizen [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Girls soccer playoffs: Mount Carmel dominates East Ascension, moves to quarterfinals - The Advocate [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- Ascension, Livingston, St. James parishes pick up pieces after tornadoes - The Advocate [Last Updated On: February 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 9th, 2017]
- FIP: Ascension Preview: What's Next From Uncle John's Friends? - FloSlam [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Contestants Chosen for 2017 Ascension Idol Competition - TheCreole.com (press release) (blog) [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office investigating fake Facebook page - WBRZ [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Ascension Parish arrest report - News - Gonzales Weekly Citizen ... - Weekly Citizen [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Tower Ascension Xbox One review enter the Dark World - Metro [Last Updated On: February 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 10th, 2017]
- Ascension Announces New Album "Under The Veil Of Madness" - Metal Underground [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- The angels announce the Ascension; Angels: Day 203 - Patheos (blog) [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- Patricia Maryland, Dr.PH, to Become President and CEO of Ascension Healthcare - Michronicleonline [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- Boys basketball: East Ascension takes physical game against ... - The Advocate [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- The Shady Ascension of Luther Strange - New Republic [Last Updated On: February 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 11th, 2017]
- FIP Ascension 2017 live results thread: Yehi vs. Cage - Cageside ... - Cageside Seats (blog) [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- Regional sewer plans in Ascension appear headed for another set back - The Advocate [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2017]
- WWE News: The Ascension's Viktor responds to WWE excluding them in a video - Sportskeeda [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2017]
- Chandler, East Ascension driving toward a higher goal as postseason arrives - The Advocate [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2017]
- Elimination Chamber 2017 Results: American Alphas Defeats The Ascension - Business 2 Community [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2017]
- Utah Jazz: Brad Stevens Praises Gordon Hayward's All-Star Ascension - Purple & Blues [Last Updated On: February 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: February 13th, 2017]